Quick question for all of you.

[batsofchaos]

I stand corrected. So basically, it doesn't matter how you actually go about pluralizing it because the scientific language of entomologists requires far more precision than general words like mantis or mantid can convey. Regarding the etymology of the words, both are recognized as correct within American English, so you're pretty much able to go with whatever the heck you want as your base word and then pluralize appropriately.

 

[kamakiri]

I have a tendency to use 'mantises' in the context of a group of specific individuals, like, 'my mantises'.

I have a tendency to use 'mantids' when speaking of them broadly. 'mantids are fun to study'

I thought they can be used interchangeably...

 

[PhilinYuma]

I stand corrected. So basically, it doesn't matter how you actually go about pluralizing it because the scientific language of entomologists requires far more precision than general words like mantis or mantid can convey. Regarding the etymology of the words, both are recognized as correct within American English, so you're pretty much able to go with whatever the heck you want as your base word and then pluralize appropriately.

Yep, that sounds about right. My ramblings of this afternoon were from memory, and while I don't think that I stated anything incoorectly, I was interested to find some extra facts when I pulled out my OED and Webster's 3rd. The former specifically contradicts the "technical" argument about the difference between the mantis genus and the order (then family) Mantodea and cites a source from 1645 that uses "mantis", "mantises" and "mantes" as the plurals. It cited an 1895 (very late for the OED) source for "mantid" and none for "mantids", though that isn't evidence against its usage. Webster's 3rd (1971) gives "mantis", "mantid", "mantises", "mantes", and "mantids", though, of course with no first citations. I find it a little odd that both dictionaries admit "mantes", surely the plural of Fr. "mante" ("Insecte a pattes anterieures ravisseuses." Is that cool or what?) but not the singular.

So now, Alex will get an A+ on his paper, and I, at least, feel ready for fresh fields and pastures new.

 

[Katnapper]

So now, Alex will get an A+ on his paper, and I, at least, feel ready for fresh fields and pastures new.

Andrew is writing the paper.

 

[agent A]

So now, Alex will get an A+ on his paper, and I, at least, feel ready for fresh fields and pastures new.

epic fail