Verses vs. Versus

Verses

“Verses” is the plural of “verse,” created by just adding an “s.” “Verses” belong to poems. Poems have an “e.” The Bible is divided in chapters and verses. William Shakespeare wrote in verse.

Examples

• Millions of verses have been written beginning with “Roses are red. Violets are blue.”
• How many verses of “The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay” can you recite by memory? Or do you know the rhyming verses I learned in school?
• Do you prefer verses written in free style or rhyming?
• Some people write in prose; others write in verses.

Versus

“Versus” is “you” (with a “u”) against “us” (the last two letters).

It is often abbreviated “vs.”

Examples:

• The very important court case Gideon versus Wainwright, unanimously decided by the Supreme Court in 1963, established the right for anyone to have legal representation, whether or not they could afford a lawyer.
  • usually written as “Gideon vs. Wainwright
• Miranda versus Arizona was decided by a narrow margin (five to four).
  • usually written as “Miranda vs. Arizona”
• Many lines have been written comparing Apple IOS versus Microsoft Windows.
  • usually written as “Apple IOS vs. Microsoft Windows
• This section is about the spelling of “verses” versus “versus.”
  • usually written as “verses vs. versus”          

Credits: Photo by yeongkyeong lee, Photo by Gilly Tanabose on Unsplash