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What is the plural of index?In: Plural Nouns
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Historically, the plural of index is indices in order to retain its origins. Purists still retain this original spelling. However, English being such a language of immigrants often allows words to retain their original inflections AND Americanizes them at the same time! That means many today use indexes as the plural of index.
Okay, okay, enough history, you need an answer, but remember that language is governed above all by convention. Here is your answer in many parts:
to put it short it is indexes or indices. (i would use indexes it sounds better)
Both indexes and indices are acceptable plurals for index in English--and in that order of preference today (Authority: Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, American Heritage Dictionary, and about 20 others of similar standing.)
Usage on the internet indicates that mathematicians, those conservatives (!), prefer staying with the old standard of indices; computer folk, those mavericks (!), want to embrace the latest of everything including the plural of index, indexes. I don't see a real debate over indexes/indices spilling out onto the web in any other areas-which is surprising. Different camps have probably already made their choice, so depending on your field of study, continue to follow the examples written before you in your field's journals.
Bottom Line: If dealing with a formal, kind of educated fuddy-duddy over let's say 50, use indices; if dealing with someone else (i.e., uneducated, young, hip, etc.), use indexes.
Rhetorically, always play to your audience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First answer by Lynda Jean. Last edit by Immakoolchic. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 19 [recommend question]
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