I dug this up because I was wondering about the "alum" thing.
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I've known that stuff for a while, as well I should after 3 years of Latin! One thing that I have problems with is that, because I took 3 years of Latin, I have a habit of pronouncing those words the way I was always taught to. For example, I pronounce -ae like "eye."
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So alumnae is pronounced "alum-nay?"
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Rudey,
You are right, but if people don't know the difference between alumna/alumni etc. ADGAlum was giving them information so they would know. I attended an all female college and at reunions, graduations, etc. we occasionally have vendors trying to sell us stuff that reads "Spelman College Alumni". Sorry, but "mistake" or not, that is wrong! Needless to say, they do not sell much stuff when it's written that way!
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If "alumni" refers to masculine or mixed plural, then why is it dead wrong when used for an all-female college? Wouldn't it be like one of those situations you could use the male form for, just to be safe? I mean, I know "alumnae" would be preferred...