Have you ever come across the word analysis and wondered what its plural form should be? Maybe you’ve seen “analyses” somewhere and thought it looked odd, or perhaps you’ve even tried to say it out loud and felt a little unsure. Don’t worry you’re not alone! Many learners, and even native English speakers, find this word tricky because it doesn’t follow the typical “add -s” rule.

In this article, we’ll walk step by step through the plural of analysis. We’ll explore what the word means, why the plural looks the way it does, and how to use it correctly in sentences. We’ll also share fun facts and easy examples to make the whole thing stick in your mind. By the end, you’ll feel confident whenever you need to use analysis or analyses in writing or conversation.

Let’s dive right in!

What Does “Analysis” Mean?

Before we talk about plurals, let’s quickly define the word.

• Analysis (noun): The detailed study, breakdown, or examination of something in order to understand it better.

Put simply, analysis means taking something apart to see how it works or looking closely at details to understand the bigger picture.

For example:

• The scientist conducted an analysis of the soil samples.
• Her analysis of the novel helped the students see it in a new way.

So, analysis is about studying carefully. Now, what happens when you need to talk about more than one study or more than one breakdown? That’s where the plural form comes in.

What Is the Plural of “Analysis”?

Here’s the big answer:

The plural of analysis is analyses.

Yes, it changes more than just adding an “s.” Instead of “analysises” (which would look odd and incorrect), the correct word is analyses (pronounced uh-NAL-uh-seez).

This follows a pattern in English for some words that come from Greek. Words ending in -is often turn into -es in the plural.

Why Isn’t It “Analysises”?

Good question! The reason lies in the history of the word.

• The word analysis comes from Greek, where words ending in -is change to -es in the plural.
• Over time, English borrowed this rule for certain words. That’s why instead of “analysises,” we say “analyses.”

You’ll see the same thing with other words:

• Thesis → Theses
• Crisis → Crises
• Basis → Bases

So, analysis simply follows this same Greek-inspired rule.

How Do You Pronounce “Analyses”?

This is where some learners stumble.

• Analysis is pronounced: uh-NAL-uh-sis.
• Analyses is pronounced: uh-NAL-uh-seez.

Notice the difference at the end:

• Singular ends with -sis.
• Plural ends with -sees.

Try saying them both out loud a couple of times:

• This is one analysis.
• These are several analyses.

Is “Analysis” Singular or Plural?

Let’s clear up another common confusion.

• Analysis is always singular. It refers to one study, one examination, or one breakdown of details.
• Analyses is plural. It refers to two or more studies, examinations, or breakdowns.

Example sentences:

• The teacher asked for one analysis of the poem. (singular)
• The teacher compared three different analyses of the poem. (plural)

Real-Life Examples of “Analysis” and “Analyses”

Seeing the word in action helps a lot. Let’s look at some easy, real-life sentences.

Using “analysis” (singular):

• The doctor gave an analysis of the patient’s test results.
• His analysis of the financial data impressed the company.
• A quick analysis showed that the project was on track.

Using “analyses” (plural):

• The scientist conducted several analyses before reaching a conclusion.
• Different analyses of the same problem can lead to different answers.
• Her book compares the analyses of multiple historians.

Comparing “Analysis” with Other Similar Words

Sometimes it helps to look at words that behave the same way.

Here are a few:

• Crisis → Crises (One crisis shook the country. Many crises affected the world.)
• Thesis → Theses (Her thesis was about psychology. Their theses covered many topics.)
• Hypothesis → Hypotheses (She tested one hypothesis. The scientists tested many hypotheses.)

Notice how they all end in -is (singular) and turn into -es (plural). That’s the same pattern analysis → analyses follows.

Fun Fact: Where Does “Analysis” Come From?

The word analysis comes from the Greek word analusis, which means “a loosening up” or “a breaking down.” It’s built from:

• ana- (meaning “up” or “throughout”), and
• lysis (meaning “a loosening” or “release”).

So at its core, the word literally means breaking something apart to understand it. That’s pretty cool, right?

Common Mistakes People Make

Let’s go over a few common errors so you can avoid them:

1. Saying or writing “analysises.”
   • This is incorrect. Always use analyses for the plural.
2. Mixing up analysis and analyses.
   • Remember: one analysis, many analyses.
3. Mispronouncing “analyses.”
   • Don’t say uh-NAL-uh-sis-es.
   • Do say uh-NAL-uh-seez.

Quick Tips to Remember the Plural

Here are some easy tricks:

• If it ends in -sis and comes from Greek, the plural will usually end in -ses (pronounced -sees).
• Think of other examples like thesis → theses or crisis → crises.
• Practice with sentences:
  • One analysis is complete.
  • Two analyses are complete.

Why Does This Matter?

You might be thinking, “Do I really need to know this?” The answer is yes especially if you’re writing essays, reports, or professional documents. Using the correct plural shows that you understand English grammar and can express yourself clearly.

Imagine writing a research paper:

• If you wrote “The analysises were detailed,” it would look incorrect.
• But if you wrote “The analyses were detailed,” it would look polished and professional.

Extra Examples for Practice

Here are some fill-in-the-blank style examples you can try:

1. The scientist performed a careful _______ of the data. (Answer: analysis)
2. The professor compared two different _______ of the same event. (Answer: analyses)
3. His _______ of the speech was very insightful. (Answer: analysis)
4. Several _______ of the experiment showed similar results. (Answer: analyses)

Practicing like this will make the correct form feel natural.

Recap of Key Points

Let’s summarize everything we’ve learned so far:

• Analysis means a detailed study or breakdown.
• The plural of analysis is analyses, not “analysises.”
• Singular: analysis (uh-NAL-uh-sis).
• Plural: analyses (uh-NAL-uh-seez).
• This pattern comes from Greek, where words ending in -is change to -es in the plural.
• Examples: One analysis of the report was useful. Several analyses helped confirm the findings.

Conclusion

So there you have it the mystery of the plural of analysis solved! The key is to remember that it doesn’t follow the regular “add -s” rule. Instead, it changes to analyses, following a pattern borrowed from Greek.

The next time you’re writing an essay, explaining your thoughts, or even just chatting with a friend about research, you’ll know exactly when to use analysis and when to use analyses.

Language can sometimes feel tricky, but once you break it down (just like an analysis itself!), it becomes much easier to understand. Keep practicing with sentences, and soon you won’t even have to think twice about it.

Now it’s your turn try creating a few of your own sentences using analysis and analyses. You’ll be surprised how quickly it starts to feel natural.