What is the singular version of alum?

The singular form for "alumni" (a group) can be alumnus (male), alumna (female), or the gender-neutral, informal alum, with "alum" and "alums" now widely accepted in formal contexts for gender neutrality as well. So, "alum" is the singular, gender-neutral term, while alumnus/alumna are traditional gendered singular forms.

Can alum be singular?

Still, even as alum becomes more frequent as a singular form of the word, alumni remains the most commonly used plural form of the noun—no matter whom you're referring to.

What is the single version of alum?

“Alumna” refers to a single female alum, and “alumnus” is a single male alum. The terms “alum” (singular, not gender specific) and “alums” (plural, not gender specific) are more informal and are acceptable, particularly when the gender is unknown.

What is a singular alumni called?

Alumni and alumnus are the preferred plural and singular terms of alumni of any gender. The feminine terms—alumna (singular) and alumnae (plural)—may be used in the context of the publication or the preferences of the subjects.

Do I use alum or alumni?

The preferred term for referring to a person who graduated or attended the University is "alum." The plural form for this term can be "alums" or "alumni." "Alums" is often considered less formal.

Alumnus, Alumna, Alumni, Alumnae: How do they differ?

Can I just say alum?

You can say "alum" (pronounced AL-um) as a common, informal, gender-neutral term for a school graduate, short for alumnus/alumna/alumni, though formal settings might prefer the traditional Latin terms (alumnus/alumnae/alumni) or the more inclusive "alumni" for a group. "Alum" is also a chemical compound, a type of aluminum sulfate salt.
 

Is a single person an alum or alumni?

For a singular person, use alum (gender-neutral, informal/formal now accepted), alumnus (male), or alumna (female); alumni is the plural for a mixed or all-male group, while alumnae is the plural for females, but alum (singular) and alums (plural) are common, accepted, non-gendered shortcuts.
 

How do I say I am an alum?

The most common misconception is using "alumni" in the singular form. For example, "I am an alumni of Roanoke College" would be incorrect and should be "I am an alumnus/alumna/alum of Roanoke College." It's not that hard, really, but if you ever do forget which term to use, just say that you are a proud Maroon!

Can I use alumni for one person?

Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a person who identifies as a man who has graduated from a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar references to a person who identifies as a woman. Use alumni when referring to groups that include both men and women.

How do I properly address a female graduate?

1. Write the full name of the guest using proper titles.
2. Example: “Mr. John Smith” (for a male) “Ms. Sarah Williams” (for a female)

Do I refer to myself as an alum or alumni?

For an individual graduate, an alumnus is a single male, an alumna is a single female, and an alum is the gender neutral term. For the plurals, alumni refers to multiple male or gender neutral graduates, alumnae is for multiple female grads, and alums is the gender neutral plural.

Can males be considered alumnae?

Alumni is the plural form, referring both to males as a group and to people of all genders as a group. An alumna is a female alumnus; alumnae is the plural form, referring only to females as a group.

What do you call a school you previously attended?

You will often hear the term alma mater, which literally means nourishing mother, as a way of referring to the school, university or college that a person formerly attended.

How do you introduce yourself as an alumni?

Introduce Yourself Clearly: Begin by introducing yourself with your full name, current academic status (e.g., student or recent graduate), and your major or field of study.

Is there a gender-neutral term for alumni?

However, to simplify the gender-inclusive terminology, Westtown adopted the convention of using 'alum/alums. ' These terms are accepted by Merriam-Webster and the AP Style Guide (among others) as gender-neutral alternatives to 'alumni.

Should I say alum or alumna?

You may use alumna when referring to a woman who has attended a school; alumnus when referring to a man who has attended a school; or alum or graduate as a singular, gender-neutral option. Use alumni or graduates when referring to a group of multiple genders. Use alumnae when referring to a group of women only.

Can I just say alumn?

Yes, you can say "alum," but it's considered informal, while "alumnus" (male/general singular), "alumna" (female singular), and "alumni" (mixed/male plural) are the traditional formal terms, though "alumni" is now widely used for any mixed-gender group. "Alum" (singular) and "alums" (plural) serve as modern, gender-neutral shortcuts, especially in casual communication like social media or internal messages, but formal writing (like university publications or AP style) often prefers the Latin forms. 

Am I an alumni or am I an alumnus?

You are either an alumnus (male), an alumna (female), or the gender-neutral term alum, while alumni refers to a group of graduates (male or mixed), and alumnae is for a group of females; alumni for a single person is generally incorrect, though alum is a common, informal, gender-neutral alternative.
 

What is the correct way to use alumni?

Use the correct form of the word

1. Alumna (emerita) is singular female. ...
2. Alumnus (emeritus) is singular male. ...
3. Alumnae (emeritae) is plural female. ...
4. Alumni (emeriti) is plural male and plural when both men and women are included. ...
5. Usage note: You are never wrong using alumni for groups, even when only women are included.

Is fellow alumni correct?

The term "my fellow alumni" is correct and can be used in written English. You can use it when referring to other people who also graduated from a particular school, university, or college. For example: I was pleasantly surprised to see my fellow alumni from college at the reunion.

What is an alum at Harvard?

Alumni (AL) – An alumnus/alumna is defined as an individual who has received a degree from any school at Harvard University or Radcliffe College, including honorary degrees.

Can one person be an alumni?

Note: That a single person cannot be an "alumni" or "alumnae." These words only denote plurality. To sum up, "alumnae" is the plural form of "alumna" (for female graduates), while "alumni" is the plural of "alumnus" (for male graduates).

How to use alum in a sentence?

He's an alum of the Chicago Theater Company. He started his own company with a fellow Stanford alum. The school counts on successful alums to contribute both money and expertise.