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The pluralization of octopus as "octopi" is in fact, in its Latinate form, incorrect, as this would require it to be a second declension Latin word. Since its classification in Latin form is third declension, according to classical Latin grammar rules, the plural of octopus should be octopodes.

In any case, the more commonly used plural of octopus is "octopuses" - which classicists regard as an incorrect oversimplification.

Besides this, the plural of platypus cannot be universally agreed upon either - "platypuses", "platypus", and "platypi", as well as the grammatically correct plural "platypodes", are used with varying levels of popularity.

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Q: Why is octopi the plural of octopus but platypus is platypuses and not platypi?
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"Platypus" or "platypuses" are both accepted plural forms.The plural of platypus is not platypi. It is unfortunate that some dictionaries include platypi as a plural. Listing "octopi" as the plural of octopus is also incorrect, for the same reason. Both words are from Greek, not Latin."Platypi" is a colloquialism, and incorrect both grammatically and etymologically. The term uses pseudo-Latin rules.


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