Sophmore or Sophomore? Which is Correct?

Vocabulary / By

Sophomore is the correct way to refer to a second-year high school student. It’s a classification to give an understanding of the education level and general age of any given person or group of people. Sophmore is incorrect and there are no exceptions to its use.

It may be a little tricky for newcomers to the English language because the correct spelling is entirely dependent on one little letter, an “o.” But, there is a way to remember it every time.

About the Word, “Sophomore”

The word “sophomore” comes from ancient Greek and is a compound of two words, Sophos, which means “wise,” and Mōros, meaning “foolish.” When you put them together it literally comes as “wise fool.” Modern grammatical rules make it an adjective or a noun that references a teenager who goes to school and is about 15 years old.

But, the word “sophomore” began its use as a classification for a student in their second year of college or university, not high school. In this way, it translates to “arguer.” It wasn’t until modern decades that “sophomore” became synonymous with second-year high school students.

Usage; Forms of “Sophomore”

The examples below display how to use “sophomore” correctly in a sentence. In regards to adjectives, you can add the suffix –ic after removing the e. This makes the word, “sophomoric,” which means relating to a sophomore. This could reflect the age, behavior, mindset and other qualities.

Adjective: In my sophomore year, I learned how to drive.
Adjective: Learning to drive is a sophomoric pursuit.
Adjective: My entire sophomore class is crazy and mindless.
Adjective: It’s sophomoric to be crazy and mindless.
Noun: The sophomores are going to sing for the pageant.
Noun: When we were sophomores, we played hockey.
Both: The sophomoric antics of the school’s sophomores are seemingly strange.

Mnemonic Device

The best way to recall the right spelling of “sophomore” is to remember there are three O’s. They almost sandwich between the consonants in a balanced and even way. It’s not difficult to remember, but you should actively commit it to memory if you struggle to spell it.

sOphOmOre

Conclusion

Always remember that the correct spelling to refer to a second-year high school student is “sophomore.” There are three O’s, not two. It’s both a noun and an adjective that’s used to describe a teenager who’s around 15 years old.

Conor
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