What’s the Plural of Status?
The English language is full of words borrowed from Latin, and these words often cause confusion when it comes to forming their plurals. One such word is “status.” Many people wonder about the correct plural of “status” because, like other Latin-derived nouns, it doesn’t follow the typical “-s” or “-es” pluralization rule that we often see in English. In this article, we will explore the plural forms of “status,” explain why there is some debate about the correct usage, and provide examples of how to use both the singular and plural forms in sentences. Additionally, we’ll answer common questions and provide practice exercises to help you understand the correct pluralization.
Table of Contents
What Is “Status”?
Before we dive into the plural form, it’s important to understand what “status” means.
Status refers to the social, legal, or professional position or standing of a person or thing. It can also describe the state or condition of something at a particular time. The word “status” is versatile and is used in various contexts, from social hierarchy to legal standings to online profiles.
Common Uses of “Status”:
- Social Status: Refers to a person’s rank or position within society.
- Legal Status: Refers to someone’s legal standing (e.g., citizenship or marital status).
- Current Condition: Describes the present state of a situation or object (e.g., the status of a project).
- Technology/Online Contexts: Refers to updates or information posted on social media or messaging platforms (e.g., WhatsApp status).
Examples of “Status” in Singular Form:
- Her social status has risen since she became a professor at the university.
(Here, “status” refers to a person’s social standing.) - The legal status of the new law is still under review.
(In this sentence, “status” refers to the legal standing of the law.) - What’s the current status of the project?
(Here, “status” refers to the present condition or progress of the project.)
What’s the Plural of “Status”?
The plural of “status” is “statuses.”
Unlike some other Latin-derived nouns, “status” does not follow the Latin pluralization pattern where “-us” changes to “-i” (as in “radius” → “radii” or “alumnus” → “alumni”). Instead, “statuses” follows the regular English convention of adding “-es” to words ending in “-s.”
Why Not “Stati”?
Although “status” is a Latin word, its plural form does not change to “stati.” This is because “status” is a fourth-declension noun in Latin, and nouns in this category have the same form for both singular and plural in Latin. Therefore, in English, we do not change “status” to “stati.” Instead, we use the regular English pluralization method and say “statuses.”
Examples of “Statuses” in Sentences
Now that we know the correct plural form of “status,” let’s look at some examples of how to use “statuses” in sentences.
Everyday Usage:
- The social media platform allows users to post multiple statuses throughout the day.
(Here, “statuses” refers to several updates or posts on social media.) - The legal team is reviewing the statuses of all the clients involved in the case.
(In this sentence, “statuses” refers to the legal standings of multiple clients.) - We need to check the statuses of all ongoing projects before the meeting.
(Here, “statuses” refers to the current states of several projects.)
In Professional or Academic Contexts:
- The company tracks the employment statuses of its workers to ensure compliance with labor laws.
(In this example, “statuses” refers to the employment standing of multiple workers.) - The professor discussed the various statuses of ancient civilizations during the lecture.
(Here, “statuses” refers to the social or political standings of different civilizations.) - The hospital maintains a database of patient statuses to monitor their health conditions.
(In this sentence, “statuses” refers to the current health conditions of multiple patients.)
Singular vs. Plural: “Status” vs. “Statuses”
It’s important to know when to use “status” and when to use “statuses.” “Status” is singular and refers to the standing, condition, or position of one thing, person, or situation. “Statuses,” on the other hand, is plural and is used when referring to more than one standing, condition, or position.
Singular (“Status”) in Sentences:
- The legal status of the bill is still uncertain.
(Here, “status” refers to the standing or condition of one bill.) - His social status changed after he became a member of the board.
(In this sentence, “status” refers to one person’s social standing.)
Plural (“Statuses”) in Sentences:
- The company is reviewing the employment statuses of all its employees.
(Here, “statuses” refers to the employment standing of multiple employees.) - We need to update the statuses of all the ongoing projects in the system.
(In this sentence, “statuses” refers to the current states of multiple projects.)
Common Questions and Misconceptions About “Status” and “Statuses”
Let’s address some common questions and misconceptions regarding the plural form of “status.”
Question 1:
Is “stati” the plural of “status”?
Answer:
No, the plural of “status” is not “stati.” Although “status” is of Latin origin, it is a fourth-declension noun in Latin, and its plural form remains “status” in Latin. In English, the plural is “statuses.”
Example:
- The professor discussed the different statuses of historical figures.
(Correct) - The professor discussed the different stati of historical figures.
(Incorrect)
Question 2:
Why isn’t the plural of “status” simply “status” like some other Latin words?
Answer:
In Latin, “status” would remain the same in both singular and plural forms, following the rules for fourth-declension nouns. However, in English, we typically modify the plural form of words that end in “-s” by adding “-es.” Therefore, the plural of “status” in English is “statuses.”
Question 3:
Can “statuses” refer to different types of statuses, such as legal, social, and marital statuses at once?
Answer:
Yes, “statuses” can refer to different types of statuses at the same time. For example, you can talk about someone’s legal status, marital status, and employment status collectively, and refer to them as different “statuses.”
Example:
- The government tracks the legal, social, and employment statuses of its citizens.
Question 4:
Which plural form should I use in formal writing: “status” or “statuses”?
Answer:
Always use “statuses” when referring to the plural in formal writing. “Status” remains singular, and “statuses” is the correct plural form in both informal and formal contexts.
Example:
- The HR department updated the employment statuses of all its employees.
Practice Questions: Status or Statuses?
Let’s test your understanding of when to use “status” and when to use “statuses” with some practice questions.
Question 1:
Which word is correct in the following sentence?
- The government is reviewing the immigration _ of all applicants.
a) status
b) statuses
Answer:
a) status
Explanation: The sentence is referring to the immigration standing of each individual applicant, so the singular form “status” is correct.
Question 2:
Fill in the blank with the correct word:
- The system automatically updates the _ of all the ongoing orders.
Answer:
Statuses
Explanation: Since the sentence refers to multiple orders, the plural form “statuses” is appropriate.
Question 3:
True or False:
“Stati” is an acceptable plural form of “status.”
Answer:
False
Explanation: The correct plural form in English is “statuses,” not “stati.”
Question 4:
Which sentence is correct?
a) The social media app allows users to post multiple status throughout the day.
b) The social media app allows users to post multiple statuses throughout the day.
Answer:
*b) The social media app allows users to post multiple statuses throughout the day.
Explanation: Since the sentence refers to multiple status updates, the plural form “statuses” is correct.
Conclusion
In summary, the correct plural form of “status” in English is “statuses.” While “status” comes from Latin, it does not follow the Latin pluralization pattern of “-us” changing to “-i.” Instead, “statuses” follows the regular English convention of adding “-es” for pluralization. This is important to remember in both formal and informal writing.
Key Takeaways:
- “Status” is singular, referring to one standing, condition, or position.
- “Statuses” is the correct plural form in English, used when referring to multiple standings, conditions, or positions.
- “Stati” is not a correct plural form in English.
By mastering the correct pluralization of “status,” you can confidently use “statuses” in your writing and speech, ensuring clarity and accuracy when discussing multiple states or conditions.
