Analysis is a commonly used word in college writing. If you are doing quantitative research in any of the STEM fields, you will likely use analysis in all of your written reports and throughout your college career.
The problem is, some students—especially ESL students—aren’t sure how to make analysis plural.
No worries; we are here to help.
What is the Plural Form of Analysis?
Most nouns are made plural simply by adding the letter s to the end of the word.
- More than one car = cars.
- More than one tree = trees.
- More than one book = books.
- More than one shirt = shirts.
The word analysis is a bit different. The plural form of analysis is analyses.
- Singular = Analysis
- Plural = Analyses
To make analysis plural, you change the letter “i” into an “e.” This then signals a change in pronunciation, see below.
When to Use Analysis
Analysis is the singular form of the word, meaning it refers to a single study, report, examination, etc.
- A new analysis of data from a large national study has found that carrying fat around the middle of the body greatly raises the risk for heart disease and death, even for those of normal weight. –The New York Times
- The Citizens Budget Commission analysis found that 25 percent of tenants in the city’s largest borough pay at least half their income to the landlord. –New York Post
How do you pronounce analysis? The singular analysis is pronounced uh-nal-ih-sis. The technical diacritic spelling is ə-năl’ ĭ-sĭs.
When to Use Analyses
Analyses is plural for analysis, meaning is refers to multiple studies, reports, examinations, etc.
- They have driven down their valuation to an average of only about 60 percent of real market value, according to separate analyses by the Houston Chronicle and the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts. –Houston Chronicle
- People really loved Grantland, given its mix of super-in-depth movie reviews and 3,000-word analyses of individual NBA teams’ zone defenses. –The Wall Street Journal
How do you pronounce analyses? The plural analyses is pronounced uh-nal-ih-seez. The technical diacritic spelling is ə-năl’ ĭ-sēz’.
Trick to Remember the Difference
Not sure you will be able to remember when to use analysis or analyses? If you can remember this simple trick, you will be all set.
Analysis is singular. If you look at the word analysis, it ends in the same few letters that the word singular begins with. Analysis is singular. Both words have an “s-i” in them.
Analyses is the plural form of analysis, which means there are more than one. In other words, there are several analyses. Both words have an “s-e” in them.
Summary
The difference between analysis vs. analyses is the difference between singular vs. plural.
Analysis is the singular form.
Analyses is the plural of analysis.
If you need additional help with any other English words, visit our main confusing words page. We have hundreds of the most commonly confused English words with detailed explanations, examples, and quizzes.
You can also visit our online grammar dictionary for help with grammar and literary terms.
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