Antennae vs. Antennas: A Grammar Zealot’s Guide to Bugging Out (and Sounding Smart)

Listen up, word nerds and grammar enthusiasts. Today, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of a linguistic conundrum that’s been plaguing Wi-Fi practitioners for far too long: the epic debate between “antennae” and “antennas.”

We’re about to embark on a journey through the treacherous terrain of entomology, radio waves, and the ever-present threat of sounding like a complete ignoramus, so buckle up.

English is full or ridiculous rules and bizarre spellings.

Antennae: The Bug’s Life

Let’s start with the basics. “Antennae” is the plural form of “antenna,” which, in the context of biology, refers to those wiggly, sensory appendages that stick out of an insect’s head. Think of them as nature’s version of Wi-Fi, allowing bugs to navigate, communicate, and generally avoid becoming a tasty snack for a hungry bird.

So, when you’re talking about a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing around your picnic blanket, each one is equipped with a pair of antennae. And if you happen to be an entomologist with a penchant for pedantry, you’ll insist on using the plural form, even if it makes you sound like a pretentious know-it-all.

Antennas: The Radio Waves’ Playground 

Now, let’s switch gears and talk about those metal contraptions that adorn rooftops, cars, and even your mobile devices. These are also called antennas, but in this case, they’re designed to capture and transmit radio waves, allowing you to enjoy the wonders of television, radio, and wireless communication.

Here’s where things get tricky. Technically, the plural form of “antenna” in this context is also “antennae.” However, in common usage, “antennas” has become the accepted norm. So, if you’re chatting with your tech-savvy friends about the latest Wi-Fi 7 network, you can make bold use of “antennas” without fear of being labeled a grammar pariah.

The Bottom Line: When to Bug Out and When to Tune In

So, how do you know which word to use? It’s simple, really. If you’re talking about bugs, stick with “antennae.” If you’re talking about technology, “antennas” is the spelling for you.

Of course, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous (or masochistic), you could always try using “antennae” in both contexts, just to see how many confused looks you get. Just be prepared to defend your linguistic choices with the fervor of a grammar warrior.

In Conclusion: Don’t Be an Antenna-hole

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to communicate effectively. Whether you’re waxing poetic about the beauty of a butterfly’s antennae or geeking out over the yagi antennas, as long as your audience understands what you’re talking about, you’re golden.

So, go forth and conquer the English language, one antenna (or antennae) at a time. Just remember, the key to sounding smart is not to be an antenna-hole. And if all else fails, just blame it on the bugs.

Some examples of word combinations and punctuation mishandlings common to the IT and specifically Wi-Fi community are listed below.

Accepted use	Incorrect use	Notes
‘on premises’ or ‘on-prem’	“on-premise”	‘On-premise’ refers to a statement from which another is inferred or follows ‘a’ as a conclusion (e.g. imagine being in the mind of Sherlock homes).  ‘On premises’ refers to on a piece of land including any building structures.  The latter is correctly used to describe the location of IT infrastructure hosted locally (on-premises) or remotely at another site or location.  Avoid falling into this trap by using the shortened term ‘on-prem’.
802.1X	802.1x	IEEE amendments use lower case letter(s), while full/complete standards use upper case letter(s). 802.1X is a complete standards and should always be spelled with a uppercase X.
polarization	polarity	RF uses polarization, while it is important to connect battery leads using the correct polarity.
AP	WAP	Two letters is more efficient than three.  Also see <link to blog>. Does the ‘W’ mean ‘Wi-Fi’, ‘wireless’, or is the whole initialism – ‘web application pentest’?
RADIUS	radius	In this case, RADIUS is an initialism for ‘remote access dial-in user service‘ and uses upper case letters.
cacti	cactuses	Plural form of goose is geese.  Also referred to as a ‘flock’ of geese.
geese	gooses or geeses	Plural form of goose is geese.  Also referred to as a ‘flock’ of geese.
moose	meese or mooses	Plural form of moose is moose.  Also referred to as a ‘herd’ of moose.
Item1, item2 and item3		Standard comma: Minimal accepted number of commas
Item1, item2, and item3		Oxford comma: sometimes described as superfluous and a crutch for bad writing; the Oxford comma is placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things.
Peppering in commas, so, you know where, to add, dramatic pauses, for, effect.		Shatner comma: always described as superfluous use of commas, unnecessarily inserted, throughout, a sentence.
“Off the record”	“Off the record”	Sequence matters – a common phrase used when making statements not intended to be published or quoted.  “Off the record” must be agreed to by both parties prior to making those statements.  “Off the record” does not necessarily apply when stated post facto of making statements.

Slàinte!