Great Moments in Pedantry: Octopuses, octopi, octopodes

Maggie Koerth 9:33 am Tue Jan 4, 2011

Merriam-Webster editor Kory Stamper explains the fascinating history behind my favorite hair-pulling, knee-capping Internet debate. Two surprising lessons here. First, all three plural forms of octopus can be considered correct. That's right, everybody. We can stop having this argument now.

Second, and more embarrassingly, it turns out that I've been mispronouncing "octopodes" for years. Whoops.

Further embarrassment: Looks like Lisa posted this same video last summer. I'll go ahead and leave it up, because the comments are new and fun. But my apologies to those forced to watch it twice.

Via Nerdy Christie

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