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 Vita or Vitae?

People have asked me why I sometimes use the term vita and sometimes vitae.  I am no Latin scholar, but here is my explanation.  Anyone in disagreement is welcome to contact me.  

The document called a vita, (the singular for life) also known as curriculum vitae, (course of one's life) details one's academic and professional accomplishments.  When I refer to one document I use the singular "vita."  When I refer to several documents I use the plural "vitae."  When placing the word "curriculum" in front of the term, I use the "ae" ending NOT to signify the plural form, but to signify the genitive case (as in of one's life.)  Therefore, I do not write "curriculum vita."  I translate vita as life; vitae as lives; and curriculum vitae as the course of one's life.  


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