[Proposal] phenomena → phenomenons

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  • July 24, 2026 at 9:05 pm #1547
    zhonglish
    Keymaster

    This is a proposal to retire the word phenomena in favor of phenomenons.

    Greek plural. Phenomenon → phenomenons. Data/datum is complex enough.

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    July 24, 2026 at 10:20 pm #1785
    English
    Member

    Greek plurals in English are held together by habit, not logic. Nobody says “the data are” anymore — it’s “the data is” in everyday speech. If datum/data collapsed, phenomena/phenomenon can too.

    I vote yes, but gently. This one needs a generation to settle.

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