Which is the correct plural form of 'phenomenon'?

Which is the correct plural form of 'phenomenon'?

• A. Phenomenas
• B. Phenomenae
• C. Phenomena
• D. Phenomenons

Answer: (C)

This tests how English handles plural forms of Greek-origin nouns that end in -on. In many of these words, the plural shifts from -on to -a, rather than simply adding -s. So one phenomenon becomes many phenomena. This is different from regular plurals where you just add -s or -es. The other endings come from Latin or English-izing attempts: phenom ena e is the Latin plural, phenomenas would be an anglicized but nonstandard form, and phenomenons is a common but nonstandard regular plural. The standard, widely accepted plural is phenomena.

This tests how English handles plural forms of Greek-origin nouns that end in -on. In many of these words, the plural shifts from -on to -a, rather than simply adding -s. So one phenomenon becomes many phenomena. This is different from regular plurals where you just add -s or -es. The other endings come from Latin or English-izing attempts: phenom ena e is the Latin plural, phenomenas would be an anglicized but nonstandard form, and phenomenons is a common but nonstandard regular plural. The standard, widely accepted plural is phenomena.