Picture this: You’re writing a sentence about your morning commute:
“The city ______ are late today.”
Do you write busses or buses?
At first glance, it seems like a minor spelling choice. But using the wrong one can confuse readers. Both forms exist, but they’re not exactly interchangeable.
Here’s the truth:
✅ Buses – standard plural of “bus” (vehicles)
⚠️ Busses – generally refers to kisses
Yes, seriously! English loves to keep us on our toes.
What Does “Buses” Mean?
Buses is the plural of bus, referring to large vehicles that carry passengers along fixed routes.
Natural Examples:
- “The city buses run every 15 minutes.”
- “We took two buses to get across town.”
- “School buses are parked outside the building.”
This is the form you’ll use almost 100% of the time when talking about transportation.
What Does “Busses” Mean?
Busses is less common and has a completely different meaning:
👉 It’s the plural of “buss,” an old-fashioned word for kiss
Natural Examples:
- “The couple exchanged busses on the cheek.”
- “The letter was signed with many busses.”
It’s rarely used in modern English, but it exists in literature and historical texts.
Busses vs Buses: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Buses ✅ | Busses ❌/Rare |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Vehicles for transporting people | Kisses |
| Usage Frequency | Very common | Very rare |
| Example | “The city buses are late.” | “She sent busses to her friends.” |
| Tip | Default choice for transportation | Only in historical/literary texts |
Real-Life Examples (Natural Usage)
1. Everyday Commuting
- “The buses are delayed due to traffic.” ✅
- “I missed two buses this morning.” ✅
2. School or College
- “All students must wait for their school buses.” ✅
- “The college provides shuttle buses around campus.” ✅
3. Informal or Historical Writing (Busses = Kisses)
- “She greeted her friends with multiple busses.” ✅
- “The children blew busses to their grandparents.” ✅
Notice how unusual this usage is today.
Practical Tips to Remember
✔ When Talking About Vehicles → Always Use Buses
- Almost all modern contexts refer to transportation
- Safe in professional, casual, or academic writing
✔ When Referring to Kisses → Use Busses
- Very rare in modern writing
- Mostly historical or literary
✔ Quick Memory Trick
- Buses → Vehicles (think: “Bus = transport”)
- Busses → Kisses (think: “Blowing a buss”)
Interesting Fact
The word buss for kiss dates back to the 16th century and comes from the Dutch word busse, meaning “kiss.” While it’s practically obsolete today, it still pops up in poetry or historical novels.
Synonyms and Related Words
For Buses (Vehicles)
- Coach
- Shuttle
- Minibus
- Transit
For Busses (Kisses)
- Smooches
- Peck
- Buss (singular)
Quick Proofreading Tip
When editing:
- Talking about transportation → buses ✅
- Talking about kisses → busses ✅
If unsure, buses is almost always correct.
Final Thoughts
Most people confuse busses and buses simply because they sound the same. But context makes it easy:
- Buses → transportation, everyday use
- Busses → kisses, rare literary usage
Next time you write:
“The buses were packed this morning,”
you’ll know it’s absolutely correct.
Even better, using buses by default ensures your writing is clear, professional, and error-free.