Busses or Buses? A Guide to UK vs. US English spelling

At first glance, the word “busses” looks wrong… but is it?

You might’ve spotted it on an old school sign or in a grammar book and thought, Surely that can’t be right.

But surprisingly, “busses” was considered to be the correct spelling. It’s just not anymore.

The plural of “bus” has a messy history filled with rule-breaking, linguistic shortcuts, and a second meaning that has nothing to do with transport.

That’s why the common question “busses or buses?” is one of those deceptively simple questions that trips up students, ESL learners, and even confident native speakers.

So if you’re learning English, proofreading something important, or just trying to avoid an embarrassing typo, you’re in the right place.

Read on for a clear breakdown of where each spelling came from and which one you should actually be using today.

TL: DR – Buses is the correct and standard plural of “bus” in both American and British English, and it should always be used when referring to vehicles. “Busses” is outdated for transportation and is only correct when referring to “buss” (an old-fashioned word for “kiss”).

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Key Takeaways

• Buses is the standard and correct plural form of “bus” in both American and British English when referring to vehicles.

• Busses is an outdated variant for transportation and is now primarily used as the plural for “buss,” an old-fashioned term for a kiss.

• Although “busses” was the preferred spelling in some dictionaries until the mid-20th century, using it today for vehicles is generally seen as a spelling error.

• The rule for doubling consonants in short words does not apply here; “bus” is a linguistic exception, making “buses” the universally accepted professional choice.

• To ensure your writing doesn’t sound robotic or outdated when navigating these tricky spelling rules, you can use Undetectable AI to maintain a natural and modern tone.

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What is the Difference Between Buses and Busses?

The main difference between “buses” and “busses” comes down to modern usage, meaning, and grammar.

Here’s a quick rundown:

• “Buses” is the correct plural form of the word “bus.” So if you’re talking about multiple buses transporting students to school, passengers waiting at rush hour, or a city fleet of vehicles, this is the spelling you should use. It’s the standard plural recognized in both American English and British English.
• “Busses” is a rare and outdated variant of the plural for bus that isn’t recognized anymore. While Merriam Webster and some other dictionaries still list it as an alternative, it is so rarely used today that it often looks like an error to most readers.

To make things even more confusing, there is actually a scenario where “busses” is correct. And that’s when you are referring to the plural of the word “buss,” which is an old-fashioned word for a kiss.

Still confused? Here’s a clear table to help you understand the distinction:

Is It Buses or Busses? Meaning and Usage Explained
Spelling	Meaning	Usage
Buses	The correct plural of bus (the vehicle)	Standard, correct, and universally accepted in both American and British English.
Busses	The plural of buss (a kiss)	Correct in this context, but rare and old-fashioned.
Busses	Variant plural of bus (the vehicle)	Outdated, non-standard, and often seen as incorrect or problematic.

Origin and Understanding

So, how did everything get so mixed up?

The confusion between the two spellings makes more sense when you look at the history of the word and how English spelling rules work.

Bear with us for a moment, because it’ll all make a lot more sense at the end of this section!

The word “bus” originates from the Latin word “omnibus,” which means “for all.”

The first public transport service in France in the 1820s used horse-drawn vehicles called “Omnibus,” and the name stuck. When English speakers adopted the word, they eventually shortened it to “bus.”

Now, when it came time to form the plural, English speakers were divided. Normally, to make a word ending in “s” plural, you add “-es” (like “classes” or “masses”).

However, some people felt that since “bus” is a short word with a single vowel followed by a single consonant, the consonant should be doubled to preserve the short vowel sound. This led to the creation of “busses” as a variant plural.

For a time, both spellings were used, and “busses” was even the preferred form in Merriam-Webster dictionaries until 1961. However, “buses” eventually won out and became the standard plural form.

Adding to the mix is the completely separate word “buss,” which means “a kiss.” This word has been around since the 16th century and is thought to have originated from the sound of giving a kiss.

Its plural is “busses.” This is why parking signs that read “No Busses Allowed” could be humorously misinterpreted as a ban on kissing, leading to (as you can probably imagine) some funny interpretations.

Using Busses Correctly

In modern writing, there are very few situations where you would use “busses” as the correct spelling.

The only truly correct usage is when you are referring to more than one kiss, using the word “buss.” For example:

• The children received many busses from their happy relatives.

Even in this context, the word “buss” is quite dated and rarely used in everyday language. Most writers would simply use “kisses” instead.

Some writers might use “busses” to give their writing a historical or poetic feel, but it’s not common and can be confusing.

If you are writing about buses, the vehicles that transport passengers, it’s best to avoid the spelling “busses” altogether.

Even though it was once considered correct, it’s now widely considered to be incorrect by most dictionaries and style guides. Using it can make your writing look unprofessional or outdated, and readers may assume you’ve made a spelling error.

Using Buses Correctly

“Buses” is the correct plural and the standard form you should use in all contexts when referring to multiple buses.

This applies to both American English and British English, so you don’t have to worry about regional differences in spelling. The form is used consistently across all English-speaking regions.

Here are a few examples:

• The city decided to add ten new buses to its transport fleet.
• All students must wait for their school buses to come to a complete stop before they board.
• During rush hour, two buses arrived at the metro station at the same time.
• The school district is responsible for maintaining a fleet of over 50 buses.

Because “buses” is the universally accepted correct spelling, using it will always be the right choice. It’s clear, professional, and leaves no room for confusion.

Frequent Errors With “Buses” or “Busses” Spelling

The most frequent error is using “busses” when you mean the correct plural of “bus.”

This is a common mistake, especially for ESL students or those who may have seen the older spelling in vintage signs or books and assumed it was still the standard form.

However, in any professional or academic context, this would typically be flagged as a spelling error.

Another point of confusion is the verb form. For example, the verb “to bus” can mean either:

• To transport people by bus or
• To clear tables in a restaurant

The correct past tense form is “bused,” and the present participle is “bussing.”

Some people also get confused about whether the double consonant rule applies.

In English, when a word ends in a single consonant after a single vowel, you typically double the consonant before adding a suffix. However, “bus” is an exception to this rule, which is why “buses” (not “busses”) is the correct plural form.

Pro Tip for Students: When working with example sentences or grammar explanations, it’s always smart to double-check originality, especially with tricky language rules.

Tools like our Undetectable AI’s Plagiarism Checker can help you make sure your content always sounds natural and original.

Busses vs Buses in Sentences

Seeing the words in context can really help the differences click. Here are a few example sentences that show the correct (and incorrect) ways to use busses and buses.

Correct usage:

• The morning rush hour always brings a long line of buses to the city center.
• My grandmother sends her love and lots of busses in her letters. (Correct because it refers to kisses)
• Parking signs near the metro clearly state that no buses are allowed in the passenger loading zone.
• Either buses or trams can be used for public transport in this city.

Incorrect usage:

• The tour group needed two busses to transport everyone to the museum. (Should be buses)
• The parking signs clearly stated that no busses were allowed. (Should be buses, unless it’s a joke about kissing)
• The school busses wait in line every morning. (Should be buses)

Pro Tip for Writers: Before publishing your work, it can be helpful to double-check that your writing sounds natural and human. Tools like Undetectable’s AI Detector can help you confirm your writing feels authentic, especially when using tricky words like buses and buss.

How to Choose Between Busses and Buses

Choosing the right word is simple if you follow one rule: if you are talking about vehicles, always use buses.

This spelling is the correct plural, the standard form, and is understood by everyone. There is no need to worry about the old “busses” spelling unless you are intentionally trying to sound old-fashioned or are writing about kisses.

For ESL students and anyone learning the finer points of English spelling, it’s helpful to remember that “bus” is an exception to some spelling rules. While we often double the consonant in other short words (like “running” from “run”), “bus” does not follow that pattern for its plural form.

The correct spelling is “buses,” and this is consistent in both American English and British English.

If you’re ever confused about which form to use, think about the meaning. If you’re writing about transport, passengers, a school district, a city fleet, or vehicles that people board, you want “buses.”

If you’re writing about kisses (which is rare), you want “busses.”

Most of the time, you’ll be writing about the vehicle, so “buses” is the safe choice.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Buses

Final Thoughts

The debate over buses vs. busses is a perfect example of how language evolves over time.

While “busses” had its moment, “buses” has become the undisputed standard plural form for bus (the vehicle).

By sticking with “buses,” you can be confident that your writing is clear, correct, and professional. You’ll avoid the confusion that comes from using a rare or incorrect form, and you won’t risk any funny interpretations on parking signs.

And if you ever see “busses” on an old sign or in a vintage book, you can smile knowing the double meaning it might have and the interesting history behind it.

Keep your writing clear and professional—use Undetectable AI to ensure it reads naturally every time.