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The answer to this question outlines a general rule for pluralising acronyms:

The general rule is that you should not use an apostrophe to form the plurals of nouns, abbreviations, or dates made up of numbers: just add -s (or -es, if the noun in question forms its plural with - es).

However, it is not clear from that answer what should be done if the noun in question uses does not end in either -s or -es.

What is the correct plural abbreviation for Curriculum Vitae?

I think the plural is Curriculum Vitarum (or possibly Curricula Vitae), which would make the plural abbreviation CV too. Use of the -s suffix suggests Curriculum Vitaes (or possibly Curriculums Vitae) which seems wrong.

What is correct?

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  • @EdwinAshworth those appear to be works where adding the "s" makes the abbreviated word a plural, that general case doesn't answer this one.
    – Keith
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 20:28
  • How does Hugo's answer not answer this?
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 20:33
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    I believe the correct pluralization for curriculum vitae should be curricula vitae, not curriculum vitarum, as curriculum is the noun. Which would still lead one to use CV for the plural.
    – Cameron
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 20:48
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    It reads: “The general rule is that you should not use an apostrophe to form the plurals of nouns, abbreviations, or dates made up of numbers: just add -s (or -es, if the noun in question forms its plural with - es). For example: ... MP MPs (e.g. Local MPs are divided on this issue.)”
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 21:03
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    If you are alleging that CV is not pronounced SEE-VEE or that CVs is not pronounced SEE-VEEs, then you'd best make that clear, with supporting evidence to that effect. Otherwise this makes no sense.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Jan 25, 2017 at 11:40

1 Answer 1

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Wikipedia uses "CVs", so I'd go with that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae

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    Cheers, but that's just an example of usage. I'm sure that CVs is commonly understood, but is it correct?
    – Keith
    Commented Jan 24, 2017 at 20:33

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