What’s the Plural of Synopsis?

English grammar can become tricky when you encounter words borrowed from other languages, especially Greek or Latin. One such word is “synopsis.” While most English words form their plurals by simply adding “-s” or “-es,” foreign-derived words often follow different rules. In this article, we will explore the plural form of “synopsis,” explain how and why it takes that form, provide examples of its usage, and answer common questions related to the pluralization of this word.

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What Does “Synopsis” Mean?

Before we delve into the plural form of “synopsis,” it’s important to understand what the word means.

A synopsis is a brief summary or general overview of the main points of a subject, text, or event. The term is commonly used in various contexts, including literature, film, research, and presentations. Whether you’re summarizing the plot of a novel, outlining the key points of a research paper, or providing an overview of a movie, a synopsis serves to condense the essential information into a more digestible form.

Common Uses of “Synopsis”:

• In Literature: A synopsis provides a concise summary of the plot, characters, and themes of a book or story.
• In Film: A synopsis gives a brief overview of the storyline of a movie, often used in promotional material.
• In Research and Academia: A synopsis is often used to summarize the main findings or arguments of a research paper, dissertation, or academic study.

Examples of “Synopsis” in Singular Form:

• The editor asked the author to provide a brief synopsis of the novel for the book jacket.
  (Here, “synopsis” refers to a short summary of the novel’s plot.)
• The film’s synopsis on the streaming platform caught my attention, so I decided to watch it.
  (In this sentence, “synopsis” refers to a brief description of the movie’s plot.)
• Before submitting her thesis, she wrote a one-page synopsis outlining her main arguments.
  (Here, “synopsis” refers to a concise summary of the key points of the thesis.)

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What’s the Plural of “Synopsis”?

The plural of “synopsis” is “synopses.” This follows a pattern common to many Greek-derived words, where the “-is” ending changes to “-es” in the plural form.

Why “Synopses” Instead of “Synopsises”?

The word “synopsis” comes from the Greek word “synopsis,” meaning “a general view” or “summary.” In Greek, words ending in “-is” form their plural by changing “-is” to “-es.” English has retained this pluralization rule for many words derived from Greek, such as:

• Crisis → Crises
• Thesis → Theses
• Analysis → Analyses

Therefore, “synopsis” follows the same pattern, with the plural being “synopses.” The plural form “synopses” is pronounced /sɪˈnɒp.siːz/ (with a long “e” sound at the end).

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Examples of “Synopses” in Sentences

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

Everyday Usage:

• The publisher requested synopses of all the books to include in the catalog.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to multiple brief summaries of different books.)
• Before the meeting, the team members were asked to prepare synopses of their projects.
  (In this sentence, “synopses” refers to summaries of different projects.)
• The professor reviewed several synopses of research papers before selecting the ones to discuss in class.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to summaries of multiple research papers.)

In Academic and Professional Contexts:

• The conference program included synopses of all the presentations scheduled for the event.
  (In this example, “synopses” refers to summaries of all the presentations.)
• The journal requires authors to submit detailed synopses of their articles before they can be considered for publication.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to summaries of multiple articles.)
• The teacher handed out synopses of each chapter in the textbook to help students prepare for the final exam.
  (In this sentence, “synopses” refers to summaries of different chapters.)

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Singular vs. Plural: “Synopsis” vs. “Synopses”

As with most nouns, “synopsis” has both a singular and plural form. “Synopsis” refers to one summary, while “synopses” refers to more than one. Let’s clarify this distinction with a few examples:

Singular (“Synopsis”) in Sentences:

• The book’s synopsis on the back cover gives a great overview of the plot.
  (Here, “synopsis” refers to a single summary of the book’s plot.)
• The synopsis of the research paper was well-written and concise.
  (In this sentence, “synopsis” refers to a single summary of a research paper.)
• The movie’s synopsis intrigued me, so I decided to watch it.
  (Here, “synopsis” refers to the summary of the movie.)

Plural (“Synopses”) in Sentences:

• Before selecting the final entries, the editor read several synopses of the submitted manuscripts.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to multiple summaries of different manuscripts.)
• The students were asked to present synopses of the books they had read over the summer.
  (In this sentence, “synopses” refers to multiple summaries of different books.)
• The publisher provided brief synopses of all the upcoming releases in their catalog.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to summaries of multiple upcoming books.)

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Why Do Some People Confuse the Plural of “Synopsis”?

The confusion surrounding the plural of “synopsis” often arises from the fact that most English nouns form their plurals by adding “-s” or “-es.” Since “synopsis” is of Greek origin and follows an irregular pluralization pattern, some people may incorrectly assume that “synopsises” is the correct plural form. However, the correct plural is “synopses.”

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using “Synopsises”
Some people make the mistake of adding “-es” to “synopsis” to form “synopsises.” This is incorrect. The proper plural is “synopses.”

Incorrect:

• The teacher asked us to write synopsises of the articles.

Correct:

• The teacher asked us to write synopses of the articles.

Mistake 2: Confusing “Synopsis” and “Synopses”
Another common mistake is using “synopsis” when referring to multiple summaries, or using “synopses” when referring to just one.

Incorrect:

• The editor reviewed several synopsis of the books before making her decision.
  (When referring to more than one synopsis, use “synopses.”)

Correct:

• The editor reviewed several synopses of the books before making her decision.

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How to Use “Synopses” Correctly in Sentences

Whether you’re discussing literature, research, or presentations, knowing how to use “synopses” correctly is important. Let’s look at some specific contexts where the plural form is used.

In Academic Writing:

• The professor asked the students to submit synopses of their term papers by the end of the week.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to multiple summaries of term papers.)
• The journal published synopses of the latest research articles in its special issue.
  (In this sentence, “synopses” refers to summaries of multiple research articles.)
• The research team provided synopses of their findings at the conference.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to multiple summaries of research findings.)

In Professional and Creative Fields:

• The screenwriter sent synopses of her three latest scripts to the production company.
  (In this context, “synopses” refers to brief summaries of three different scripts.)
• The publisher asked for synopses of the upcoming titles to include in their promotional materials.
  (Here, “synopses” refers to multiple summaries of new book titles.)
• The director reviewed several synopses of potential projects before choosing one to pursue.
  (In this sentence, “synopses” refers to summaries of different project ideas.)

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Common Questions and Misconceptions About “Synopses”

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

Question 1:

Is “synopsises” ever correct?

Answer:
No, “synopsises” is not correct. The proper plural form is “synopses.”

Example:

• The conference program included synopses of all the presentations.

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Question 2:

Why isn’t the plural of “synopsis” just “synopsises”?

Answer:
Since “synopsis” is a word of Greek origin, it follows Greek pluralization rules, where “-is” changes to “-es.” Therefore, the correct plural form is “synopses.”

Example:

• The editor read several synopses of the manuscripts before making her final decision.

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Question 3:

Which plural form should I use in formal writing: “synopses” or “synopsises”?

Answer:
Always use “synopses” in formal writing. “Synopsises” is incorrect and should be avoided in all contexts.

Example (Correct for formal writing):

• The supervisor requested synopses of all the research proposals before approving the final selection.

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Question 4:

Which sentence is correct?

a) The journal published several synopsises of recent studies.
b) The journal published several synopses of recent studies.

Answer:
**b) The journal published several *synopses* of recent studies.*

Explanation: The correct plural form of “synopsis” is “synopses.”

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Practice Questions: Synopsis or Synopses?

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

Question 1:

Which word is correct in the following sentence?

• The publisher requested _ of all the submitted manuscripts.

a) synopsis
b) synopses

Answer:
b) synopses

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

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Question 2:

Fill in the blank with the correct word:

• The teacher asked us to write a brief _ of the article.

Answer:
Synopsis

Explanation: The sentence refers to a single summary, so “synopsis” is the correct form.

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Question 3:

True or False:
“Synopsises” is an acceptable plural form of “synopsis.”

Answer:
False

Explanation: The correct plural form is “synopses.” “Synopsises” is incorrect.

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Question 4:

Which sentence is correct?

a) The editor reviewed several synopsises of the articles.
b) The editor reviewed several synopses of the articles.

Answer:
*b) The editor reviewed several synopses of the articles.

Explanation: The correct plural form of “synopsis” is “synopses.”

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Conclusion

In summary, the plural form of “synopsis” is “synopses.” This follows the Greek rule of pluralization, where “-is” becomes “-es” in the plural. Knowing and using the correct plural form is important in both professional and academic contexts.

Key Takeaways:

• “Synopsis” is singular, referring to one summary or general overview.
• “Synopses” is the correct plural form and should be used when referring to more than one summary.
• Avoid using “synopsises,” as it is incorrect.

By mastering the correct plural form of “synopsis,” you can confidently use “synopses” in various contexts, whether you’re discussing literature, research, or professional work.