Buses of Busses – How to Use Each Correctly
What’s the Difference Between Buses and Busses?
Contents
Buses and busses appear to be alternate spellings of the same word, but most style guides advise writers to use just one of them as the plural word for bus.
Buses is the plural form of the noun bus, a vehicle which carries many passengers. This is the preferred spelling in all dialects of English.
- There are several buses that will go through Boston on the way to New York City.
Busses is the plural form of the noun buss, or the third person singular conjugation of the verb buss, both of which mean kiss. This word for kiss is both archaic and informal.
- The parents gave their baby busses on the nose. (second definition)
Let’s look at some of the ways to use, and not use, these words in English.
Using Buses in a Sentence
When to use buses: Buses is the plural form of the noun that means a large motor vehicle that can carry many passengers at the same time, usually on a fixed schedule.
For example:
- I’m not sure which of these buses will take me past my university’s campus.
- I hate taking buses and much prefer to take trains or planes.
Sometimes, the plural of bus is mistakenly written as busses. Buses, however, is over ten times more common than busses. For that reason alone, it is better to use buses.
Using Busses in a Sentence
When to use busses: Busses is the plural form of the noun buss, or the third person singular conjugation of the verb buss. In this sense, buss is an outdated, informal form of the word kiss.
For example:
- The two lovers shared several busses in secret before returning to the ball.
- Romeo and Juliet have a few busses throughout the play.
Busses as an alternative for kisses now is very outdated. You will likely only see it in older literature.
Remembering Buses vs. Busses
Busses contains a double s in the middle of the word, just like the word kiss has a double s at the end of the word. This can help remind you that a buss is an old-fashioned way to say kiss.
Outside Examples
- The Duval Loop debuted Thursday and covers Key West’s downtown and Historic Seaport. Just in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend, the hop-on, hop-off service features colorful buses with a route that includes 16 stops, so riders can get on and off near Key West attractions, hotels, museums, boutiques and eateries. –Houston Chronicle
- A cadre of Democratic state senators are pushing to spend nearly $1 billion over the next year to replace diesel trucks, buses and other vehicles with cleaner versions. –LA Times
- “But the flight home was lovely, right down the lake and into Meigs Field,’’ she said. “That tells you how long ago that was.’’ She has also taken the busses back. –Chicago Sun Times
- So they piled into double-decker busses outside Wrigley Field on Friday morning, put the World Series trophy in David Ross’ hands and went on one last ride. The first turn, from Clark Street east on Addison Street, was easy enough. Just the usual throng everyone got used to outside the Cubby Bear during the postseason, when the streets were blocked off from traffic. –Chicago Tribune
Quiz: Busses vs. Buses
Instructions: Fill in the blank with the best word, either busses or buses, in the correct form.
- So many _______________ pass through this town but few of them stop. (preferred modern spelling)
- _________________ in many countries are painted beautifully bright colors and decorated in elaborate ways. (spelling that is no longer common)
- If you are going to be riding _______________, it is important to follow some bus etiquette. (preferred modern spelling)
- The husband and wife shared some ____________ before bed each night.
See answers below.
Article Summary
Should I use buses or busses? Both spellings are correct, but they refer to different things.
- Buses is the preferred spelling of the noun bus, a vehicle to transport large numbers of passengers.
- Busses is an outdated spelling of the word kiss.
Answers
- buses
- Busses
- buses
- busses