More on osmeteria

[DR. JAMES ADAMS]

Sally wrote, in response to others:

> >. . .  Damman, and others, spell the word 'osmaterium'. Scoble
> >adds '[sic]' in his reference to Damman's paper--so he at least thinks
> >the 'a' is incorrect.
> 
> Isn't that just singular and plural spellings?

Sally is, of course, perfectly correct.  Both "-on" and "-um" singular 
endings are made plural with an "-a" (I have so many students who 
inappropriately use "mitochondria" as the singular form; I try to 
make a big deal about it, but it just never seems to sink in).  
"Osmeteria" *is* simply the plural of "osmeterium."

                    James

Dr. James K. Adams
Dept. of Natural Science and Math
Dalton State College
213 N. College Drive
Dalton, GA  30720
Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
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