"Vita" or "Vitae?"

    Academic folk refer to a summary of their professional experiences as a "vita" (my preference) or a "curriculum vitae," while those in the corporate world prefer the term "résumé."  “Curriculum vitae” means "course of life" in Latin.  Since it is "of life" the genitive is required, and the genitive for "vita" is "vitae."  Accordingly, it is incorrect Latin to use the phrase "curriculum vita."

 

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This page most recently revised on 4. December 2007.