Statuses vs status? Here’s the plural of status with 5 examples

We’ve all used the word “status” before in our lives, whether we’re talking about an online social media post or a work-based report of some kind. But, what exactly is the plural of “status,” and when is it best to use it?

Status Or Statuses – What Is The Plural Of Status?

The plural of “status” is actually both “status” and “statuses.” It’s one of the English language words with a Latin root that allows for both an anglicized plural (with the -es) and a zero plural (without any addition to the end).

Knowing when to use both isn’t all that important, considering that both are correct. However, there are a few usual suspects that change when you use either of them. For example, “statuses” is reserved mostly for academic writing. However, people don’t often like hearing “statuses” in speech because it just sounds “wrong.” That’s when we use “status” instead.

It’s more common to use “status” as the plural, though either way is fine.

Is The Plural Of Status Different In American English, British English, And Canadian English?

The rule for the plural of “status” is universal. That means that no matter what form of English you’re using, you’ll always be able to say either “statuses” or “status.” Again, though, the issues mentioned above still apply. No matter what language you’re using, most people won’t say “statuses” in normal conversation, as it doesn’t feel right to do so.

It’s become more common to say “status” in American, British, and Canadian English, to the point where “statuses” sound so wrong that most people avoid using it altogether.

Is It Grammatically Correct To Ever Write Status’ Or Status’s?

Since you’re referring to a possessive state, it’s generally not correct to write “status'” or “status’s.” You really don’t need to ever talk about a “status” having possession of something both in written and spoken English. Instead, you’d often pair it off with other words, and it’s usually the thing being possessed itself.

For example, “Jimmy’s relationship status” shows that Jimmy “owns” his own relationship status and needs the apostrophe to show that. “Statuses” don’t often get the same luxury in the language.

What Is The Meaning Of Status?

There are two meanings to the word “status,” which again can differ the plural usage if you want it to. It still isn’t all that common to see “statuses” written, regardless of the meaning or context, though it is slightly more common in one way than the other.

The first meaning of “status” refers to a person’s social position relative to other people. You’ve probably heard it used before, in the form of a “social status.” We could take it further than that and say that somebody is in a “high-status job” (i.e., a doctor).

The other meaning refers to the situation at a certain time during a predetermined process. It’s most common in businesses more than anyway else. For example, your boss could ask you for the “status of the report” they asked you to work on. They’re basically asking you how far along you’ve got with the report that you’re doing.

5 Examples Of How To Use The Plural Form Of Status In A Sentence

Let’s finish by looking at five examples of how to use both plural forms of “status” in a sentence. As we’ve already mentioned, you’re more likely to see “status” written as the plural over “statuses,” and you’ll soon see why. If you don’t think the word “statuses” looks right, trust us when we tell you it’s still correct. It’s just one of those words that have become less popular over the years.

• “Roger, I need the status of the reports I got you to work on.”
• “Roger, I need the statuses of the reports I got you to work on.”
• “Politicians have high social status.”
• “Politicians have high social statuses.”
• “How many times does he want to update his statuses?”
  
  

As you can see, both forms of the word are interchangeable from each other, though you’re more likely to use “status.” You might not even mean to; it just feels more natural to do so and less tongue-twisty. It’s ultimately up to you which way you prefer to say it, though.

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