The other day I get this random text from Gavin: Hi Mom. What is the plural of rhinoceros?
Since no one is really ever prepared to receive, much less answer a question like that, I responded the only way I knew how: add an es
By this point, one would think I have my masters in English and know all phonics rules backwards and forwards since the reply came to me so easy. I was feeling pretty confident as I made my way through the grocery store after hitting 'send'. But then my over-analyzing brain kicked into the next gear and started making me question my automatic response. I don't know...could it be rhinoceri? just like octopi? How many times have I had to use the plural of rhinoceros? How should I know? Why in the world is he even asking me this question?
So, in typical fashion, I text him back and pedal backwards a bit, trying to save face incase I'm wrong: I'm not 100% sure about that answer...why don't you look it up.
Within seconds I get his reply: actually it's rhinoceroses
It didn't dawn on me until days later, that both Gavin and I originally spelled rhinoceros wrong in the beginning of this little adventure. We both thought you spelled it 'rhinocerous' - with a 'u', so then by adding the 'es' (which I WAS right, by the way! a huge boost to my ego) as the suffix, we thought it sounded like 'rhinoserusus'; but it's actually pronounced 'rhinocer oh ces'. Get it?! Well...now you know in case you ever find yourself in this same predicament.
The ONLY thing going through my mind through-out this entire exchange was Brian Regan's skit on "Stupid In School". Sooooo funny and so appropriate for this little life moment.
Since no one is really ever prepared to receive, much less answer a question like that, I responded the only way I knew how: add an es
By this point, one would think I have my masters in English and know all phonics rules backwards and forwards since the reply came to me so easy. I was feeling pretty confident as I made my way through the grocery store after hitting 'send'. But then my over-analyzing brain kicked into the next gear and started making me question my automatic response. I don't know...could it be rhinoceri? just like octopi? How many times have I had to use the plural of rhinoceros? How should I know? Why in the world is he even asking me this question?
So, in typical fashion, I text him back and pedal backwards a bit, trying to save face incase I'm wrong: I'm not 100% sure about that answer...why don't you look it up.
Within seconds I get his reply: actually it's rhinoceroses
It didn't dawn on me until days later, that both Gavin and I originally spelled rhinoceros wrong in the beginning of this little adventure. We both thought you spelled it 'rhinocerous' - with a 'u', so then by adding the 'es' (which I WAS right, by the way! a huge boost to my ego) as the suffix, we thought it sounded like 'rhinoserusus'; but it's actually pronounced 'rhinocer oh ces'. Get it?! Well...now you know in case you ever find yourself in this same predicament.
The ONLY thing going through my mind through-out this entire exchange was Brian Regan's skit on "Stupid In School". Sooooo funny and so appropriate for this little life moment.
