AP Style distinguishes among the terms alumnus, alumni, alumna, and alumnae, each describing a specific group of graduates. Using these terms correctly is essential for clarity, as they vary based on gender and number.
What AP Style Suggests?
People often get confused between the words alumnus, alumni, alumna and alumnae. AP Style guide suggests writers to use each of these words correctly as these words are different from each other.
1. Alumnus:
Alumnus is used to refer a graduate and it should be a male graduate. It is a singular noun. So, it means that this particular word is for a singular male graduate.
Alumnus means a male graduate
For instance,
• My father is a Harvard alumnus.
2. Alumni:
The word ‘alumni’ is the plural of alumnus but it can also be used to refer a male and a female graduate group. At one side, alumnus means a male group of graduates. On the other side, it can also mean a group in which there are male as well as female graduates.
Important point
> Alumni cannot be used to refer only a group of female graduates.
3. Alumna:
Alumna is only used to refer a graduate who is, especially, a female. For example,
• My mother is a Harvard alumna.
4. Alumnae:
The word ‘alumnae’ is only used for a female group who should be graduates of any institute.
Understanding the Singular and Plural Forms of Alumni Terms
AP Style specifies distinct terms to address graduates based on gender and quantity, with “alumnus” and “alumna” as the singular forms and “alumni” and “alumnae” as the plural forms. Here’s how they break down:
- Alumnus: This term is singular and applies to a male graduate. For example, “John is an alumnus of Stanford University.”
- Alumna: This term is singular and applies to a female graduate. For example, “Jessica is an alumna of the University of Texas.”
- Alumni: This is the plural form of alumnus, often used for a group of male graduates or a mixed group of male and female graduates. For example, “The university welcomed alumni from the class of 2000,” which could mean an all-male or mixed group.
- Alumnae: This is the plural form of alumna and specifically refers to a group of female graduates. For example, “The alumnae of Smith College organized a reunion.”
When to Use Alumni for Mixed-Gender Groups
The term “alumni” is versatile because it serves as the plural for both male graduates and groups containing both male and female graduates. This is helpful in writing situations where a group includes people of different genders or when gender-specific terms are unnecessary.
- Example: “The university’s alumni network spans across several continents,” refers to a group that likely includes both men and women.
- Another Example: “The alumni of 2015 have donated significantly to the new campus project,” which could include both men and women.
Using “alumni” for mixed-gender groups is both inclusive and consistent with AP Style, which avoids terms that distinguish unnecessarily based on gender unless the context requires it.
Gender-Specific Terms for Graduates: Alumnus vs. Alumna
In cases where it’s necessary or relevant to specify the gender of an individual graduate, AP Style uses “alumnus” for a man and “alumna” for a woman. This can be especially useful in biographies, awards, or formal settings where knowing the gender of the person may add context.
- Using Alumnus for Men:
Example: “Dr. Smith, an alumnus of Harvard Medical School, has been appointed to the board.” Here, “alumnus” indicates that Dr. Smith is male. - Using Alumna for Women:
Example: “Jane Doe, an alumna of Yale Law School, was named one of the top attorneys in the country.” The use of “alumna” confirms Jane’s gender.
When gender isn’t pertinent, “alumni” can often be used, but “alumnus” and “alumna” add clarity when individual graduates are being recognized or introduced.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Alumni Terms in AP Style
Writers sometimes struggle with these terms, especially when referring to groups or when gender-specific terms are unclear. Here are a few common pitfalls:
- Using “alumni” for all groups, including all-female groups: “Alumni” should not be used for a group composed solely of female graduates. The correct term for such a group is “alumnae.”
Incorrect: “The alumni of Wellesley College attended the event.”
Correct: “The alumnae of Wellesley College attended the event.” - Misusing “alumnus” and “alumna” interchangeably: Remember that “alumnus” refers to a single male graduate and “alumna” to a single female graduate.
Incorrect: “Jane Doe is an alumnus of Brown University.”
Correct: “Jane Doe is an alumna of Brown University.” - Incorrectly pluralizing “alumna” as “alumnas”: The correct plural form of “alumna” is “alumnae,” not “alumnas.”
Incorrect: “The alumnas of Smith College reunited for a special event.”
Correct: “The alumnae of Smith College reunited for a special event.”
What Did You Learn?
By using alumnus for a single male graduate, alumna for a single female graduate, alumni for mixed or all-male groups, and alumnae for all-female groups, you can communicate effectively and respectfully.