Forum v. Forums

[Darthmaul]

Some people think differently on this subject and I am wondering how you all feel? Do you call your forum a "forum" or use an s and call it "forums"? Does this even matter to you at all?

 

[Gimgak]

Forums is incorrect so I would call it a forum as even though the correct term is fora most people don't know that.

 

[Darthmaul]

Hm, thanks for clearing that up big G 😀

 

[Gizmo]

I sometimes call it a Message Board. 😉 But most times I call it a community.

 

[David]

Forums is incorrect so I would call it a forum as even though the correct term is fora most people don't know that.

But that's the whole point - if most people don't know it then if you require a pluralised form, "forums" would be better. If you do a Google.com search, you'll find there are 3,340,000,000 results for "forums" and only 175,000,000 results for "fora" (the first few results aren't even related to forums). You would want less confusion, ie. many large "forums" use "forums" as part of their domain or subdomain (Vogue, Whirlpool, DigitalPoint).

However, I don't think you're point about "forums" being "incorrect" is very valid. Both are acceptable and etymologists agree on both usages. In fact, the Latin word "forum" concerned a public square or marketplace, so it's not exactly what we today understanding as an Internet forum. Because meanings of words can fluctuate and change over time, one could argue "forums" is associated with its modern counterpart.

 

[magnetik]

yeah plural is fora!!! i call it board most times..

 

[Hissae2]

I usually call it forums .. I don't think it makes much different.

Mario Forums 😛