correct use of myriad
Meredith wrote about seeing the word myriad used incorrectly by people who should know better. I have used it in two posts, but I was happy to find I used it correctly.
The site she linked to, webgrammar.com, doesn’t have much in the way of content, but there are a myriad of great links.
Yes, you did use it correctly. It was seeing your usage that reminded me that people tend to use it incorrectly.
Myriad, plethora … these are some of my favorite words. “Myriad” always reminds me of the movie “Heathers”.
your use of myrian here is incorrect, myriad as a noun is a singular noun.
Correct usage would be ‘…doesn’t have much in the way of content, but there IS a myriad of great links.’
oops, I’m criticising your use of myriad and I go and spell it incorrectly! (and don’t tell me that criticising is spelt with a ‘z’, I am English so as far as I am concerned that is the correct spelling!)
Interesting point JW, but the American Heritage Dictionary uses it as a plural noun in their example. “A vast number: the myriads of bees in the hive.”
According to the Webster-Merri dictionary myriad can be used as both a noun and an advective. “Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it.”
You would not write “A 10,000”, but “10,000” – therefore, as the word “myriad” refers to that number, the use “myriad varieties of fish” IS the more correct, according to both archaic and modern usage. Old use is not always correct use.
Renee! I ALWAYS think of “Heathers” when I hear myriad!!! Glad I’m not the only one!