Analyses vs Analysis: Which One Is Correct For 2026

Analyses vs analysis is a common English word-form question, especially in academic writing, research papers, business reports, science, and professional communication.

The two words are closely related, but they are not interchangeable. The main difference is simple:

analysis is normally the singular form, while analyses is the plural form. In other words, one analysis is singular; two or more analyses are plural.

Major dictionaries, including Cambridge, Oxford, and Collins, list analyses as the plural of analysis.

The confusion comes from pronunciation and spelling. The ending -ses in analyses does not behave like the ordinary English plural ending in words such as books or reports.

In addition, analyses is pronounced differently from analysis, even though the spelling looks very similar.

This guide explains analyses vs analysis from every useful angle: meaning, grammar, pronunciation, singular and plural usage, academic writing, professional English, common mistakes, examples, and the easiest way to remember the difference.

Quick Answer

Analysis is the singular noun: one analysis.

Analyses is the plural noun: two or more analyses.

Examples:

• The analysis is complete. → one analysis
• The analyses are complete. → multiple analyses

So, if you are talking about one examination, study, interpretation, or report, use analysis. If you are talking about more than one, use analyses.

Quick rule:
1 = analysis
2+ = analyses

Analyses vs Analysis: Comparison Table

Feature	Analysis	Analyses
Number	Singular	Plural
Part of speech	Noun	Noun
Basic meaning	One detailed examination or interpretation	More than one detailed examination or interpretation
Refers to	One study, examination, or result	Multiple studies, examinations, or results
Pronunciation	/əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/	/əˈnæl.ə.siːz/
Example	This analysis is useful.	These analyses are useful.
Singular determiner	an analysis	—
Plural determiner	—	several analyses
Verb agreement	is/was	are/were
Common context	One report or investigation	Multiple reports or investigations
Academic writing	Very common	Very common
Scientific writing	Very common	Very common
Business writing	Very common	Very common
Formality	Neutral/formal	Neutral/formal
US English	Correct	Correct
UK English	Correct	Correct
Main mistake	Using analyses for one	Using analysis for several
Easy memory	One analysis	Multiple analyses

Oxford lists analysis as a countable and uncountable noun and gives analyses as its plural. Cambridge likewise identifies analyses as the plural form.

What Does Analysis Mean?

Analysis is a noun referring to the detailed examination or study of something in order to understand it, explain it, evaluate it, or discover how its parts relate to one another.

For example:

The analysis of the survey results took three days.

Here, analysis refers to one process of examining the survey results.

The word can be used in many fields:

• data analysis
• financial analysis
• literary analysis
• statistical analysis
• scientific analysis
• chemical analysis
• political analysis
• grammatical analysis
• market analysis
• risk analysis
• business analysis
• sentence analysis

Cambridge defines analysis as the process of studying or examining something in detail, while Oxford describes it as a detailed study or examination and also notes that it can refer to the result of that study.

Analysis as a Singular Noun

When analysis refers to one particular examination or interpretation, it is singular.

Examples:

• The analysis is accurate.
• Her analysis was convincing.
• We need an analysis of the data.
• The analysis reveals an important pattern.

Notice the singular verbs:

• analysis is
• analysis was
• analysis shows
• analysis reveals

Analysis as an Uncountable Concept

Analysis can also be used in an uncountable sense when referring to the general process or activity of examining something.

For example:

The data requires careful analysis.

Here, the sentence is not necessarily referring to one separately counted analysis. It refers to the general process of examining the data.

This is why you may see both:

The analysis was completed.

and:

The data requires further analysis.

Both are grammatical, but they use the noun in slightly different ways.

What Does Analyses Mean?

Analyses is the plural form of analysis.

It means more than one analysis.

For example:

The researchers conducted three analyses of the data.

There are three separate analytical examinations, so analyses is required.

Similarly:

The analyses produced similar results.

The subject contains multiple analyses, so the plural verb produced is appropriate.

Cambridge explicitly identifies analyses as the plural of analysis, and its pronunciation guide gives the plural pronunciation as /əˈnæl.ə.siːz/.

When to Use Analyses

Use analyses when you are discussing two or more separate analyses.

For example:

• The researchers compared several analyses.
• The analyses produced different conclusions.
• These analyses support the same theory.
• Our team conducted three analyses.
• The statistical analyses were completed yesterday.

The key is not the subject area. Whether you are writing about science, business, literature, or grammar, the plural rule remains the same.

Why Is the Plural Analyses Instead of Analysises?

This is one of the most important points in analyses vs analysis.

You might expect the plural of analysis to be analysises, because many English nouns form their plurals with -es.

But standard English uses analyses, not analysises.

The reason is historical. Analysis comes through Latin from Greek analusis, associated with the idea of breaking something apart or loosening it. English retains a Greek-derived plural pattern in -is → -es for several words. Collins gives the word’s origin as New Latin from Greek analusis.

This same pattern appears in other English words.

Singular	Plural
analysis	analyses
basis	bases
crisis	crises
diagnosis	diagnoses
hypothesis	hypotheses
parenthesis	parentheses
thesis	theses
synthesis	syntheses

The spelling changes because these words entered English through Greek and Latin traditions rather than following a simple regular English plural pattern.

Warning:
Analysises is not the standard plural form. Use analyses.

Analyses vs Analysis: Pronunciation

Pronunciation is another reason people confuse these words.

How to Pronounce Analysis

Analysis is pronounced approximately:

uh-NAL-uh-sis

IPA:

/əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/

Cambridge and Oxford both give this pronunciation for analysis.

The final sound is similar to “sis.”

How to Pronounce Analyses

Analyses is pronounced approximately:

uh-NAL-uh-seez

IPA:

/əˈnæl.ə.siːz/

Cambridge gives the plural pronunciation as /əˈnæl.ə.siːz/.

The final sound is similar to “seez.”

The Pronunciation Shortcut

Think of the endings this way:

• analysis → “sis”
• analyses → “seez”

So:

one analysis → uh-NAL-uh-sis
several analyses → uh-NAL-uh-seez

This difference is useful because the spelling alone can be misleading.

The Grammar Difference Between Analysis and Analyses

The central grammatical difference is number.

Analysis = singular noun

Analyses = plural noun

That affects determiners, verbs, pronouns, and sentence structure.

Singular: An Analysis

Because analysis begins with a vowel sound, we normally say:

an analysis

Examples:

• We conducted an analysis.
• She wrote an analysis of the novel.
• The team prepared an analysis of the market.
• He presented an analysis of the results.

Not:

a analysis

The correct article is an.

Plural: Analyses

With the plural, you do not use a or an.

Correct:

• two analyses
• several analyses
• many analyses
• these analyses
• the analyses
• different analyses

Incorrect:

two analysis

and:

an analyses

Verb Agreement

This is one of the easiest ways to check whether you need analysis or analyses.

Singular:

The analysis is useful.

Plural:

The analyses are useful.

More examples:

The analysis shows a clear trend.

The analyses show several different trends.

Her analysis was detailed.

Her analyses were detailed.

This analysis supports the conclusion.

These analyses support the conclusions.

Demonstratives

Use singular demonstratives with analysis:

• this analysis
• that analysis

Use plural demonstratives with analyses:

• these analyses
• those analyses

For example:

This analysis focuses on customer behavior.

but:

These analyses focus on customer behavior.

Analysis vs Analyses in Academic Writing

The distinction is especially important in academic writing.

A research paper might contain one analytical method:

The analysis of the survey data revealed a significant pattern.

But if researchers perform several separate analytical procedures:

The analyses of the survey data produced different results.

The choice depends on the number of distinct analyses, not on how complicated the research is.

A very complicated examination can still be one analysis.

The analysis of 10,000 responses was extensive.

The number of responses does not make analysis plural.

Conversely, several relatively simple examinations can require analyses:

The researchers conducted three analyses.

Common Academic Collocations

Both forms commonly appear with words such as:

• data analysis
• statistical analysis
• qualitative analysis
• quantitative analysis
• thematic analysis
• content analysis
• comparative analysis
• regression analysis
• financial analysis
• textual analysis
• discourse analysis
• linguistic analysis

Examples:

The statistical analysis identified a significant relationship.

The statistical analyses identified several relationships.

Analysis vs Analyses in Business English

Business writing frequently uses both forms.

Use analysis when discussing one examination:

The financial analysis is attached to the report.

Use analyses when discussing multiple examinations:

The financial and operational analyses are attached to the report.

Another example:

Our team completed an analysis of customer retention.

But:

Our team completed several analyses of customer retention across different regions.

The word itself is neither particularly informal nor particularly formal. It is a standard noun used across professional, academic, scientific, and everyday contexts.

Analysis vs Analyses in Everyday English

In everyday conversation, analysis is much more likely when someone is discussing one interpretation or examination.

For example:

What’s your analysis of what happened?

If someone has considered several separate interpretations:

What do the different analyses say?

However, ordinary speakers may sometimes avoid the plural altogether and say:

different ways of looking at it

or:

several studies

depending on the intended meaning.

That does not make analyses formal or unnatural. It simply reflects the fact that everyday English often prefers simpler vocabulary.

20+ Real-Life Examples of Analysis and Analyses

The following examples show how the singular and plural forms work in different settings.

Everyday Conversation

1. I read your analysis of the situation, and I agree with you.
2. Her analysis of the problem was surprisingly simple.
3. We need a better analysis before making a decision.
4. Their analyses of the situation were completely different.

School and Education

5. The teacher asked us to write an analysis of the poem.
6. My literary analysis focuses on the main character.
7. The students submitted their analyses on Friday.
8. Each analysis must include evidence from the text.

Academic Writing

9. The analysis of the results suggests a relationship between the variables.
10. The researchers conducted two separate analyses.
11. Further analysis is needed to explain the unexpected result.
12. The analyses were performed using different statistical methods.

Business

13. Our market analysis shows strong demand for the product.
14. The company commissioned an analysis of its operating costs.
15. The financial analyses revealed several areas of concern.
16. Management reviewed the analysis before approving the proposal.

Science

17. The laboratory completed an analysis of the sample.
18. Chemical analysis confirmed the presence of the compound.
19. The researchers compared the analyses from three laboratories.
20. Further analysis of the samples is required.

Professional Writing

21. Please review the attached analysis before tomorrow’s meeting.
22. The report contains several analyses of regional performance.
23. Our initial analysis indicates that the process can be improved.
24. The subsequent analyses produced consistent findings.

Email

25. I’ve attached the analysis you requested.
26. I’ve attached the three analyses for your review.

Social Media or Online Discussion

27. That’s an interesting analysis of the issue.
28. I’ve seen several analyses of the same event, and they reach different conclusions.

The grammatical distinction remains the same in every setting: one = analysis; more than one = analyses.

Common Mistakes With Analysis and Analyses

Mistake 1: Using Analyses for One Thing

Wrong:

I completed an analyses of the report.

Why it’s wrong:
The article an signals a singular noun, but analyses is plural.

Correct:

I completed an analysis of the report.

Mistake 2: Using Analysis for Multiple Studies

Wrong:

The three analysis produced similar results.

Why it’s wrong:
The number three requires a plural noun.

Correct:

The three analyses produced similar results.

Mistake 3: Writing Analysises

Wrong:

The analysises produced different results.

Correct:

The analyses produced different results.

Why:
Analysis has the irregular Greek-derived plural analyses.

Mistake 4: Using a Instead of An

Wrong:

We need a analysis of the data.

Correct:

We need an analysis of the data.

The noun begins with a vowel sound, so an is required.

Mistake 5: Using a Singular Verb With Analyses

Wrong:

The analyses is complete.

Correct:

The analyses are complete.

Because analyses is plural, it takes a plural verb.

Mistake 6: Using a Plural Verb With Analysis

Wrong:

The analysis are complete.

Correct:

The analysis is complete.

Mistake 7: Assuming a Large Study Requires Analyses

Wrong idea:

The study examined 50,000 records, so I should write “analyses.”

Not necessarily.

The number of records does not determine whether the noun is singular or plural. The number of separate analyses does.

Correct:

The analysis of 50,000 records was completed in June.

Is Analyses Ever Singular?

In standard modern English, analyses is the plural form of analysis. It is not the normal singular form.

If you mean one examination, use:

analysis

If you mean multiple examinations, use:

analyses

Cambridge explicitly defines analyses as the plural of analysis.

Therefore, in ordinary English grammar, there is no reason to use analyses as a singular noun.

Is Analysis Always Singular?

Not quite as simple as saying that analysis can only appear in singular countable constructions.

Analysis can also be used as an uncountable noun when referring to analysis as a general process or activity.

Compare:

We completed an analysis of the results.

Here, it is countable: one particular analysis.

But:

The results require further analysis.

Here, analysis refers more generally to the process of examining the results.

Oxford identifies analysis as both countable and uncountable in relevant uses.

This distinction matters in professional and academic writing because both constructions are natural.

Word Family: Analysis, Analyse, Analyze, Analyst

Understanding the word family makes analyses vs analysis easier.

Analysis

A noun.

We conducted an analysis.

Analyses

The plural noun.

We conducted several analyses.

Analyse

A verb commonly used in British English.

Researchers analyse the data.

Analyze

The corresponding spelling commonly used in American English.

Researchers analyze the data.

Analyst

A person who performs or specializes in analysis.

The financial analyst reviewed the report.

The noun analyst is different from both analysis and analyses. Collins defines an analyst as someone whose work involves analyzing a subject.

A Useful Word-Family Table

Word	Type	Example
analysis	singular noun	The analysis is complete.
analyses	plural noun	The analyses are complete.
analyse	verb, mainly British	They analyse the data.
analyze	verb, mainly American	They analyze the data.
analyst	noun for a person	The analyst reviewed the figures.
analytical	adjective	She has an analytical approach.
analytically	adverb	The issue was examined analytically.

UK vs US English

There is no major US-versus-UK difference in the singular/plural distinction.

Both varieties use:

• analysis for singular
• analyses for plural

Cambridge lists the same plural form and essentially the same pronunciation in its UK and US entries.

The more noticeable regional difference appears elsewhere in the word family:

• British English: analyse
• American English: analyze

But that spelling difference does not change the plural noun:

analysis → analyses

So you should not assume that American English uses analysises or that British English uses a different plural. Both use analyses.

Style, Capitalization, and Punctuation

There is no special capitalization rule for analysis or analyses.

Use lowercase in ordinary sentences:

The analysis was completed yesterday.

Capitalize it only when it begins a sentence or forms part of a proper name or title:

Analysis of the Results

In normal prose, neither word needs a hyphen.

Correct:

data analysis

statistical analyses

Incorrect:

data-analysis

unless a particular style or construction independently requires a hyphen.

Major style guides do not create a special alternative plural for this noun. Standard English grammar uses analysis → analyses.

Common Collocations With Analysis

Knowing common combinations can help you use the word naturally.

Common singular phrases

• an analysis of the data
• an analysis of the problem
• a detailed analysis
• a careful analysis
• further analysis
• statistical analysis
• data analysis
• financial analysis
• market analysis
• literary analysis
• scientific analysis
• chemical analysis
• grammatical analysis
• comparative analysis
• risk analysis

Common plural phrases

• several analyses
• multiple analyses
• statistical analyses
• detailed analyses
• comparative analyses
• financial analyses
• independent analyses
• separate analyses
• different analyses
• further analyses

Examples:

The report provides a detailed analysis of customer behavior.

The report provides several detailed analyses of customer behavior.

How to Decide Between Analysis and Analyses

When you are unsure, use this simple process.

Step 1: Ask “How many?”

Are you referring to one?

Use:

analysis

Are you referring to two or more?

Use:

analyses

Step 2: Look for a Number

Words such as:

• one
• a
• an
• each
• this
• that

usually point toward the singular:

an analysis

this analysis

Words such as:

• two
• three
• several
• many
• these
• those
• multiple

point toward the plural:

several analyses

these analyses

Step 3: Check the Verb

If the noun takes is/was, you probably need singular analysis.

The analysis is useful.

If it takes are/were, you probably need plural analyses.

The analyses are useful.

Step 4: Check Whether You Mean a Process

If you mean analysis generally, an uncountable use may be appropriate:

The data needs further analysis.

You do not need to force a plural simply because there is a large amount of information.

Memory Tricks for Analysis vs Analyses

Here are several easy ways to remember the difference.

Memory Trick 1: One Ends in “Sis”

Analysis = one.

Think:

one analysis

Both are singular concepts.

Memory Trick 2: Analyses Ends in “Seez”

Analyses = more than one.

Think:

many analyses

The ending sounds like “seez.”

Memory Trick 3: Look at the Verb

Remember:

Analysis is

Analyses are

If you can choose the correct verb, the noun usually follows naturally.

Memory Trick 4: Learn the Pattern

Memorize this group:

analysis → analyses
basis → bases
crisis → crises
thesis → theses
hypothesis → hypotheses

Once you recognize the -is → -es pattern, analyses becomes much easier to remember.

Best shortcut:
Analysis = one. Analyses = more than one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is analyses the plural of analysis?

Yes. Analyses is the standard plural form of analysis. Cambridge, Oxford, and Collins all identify it as the plural form.

What is the difference between analyses and analysis?

Analysis is singular, while analyses is plural.

One analysis

Several analyses

Is “analysises” correct?

No. Analysises is not the standard plural form. The correct plural is analyses.

How do you pronounce analyses?

Analyses is pronounced approximately uh-NAL-uh-seez, with the final sound similar to “seez.” Cambridge gives the IPA pronunciation /əˈnæl.ə.siːz/.

How do you pronounce analysis?

Analysis is pronounced approximately uh-NAL-uh-sis, with the final sound similar to “sis.” Oxford and Cambridge give /əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/.

Should I say “an analysis” or “an analyses”?

Say an analysis.

An is a singular article, so it must be followed by the singular noun:

an analysis

Not:

an analyses

Should I say “these analysis” or “these analyses”?

Say:

these analyses

Because these is plural, the noun must also be plural.

Is analysis countable or uncountable?

It can be both, depending on meaning and construction. You can say an analysis when referring to one particular examination, while analysis can also refer to the general process of examining something. Oxford identifies both countable and uncountable uses.

Is analysis formal English?

Yes, but it is not restricted to formal writing. Analysis is common in academic, scientific, business, professional, and everyday contexts.

Final Verdict

The difference between analyses vs analysis is fundamentally a matter of number.

Analysis is the singular noun. Use it for one analysis or, in some contexts, for analysis as a general process.

Analyses is the plural noun. Use it for two or more separate analyses.

If you mean…	Use
One examination	analysis
One interpretation	analysis
One report or analytical result	analysis
General analytical work	analysis
Two examinations	analyses
Several examinations	analyses
Multiple interpretations	analyses
Several separate analytical results	analyses

The safest rule is simple:

One analysis. Two or more analyses.

Remember the pronunciation too:

analysis → “uh-NAL-uh-sis”
analyses → “uh-NAL-uh-seez”

And never use analysises as the standard plural.

Whether you are writing a research paper, business report, email, school assignment, scientific article, or everyday message, the same basic rule applies.

When the noun is singular, choose analysis; when you are referring to multiple separate examinations, choose analyses.