Editing Modus operandi

{{short description|Habits of working}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Italic title}}
A '''{{lang|la|modus operandi}}''' (often shortened to '''M.O.''' or '''MO''') is an individual's [[habituation|habits]] of working, particularly in the context of business or criminal investigations, but also generally. It is a [[Latin]] phrase, approximately translated as {{gloss|mode (or manner) of operating}}.<ref name="d1"/>

==Term ==
The term is often used in police work when discussing [[criminology|crime]] and addressing the methods employed by [[criminals]]. It is also used in [[offender profiling|criminal profiling]],<ref>Vronsky, R. ''Serial Killers'' ([[Berkley Books]], 2004) {{ISBN|0-425-19640-2}}, p. 412.</ref> where it can help in finding clues to the offender's [[psychology]].<ref>Hazelwood, R. R, A. W. Burgess, ''Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation'', ([[CRC Press]], 2001) {{ISBN|0-8493-0076-2}}, p. 517.</ref> It largely consists of examining the actions used by the individuals to execute the crime, prevent its detection and facilitate escape.<ref name="d1">Douglas, J. E. and A. W. Burgess, A. G. Burgess, R. K. Ressler. ''Crime classification manual'' ([[John Wiley & Sons]], 2006) {{ISBN|0-7879-8501-5}}, p. 19-21.</ref> A suspect's ''modus operandi'' can assist in their identification, apprehension, or repression, and can also be used to determine links between crimes.<ref>Berg, B.L. ''Criminal Investigation'' ([[McGraw Hill]], 2008) {{ISBN|978-0-07-340124-9}}</ref>

In business, ''modus operandi'' is used to describe a firm's preferred means of executing business and interacting with other firms.

== Plural ==
The plural is {{lang|la|modi operandi}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=modus operandi |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modus%20operandi |website=merriam-webster.com |publisher=Merriam–Webster |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="modus operandi">{{cite book |editor1-last=Barber |editor1-first=Katherine |title=The Canadian Oxford Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195418163 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195418163.001.0001/m_en_ca0044552 |chapter=modus operandi|year=2004 |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> The word {{lang|la|operandi}} is a [[Latin conjugation#Gerund|gerund]] in the [[genitive case]], "of operating"; gerunds can never be pluralised in Latin, as opposed to [[Latin conjugation#Gerundive|gerundives]]. When a noun with an attribute in the genitive is pluralised, only the head noun normally changes, just as in English with "of": "a fact of life, two facts of life" (unlike, for instance, {{lang|fr|les modes opératoires}} in [[French language|French]]).

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Criminology}}
* {{annotated link|John E. Douglas}}
* {{annotated link|Latin phrases}}
* {{annotated link|Modus ponens|''Modus ponens''}}
* {{annotated link|Modus tollens|''Modus tollens''}}
* {{annotated link|Modus vivendi|''Modus vivendi''}}
* {{annotated link|Signature crime}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* Levinson, D. ''Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment'' (SAGE, 2002). {{ISBN|0-7619-2258-X}}.
* Carlo, P. ''The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez'' (Pinnacle Books 1996). {{ISBN|0-7860-1362-1}}.
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|modus operandi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modus Operandi}}
[[Category:Criminal investigation]]
[[Category:Criminology]]
[[Category:Latin words and phrases]]
[[Category:Offender profiling]]