Guessing the plural form of “analysis” takes several “analyses”. This may be because a lot of us are used to the good old “-s” trick for making nouns plural, right?
Dog becomes dogs, book becomes books, and cake becomes a whole lot of delicious trouble (Joking). But “analysis” throws a wrench in that smooth machinery.
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Ever wondered or asked why?
Well, this word has some fancy Greek roots. See, in ancient Greek, the plural of “analysis” was “analyses.”
And guess what? English, being the magpie of languages, snatched that plural right up and kept it tucked away in its vocabulary treasure chest.
So, how do we use these beastly “analyses”?
Here’s the deal:
One analysis, many analyses. Simple as that.
One detailed breakdown of a poem? That’s an analysis.
Two (or ten, or a hundred) detailed breakdowns? Those are analyses.
Think about the context. If you’re talking about multiple specific examinations – say, a series of DNA analyses or financial analyses – “analyses” is your go-to plural.
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Are you feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a little memory trick
Look at the singular “analysis.” Notice how the “si” sound is in there? Well, guess what the plural ends in? Yes, “se.” So, “analysis” has the “si” and “analyses” has the “se.” That’s how easy it can get.
Let’s get things more fancy here
Okay, so we’ve already nailed the basic plural. But here’s where things take an interesting position. In some formal contexts, like academic writing or scientific reports, you might see the plural “analyses” used in a slightly different way.
It can refer to:
- A collection of individual analyses presented together.
Think of it like a bouquet of analyses, each with its unique flower (or, you know, data point).
- The general concept of analyzing something.
For example, you might say: “The analyses of this data were inconclusive.”
Here are more fun facts about “analysis”
As mentioned above, the word “analysis” comes from the Greek word “analyein,” which means “to break down.” There’s another, less common, plural of “analysis”: “analysises.”
But unless you’re writing a super-formal document for a Greek history professor, stick with “analyses.” And here’s a little brain teaser: What’s the plural of “synthesis”? (Think about it… the answer is here too).
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Final Thoughts
Here we go! The plural form of “analysis” has just been made known to you. It’s “analyses”. Feel free to use it anywhere, it is grammatically correct.
And you must remember that the most important thing about writing or speaking is to communicate clearly.