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Vlivef Posted 6 years ago
Vocabulary

Phalanx and its alternatives

Hi,

Could somebody please explain to me the differences (if any) among the following terms (spellings):

(1) phalanx

(2) phalange

(3) falanx

(4) falange

I understand EITHER of these four variants can mean EITHER a bone ( of the finger or toe ) OR a group of people (eg, a phalanx of policemen)?

The variant (1) is by far the most common (based on my googling/English corpora searches).

Are there contexts where native speakers may prefer to use either (2), or (3), or (4) for (1)?

None of the online dictionaries I have checked answers this question :-(

Awaiting your kind comments...

  

Top answer

It rarely comes up. "Phalanx" (phalanxes) is the only form I have ever used for the formation. "Phalanges" (the only form for the finger bones) is much rarer, and the singular "phalange" rarer still.

— Anonymous

  • It rarely comes up.
  • "Phalanx" (phalanxes) is the only form I have ever used for the formation.
  • "Phalanges" (the only form for the finger bones) is much rarer, and the singular "phalange" rarer still.
  • I have never seen the forms with "f", and they would be taken for spelling mistakes by me.
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2 Answers
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It rarely comes up. "Phalanx" (phalanxes) is the only form I have ever used for the formation. "Phalanges" (the only form for the finger bones) is much rarer, and the singular "phalange" rarer still. I have never seen the forms with "f", and they would be taken for spelling mistakes by me.

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vlivefThe variant (1) is by far the most common (based on my googling/English corpora searches).

It also has the meanings explained here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx and https://en.wi

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