What’s the Plural of Symposium?

English has a rich history of borrowing words from other languages, particularly Greek and Latin. These borrowed words often retain their original plural forms, which can sometimes cause confusion for English speakers. One such word is “symposium.” In this article, we’ll explore the plural of “symposium,” explain why it takes that form, and provide examples of its usage. We’ll also answer common questions regarding the pluralization of this word and offer practice exercises to clarify any doubts.

---

What Is a “Symposium”?

Before we dive into the plural form, let’s first define what a “symposium” is.

A symposium is an organized meeting or conference where experts in a particular field gather to discuss a specific topic or set of topics. The term is often used in academic, professional, or intellectual contexts, where participants present papers, engage in discussions, or share their ideas and research findings.

The word “symposium” comes from the Greek word “symposion,” which originally referred to a drinking party where participants would engage in intellectual conversation. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe any formal gathering focused on discussion, particularly in academic and scholarly settings.

Common Uses of “Symposium”:

• In Academia: Universities and research institutions frequently host symposia to allow scholars to present their research and discuss academic topics.
• In Professional Fields: Professionals in various industries, such as medicine, law, and technology, often attend symposia to share the latest developments in their respective fields.
• In Intellectual and Cultural Circles: A symposium can also refer to a gathering where people discuss philosophical, artistic, or cultural issues.

Examples of “Symposium” in Singular Form:

• The university is hosting a symposium on climate change next month.
  (Here, “symposium” refers to a single event where experts will discuss climate change.)
• Dr. Smith presented her research at a symposium on medical ethics.
  (In this sentence, “symposium” refers to one conference focused on medical ethics.)
• The annual symposium on artificial intelligence attracts participants from around the world.
  (Here, “symposium” refers to a specific yearly event.)

---

What’s the Plural of “Symposium”?

The plural of “symposium” is “symposia.” This follows a common pattern for Latin- and Greek-derived words that end in “-ium.” In many cases, the “-ium” in the singular form changes to “-ia” when pluralized.

Why “Symposia” Instead of “Symposiums”?

As mentioned earlier, “symposium” is derived from Greek, and in Greek (as well as Latin), words that end in “-ion” or “-ium” often form their plurals by changing the ending to “-ia.” English has retained this pluralization rule for many words of Greek or Latin origin. Other examples include:

• Datum → Data
• Medium → Media
• Bacterium → Bacteria

Thus, the correct plural of “symposium” is “symposia.” While “symposiums” is sometimes used in informal settings, “symposia” is the preferred and more widely accepted plural form, especially in academic and professional contexts.

---

Examples of “Symposia” in Sentences

Now that we know the correct plural form of “symposium,” let’s look at some examples of “symposia” in sentences to see how it is used in different contexts.

Everyday Usage:

• The university hosted several symposia on different aspects of sustainability.
  (Here, “symposia” refers to multiple events or conferences about sustainability.)
• The organization holds annual symposia on important issues in public health.
  (In this sentence, “symposia” refers to yearly conferences on public health topics.)
• Scholars from all over the world attended the symposia on ancient civilizations.
  (Here, “symposia” refers to multiple conferences on the subject of ancient civilizations.)

In Academic and Professional Contexts:

• The medical school organized several symposia to discuss the latest developments in cancer research.
  (In this example, “symposia” refers to multiple conferences focused on cancer research.)
• The team presented their findings at various symposia throughout the year.
  (Here, “symposia” refers to presentations at multiple academic gatherings.)
• Attending international symposia helps researchers stay updated on advancements in their fields.
  (In this sentence, “symposia” refers to academic conferences held internationally.)

---

Singular vs. Plural: “Symposium” vs. “Symposia”

It’s important to know when to use “symposium” and when to use “symposia.” “Symposium” refers to one single event, while “symposia” refers to multiple events. This distinction is especially important in academic and professional writing, where precision in language is key.

Singular (“Symposium”) in Sentences:

• The university is planning a symposium on artificial intelligence this spring.
  (Here, “symposium” refers to a single event.)
• She was invited to speak at a symposium on climate change.
  (In this sentence, “symposium” refers to one specific conference.)

Plural (“Symposia”) in Sentences:

• The university organized several symposia throughout the year on various topics.
  (Here, “symposia” refers to multiple conferences over the course of the year.)
• The research institute sponsored symposia on issues ranging from public health to environmental science.
  (In this sentence, “symposia” refers to multiple discussions on different topics.)

---

Why Do Some People Use “Symposiums”?

While “symposia” is the correct plural form, some people may use “symposiums” as the plural of “symposium.” This happens because many English speakers are more familiar with forming plurals by simply adding “-s” or “-es” to the end of a word. For example, “book” becomes “books” and “class” becomes “classes.” Following this familiar pattern, some people assume “symposium” should become “symposiums” in the plural.

Is “Symposiums” Ever Correct?

Although “symposiums” is sometimes used informally, it is generally considered incorrect in formal writing and academic contexts. The preferred plural form is “symposia.” If you’re writing for a scholarly or professional audience, it’s best to use “symposia” to avoid any misunderstandings or errors.

---

Common Questions and Misconceptions About “Symposia”

Let’s address some common questions and misconceptions about the plural form of “symposium.”

Question 1:

Is “symposiums” ever acceptable?

Answer:
While “symposiums” may be accepted in informal speech or writing, it is not the preferred plural form. The correct and widely accepted plural is “symposia.” In professional, academic, or formal settings, you should always use “symposia.”

Incorrect:

• The university hosted several symposiums on climate change.

Correct:

• The university hosted several symposia on climate change.

---

Question 2:

Why is the plural of “symposium” not “symposiums”?

Answer:
The word “symposium” comes from Greek, and in both Greek and Latin, nouns that end in “-ium” typically form their plural by changing “-ium” to “-ia.” English has retained this rule for many words of Greek and Latin origin, including “symposium.” Therefore, the correct plural form is “symposia.”

Example:

• The research team presented their work at several symposia last year.

---

Question 3:

Can “symposium” ever be plural?

Answer:
No, “symposium” is always singular. If you are referring to more than one symposium, the correct plural form is “symposia.” Using “symposium” to refer to multiple events would be incorrect.

Example (Singular):

• She was invited to speak at a symposium on renewable energy.

Example (Plural):

• He attended multiple symposia on renewable energy last year.

---

Question 4:

Which plural form should I use in formal writing: “symposia” or “symposiums”?

Answer:
Always use “symposia” in formal writing. “Symposiums” is considered informal and is not widely accepted in professional or academic contexts.

Example (Correct for formal writing):

• The department organized two symposia on the latest developments in neuroscience.

---

Practice Questions: Symposium or Symposia?

Let’s test your understanding of when to use “symposium” and when to use “symposia” with some practice questions.

Question 1:

Which word is correct in the following sentence?

• The research institute held several _ on climate change last year.

a) symposiums
b) symposia

Answer:
b) symposia

Explanation: Since the sentence refers to multiple events, “symposia” is the correct plural form.

---

Question 2:

Fill in the blank with the correct word:

• The professor attended a _ on ancient Greek philosophy.

Answer:
Symposium

Explanation: Since the sentence refers to one event, “symposium” is the correct singular form.

---

Question 3:

True or False:
“Symposiums” is the correct plural form of “symposium.”

Answer:
False

Explanation: The correct plural form is “symposia,” not “symposiums.”

---

Question 4:

Which sentence is correct?

a) The university hosted two symposiums on artificial intelligence.
b) The university hosted two symposia on artificial intelligence.

Answer:
*b) The university hosted two symposia on artificial intelligence.

Explanation: The correct plural form of “symposium” is “symposia.”

---

Conclusion

In summary, the correct plural form of “symposium” is “symposia.” This follows the Greek and Latin rule of pluralization, where words ending in “-ium” change to “-ia” in the plural. While some people may use “symposiums,” it is considered informal and is not widely accepted in academic or professional contexts. Therefore, when writing or speaking in formal settings, always use “symposia” to refer to more than one symposium.

Key Takeaways:

• “Symposium” is singular, referring to one conference or formal meeting.
• “Symposia” is the correct plural form and should be used when referring to multiple events.
• Avoid using “symposiums” in formal writing or professional contexts.

By mastering the correct plural form of “symposium,” you can confidently use “symposia” in your academic and professional writing, ensuring clarity and accuracy in your communication.