Alga VS algae

Question

What is the difference between Alga and algae? And are they both pronounced with a hard G sound or soft g (j) sound?

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

A dictionary will answer these questions. See, for example http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alga

Because these organisms usually abound in large numbers, "algae" is the more common word.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Some Excellent English Teacher,

Please help me determine which is better...knowing alga is singular, while algae is plural. Algae is more popular, but when/if I make/launch a food product out of alga alone (algae)....which is nothing but alga(algae) alone--solely from alga(algae)....and alga(algae) itself ....for instance,if I name the product as "Beautiful Alga(algae)--TM"..... so, which is more appropriate...alga or algae, or it doesn't matter?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

If you do something with a single alga, there's no reason not to use the word, except that it is usual. I don't remember ever seeing it used

I imagine it would be a very small thing, except possibly for some form of seaweed.

Clive

Grooble · Answer

I know this is an old thread, but this just came up for me, so I thought I'd add my two cents.

I'm writing a Japanese - English translation and naturally used the plural form with a singular verb conjugation! Yikes!
"...when algae grows on nets..."

I know it's technically incorrect, but I can't bring myself to say:
"...when algae grow on nets..."
It tries to suggest a proliferation of little alga all doing their thing...
that's is not what my image is here.

My feeling is that alga/algae has gone the way of datum/data and it is now not only acceptable, but natural and even correct to use the plural form in the singular as is usually done with data.

Anonymous · Answer

groobleI'm writing a Japanese - English translation and naturally used the plural form with a singular verb conjugation! Yikes!"...when algae grows on nets..."

That seems a natural usage to me, too.

While the Oxford only gives 'alga' as the singular and 'algae' as the plural (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/alga?q=algae), the Longman Dictionary has 'algae' as an uncountable noun (http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/algae) - which is the way you have used it here.

Its use as an uncountable noun (conjugated with singular verbs) is also supported by the National Geographic style manual:
"Occasionally algae may be considered a collective noun and treated as singular:
A map shows how algae periodically blooms in the bay.
Look! There it has drifted under the bridges, and out into the ocean, where it hovers over the reef."
(http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/A/alga-algae)

It seems that modern English usage has appropriated the Latin plural 'algae' for use as an uncountable noun - as you pointed out, it has done the same with 'data' (which, however, the Oxford is quite happy to accept as a 'mass noun', or uncountable noun: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/data).

I guess 'algae' just hasn't quite made the grade yet, from the Oxford point of view.

Dictionaries can be reluctant to give their seal of approval to grammatically-innovative (or incorrect!) usages of Latin- and Greek-derived words.

Alga VS algae

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