What Is the Plural of Curriculum?
The plural of curriculum can be either curricula or curriculums. Both forms are correct in modern English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. Curricula is the traditional Latin plural and is more common in formal academic writing. Curriculums is the English-style plural and is widely accepted in everyday conversation, business writing, and less formal contexts. Your choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.
Quick Answer
- Curricula – Formal, academic, traditional. Best for research papers, official university documents, and scholarly articles.
- Curriculums – Informal, modern, practical. Best for emails, blog posts, business reports, and everyday conversation.
Understanding the Two Plurals
The word curriculum comes from Latin, where nouns ending in -um typically form their plural by changing to -a. This is why curricula exists. Over time, English speakers began applying the regular English plural rule (adding -s or -es), giving us curriculums. Today, both forms are standard, but they carry different stylistic weights.
When to Use "Curricula"
Use curricula when you want to sound precise, formal, or when you are writing for an audience that expects traditional academic language. It is the preferred form in university catalogues, educational research, and official policy documents.
Example: The university revised its curricula for all undergraduate programs to include more digital literacy components.
When to Use "Curriculums"
Use curriculums when you are writing in a more relaxed style, such as an email to a colleague, a blog post, or a presentation for a general audience. It sounds natural and avoids the slightly stiff tone of the Latin plural.
Example: We compared the training curriculums from three different companies before choosing one.
Comparison Table: Curricula vs. Curriculums
| Feature | Curricula | Curriculums |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Latin plural | English plural |
| Formality | Formal, academic | Informal, neutral |
| Common in | Research papers, policy documents | Emails, blogs, conversation |
| Tone | Traditional, precise | Modern, approachable |
| Acceptability | Always correct | Always correct |
| Example sentence | The curricula were updated to meet accreditation standards. | We reviewed several curriculums before making a decision. |
Natural Examples in Context
Seeing the word used in real situations helps you choose the right form. Here are examples from different settings.
Formal Academic Writing
Context: A university report.
"The department evaluated its existing curricula and proposed changes to better align with industry requirements."
Business Email
Context: An email to a training provider.
"Could you send me the curriculums for your project management courses? We need to compare them before next week."
Everyday Conversation
Context: Two teachers talking.
"I think the new curriculums are much easier to follow than the old ones."
Official Document
Context: A government education guideline.
"All school curricula must include a minimum of two hours of physical activity per week."
Common Mistakes with the Plural of Curriculum
Even advanced English learners sometimes make errors with this word. Here are the most frequent ones and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using "Curriculums" in Very Formal Writing
While curriculums is correct, it can sound out of place in a formal research paper or an official university document. Stick with curricula in those contexts.
Incorrect: The university's curriculums were approved by the board. (Too informal for an official statement)
Correct: The university's curricula were approved by the board.
Mistake 2: Using "Curriculum" as a Plural
Some learners forget to change the word at all and use curriculum for both singular and plural. This is incorrect.
Incorrect: We have three different curriculum for this program.
Correct: We have three different curricula / curriculums for this program.
Mistake 3: Confusing "Curricula" with "Curriculum Vitae"
Curriculum vitae (CV) is a separate term. Its plural is curricula vitae. Do not shorten curricula to mean a CV.
Incorrect: Please send me your curricula. (If you mean CVs)
Correct: Please send me your curricula vitae or CVs.
Mistake 4: Overcorrecting to "Curricula" in All Situations
Some learners think curricula is always better because it sounds more educated. But in casual writing, it can seem stiff or pretentious. Match the form to the situation.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes you may want to avoid the curricula/curriculums choice altogether. Here are practical alternatives.
- Course offerings – Use when talking about a list of available courses. Example: "The department expanded its course offerings this semester."
- Programs of study – Use in formal academic contexts. Example: "The programs of study were reviewed by the faculty."
- Syllabi – Use when referring to individual course outlines, not the whole curriculum. Example: "The syllabi for all courses are available online."
- Training plans – Use in corporate or professional training settings. Example: "We updated the training plans for new hires."
These alternatives can simplify your writing and remove the need to choose between the two plural forms.
Mini Practice: Test Your Understanding
Choose the correct plural form for each sentence. Answers are below.
- The school board approved new (curricula / curriculums) for all elementary grades.
- Please compare the two training (curricula / curriculums) and tell me which one is better.
- In her research paper, she analyzed the (curricula / curriculums) of ten universities.
- We offer three different (curricula / curriculums) for our online certification program.
Answers:
- curricula (formal, official context)
- curriculums (informal, conversational request)
- curricula (formal academic writing)
- curriculums (neutral, business context)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is "curriculums" grammatically incorrect?
No. Curriculums is a fully accepted plural form in modern English. It follows the regular English rule of adding -s and is used by many reputable publications and speakers.
2. Which plural should I use in a university application essay?
Use curricula in a university application essay or any formal academic document. It shows you are familiar with traditional academic language.
3. Can I use "curricula" in an email to a coworker?
You can, but it may sound overly formal. Curriculums is usually a better fit for workplace emails and internal communication.
4. What is the singular of "curricula"?
The singular is curriculum. For example: "This curriculum is designed for beginners." Do not use curricula as a singular noun.
Final Note
Choosing between curricula and curriculums is a matter of tone and context, not correctness. Both are right. When in doubt, consider your audience and the formality of your writing. For academic papers and official documents, lean toward curricula. For emails, conversations, and general writing, curriculums is perfectly fine and often sounds more natural.
For more help with plural forms, visit our Common Plural Forms section or explore Confusing Plurals for other tricky words. If you have questions, check our FAQ or contact us.
