Which plural suffix would you use for Latin-origin nouns ending in -ex, such as vertex becoming vertices?

Which plural suffix would you use for Latin-origin nouns ending in -ex, such as vertex becoming vertices?

• A. ices
• B. exes
• C. ae
• D. es

Answer: (A)

For Latin-origin nouns that end in -ex, the plural is formed by replacing -ex with -ices. This pattern gives vertex becoming vertices. You can see it with other words like codex → codices or index → indices. The -ae form is used for some singular -a endings in Latin borrowings, and -es or -exes don’t follow this Latin-derived plural rule, so they don’t apply here.

For Latin-origin nouns that end in -ex, the plural is formed by replacing -ex with -ices. This pattern gives vertex becoming vertices. You can see it with other words like codex → codices or index → indices. The -ae form is used for some singular -a endings in Latin borrowings, and -es or -exes don’t follow this Latin-derived plural rule, so they don’t apply here.