Preamble
As well as considering the four alternatives listed in the question, I shall also discuss the tendency to italicize them (being of Latin origin), especially when ‘v’ is used. Thus, there are eight alternatives. The choice you make depends to some extent on the context (legal v. sport) and whether you are writing American or British English. This is mentioned in a related question on this list regarding ‘versus’.
vs and vs.
Despite the fact that the Oxford English Dictionary online ignores it, vs. is is not only used, but appears to be more common than vs without the point, as shown by cursory browsing (e.g. example below) and this Google Books ngram:
However, I must admit I am not sure where this is being used as it is not used in either a legal or sporting context (see below). Someone mentioned a scientific context, but as a professional scientist I can’t ever recall using it
Legal use
Both in the US and Great Britain, the traditional legal abbreviation is ‘v.’. The original tendency to initialize it is illustrated with two facimilies:
[(a) Brown v. Board of Education, 1953; (b) Travers v. Wilde and Wilde, 1864 — Because of the use of italics for the title of the court case, the setting of ‘v.’ in Roman indicates its italic original.]
Contemporary usage is unitalicized ‘v.’, although there is a new tendency to use ‘vs.’ in the US press. This is exemplified by an article in the New York Daily News of May 16th, 2015, in which the headline is “Brown vs. Board of Ed. decision…” but the (modern) caption to an original 1954 photo on the same page is “Brown v. Board of Education segregation coverage” (my emboldening).
Sporting Fixtures
As far as I can ascertain the use of ‘v.’ or ‘v’ in sporting fixtures is a British phenomenon, not found in the US. I have used the ‘England versus Australia’ cricket fixture to follow the historical usage. A Google ngram shows that for many years ‘v.’ was almost the sole usage, but from the mid-1970s the use of ‘v’ has grown, so that today it is equally common, and is certainly what will be found on websites (e.g. BBC Sport). There was low usage of ‘vs.’, but ‘vs’ was not found.
Whitaker’s Almanack for 1946 shows italicization: ‘v.’, although Hazell’s Annual for 1913 does not:
Preamble
As well as considering the four alternatives listed in the question, I shall also discuss the tendency to italicize them (being of Latin origin), especially when ‘v’ is used. Thus, there are eight alternatives. The choice you make depends to some extent on the context (legal v. sport) and whether you are writing American or British English. This is mentioned in a related question on this list regarding ‘versus’.
vs and vs.
Despite the fact that the Oxford English Dictionary online ignores it, vs. is is not only used, but appears to be more common than vs without the point, as shown by cursory browsing (e.g. example below) and this Google Books ngram:
However, I must admit I am not sure where this is being used as it is not used in either a legal or sporting context (see below). Someone mentioned a scientific context, but as a professional scientist I can’t ever recall using it
Legal use
Both in the US and Great Britain, the traditional legal abbreviation is ‘v.’. The original tendency to initialize it is illustrated with two facimilies:
[(a) Brown v. Board of Education, 1953; (b) Travers v. Wilde and Wilde, 1864 — Because of the use of italics for the title of the court case, the setting of ‘v.’ in Roman indicates its italic original.]
Contemporary usage is unitalicized ‘v.’, although there is a new tendency to use ‘vs.’ in the US press. This is exemplified by an article in the New York Daily News of May 16th, 2015, in which the headline is “Brown vs. Board of Ed. decision…” but the (modern) caption to an original 1954 photo on the same page is “Brown v. Board of Education segregation coverage” (my emboldening).
Sporting Fixtures
As far as I can ascertain the use of ‘v.’ or ‘v’ in sporting fixtures is a British phenomenon, not found in the US. I have used the ‘England versus Australia’ cricket fixture to follow the historical usage. A Google ngram shows that for many years ‘v.’ was almost the sole usage, but from the mid-1970s the use of ‘v’ has grown, so that today it is equally common, and is certainly what will be found on websites (e.g. BBC Sport). There was low usage of ‘vs.’, but ‘vs’ was not found.
Whitaker’s Almanack for 1946 shows italicization: ‘v.’, although Hazell’s Annual for 1913 does not:
- Vs
-
VS (сокр. от versus; лат. против). Допустимые написания: VS, vs, Vs, VS., vs.
Используется на письме для обозначения противопоставления кого-либо или чего-либо (спор, конкуренция) или для сравнения двух объектов, идей и пр., особенно при необходимости выбора одной из альтернатив.
Примеры:
«Геоинформационные системы: Intergraph vs. ESRI.» — название статьи, рассматривающей конкурирующие технологии.
«Бизнес-школа. Государственная VS частная. Что выбрать?» — заголовок статьи, рассматривающей разные услуги.
В англо-саксонской правовой традиции используется также при наименовании судебных дел (прецедентов), например, запись «Read v. Lyons (1947) А. С. 156» будет читаться следующим образом: «Дело по иску Рида к Лайонсу, решение Апелляционного суда опубликовано в сборнике Law Reports, в серии Арреаl cases за 1947 год, на странице 156 и следующих».[1]
Примечания
- ↑ Рене Давид. Основные правовые системы современности
См. также
- Список латинских сокращений
- i.e.
- P.S.
- vice versa
-
Ссылки
- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=88069&dict=CALD
- http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/vs?view=uk
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Полезное
В нашей стране заимствование слов из английского языка стала привычным делом. Молодые люди часто общаются на непонятном сленге – смеси русских и английских слов. Модные веяния захватили разные отрасли деятельности и сегодня, к примеру, буквенное сочетание «VS» встречается крайне часто и не всегда по делу. А тем временем многие даже не знают, как расшифровывается этот знак.
Комбинация букв обычно используется между двумя словами. Например, в ресторанном меню может быть написано «Свинина VS Рыба» или «Кофе VS чай». Интуитивно мы понимаем, что нужно выбирать между двумя блюдами, но крайне мало людей знают, откуда же взялось это буквенное сочетание и почему так часто используется в нашей разговорной и письменной речи.
Даже школьники в сочинениях и домашних работах не гнушаются употреблять такое сочетание, отлично вворачивая его в письменную речь.
Значение
Звукосочетание «VS» произошло не от английского, а от латинского слова «Versus». В переводе с древнейшего языка это слово означает «против». То есть смысл нам был понятен верно, необходимо определиться, какое из блюд выбрать, говоря о ресторанном меню.
Странно, но латынь заставляет чувствовать себя людей значимыми, звучать красиво и торжественно. Но это в разговорной речи и без всяких сокращений. В обычной жизни, такая буквенная комбинация иногда смотрится и слышится совершенно нелепо.
Использование
Сочетание «VS» используется повсеместно. Вы видите его, придя в ресторан или кафе, на телевидении у политического обозревателя, в спортивных передачах, женских журналах и даже детских мультиках.
Это расстраивает, так как буквенное сочетание часто используется неуместно. Тем более, что прочесть его на русском языке красиво не представляется возможным. А перевод звучит нелепо, ещё и в сочетании с неправильно спрягаемыми глаголами или существительными.
В целом, нет ничего страшного в использовании такой аббревиатуры, однако родной язык более богат на различные предлоги, которыми легко заменяют сочетание «VS».
“Vs” Versus “vs.” Versus “V.”
- The abbreviations “Vs.” “V.” and “Vs” are short for the word “versus,” not to be confused with the word “verses.”
- The word versus means “opposed” to something or someone, as in competition.
- All three standard abbreviations are acceptable, although “vs” is a U.K. variant.
When a word appears with several different abbreviations, the discerning eye wonders why that is the case and whether someone might be misusing this shortcut. The term “versus” falls into this category, as it has three common abbreviation variations: “vs” and “vs.” and “v.”
While a reader might briefly muse over this difference in appearance and move on, anyone who spends a considerable amount of time writing and values proper grammar will want to know more to ensure their writing is tip-top.
The truth is that each of these abbreviations can be correct. The question now lies in when to use each.
What Does “versus” Mean?
Not to be confused with “verses” (which refers to paragraph-like divisions within songs or poetry primarily), “versus” pits one person, place, or thing against another, in opposition.
- Tonight’s baseball game is Red Sox versus Yankees, so I will be watching it!
Since these two teams are in opposition, competing for a victory, the word “versus” is appropriate. Perhaps the most common appearance of the term relates to sports games, as there is generally one person or team playing against another in competition.
However, that is not always the case:
- Hannah sat watching her favorite form of entertainment: Dad versus the lawnmower.
Rather than competing with another person, Dad is struggling with his lawnmower. A little tongue in cheek, the expression in this situation is not a competition as the lawnmower is an inanimate object, but indicates that Hannah’s father is battling with the machine, nonetheless.
- The Eiffel Tower versus the Tower of Pisa: which is the better architecture of the two?
In this situation, someone is making comparisons between the two locations to make a subjective decision as to which is better based on unknown criteria. In this case, it is a competition by contrast.
Nonetheless, in each of those situations, the abbreviation is so common that it felt unusual even to type the word “versus,” so let’s look at those three abbreviations and figure out when to use them.
Using “Vs.” as an Abbreviation
If unsure which abbreviation to use, this is a great go-to option.
It is the most common abbreviation used in the United States, and the pronunciation is that of the word itself: “versus.” Occasionally, when viewing this abbreviation, someone may pronounce it like the word “verse,” but this is improper, especially since that particular word has a different meaning.
As a direct stand-in for the base word, it can function as a substitute for all three of the previous examples:
- Tonight’s baseball game is Red Sox vs. Yankees, so I will be watching it!
- Hannah sat watching her favorite form of entertainment: Dad vs. the lawnmower.
- The Eiffel Tower vs. the Tower of Pisa: which is the better architecture of the two?
Using “V.” as an Abbreviation
If “vs.” works as an efficient stand-in for “versus,” why is there another abbreviation?
While “v.” may appear as an alternate abbreviation in the same context as “vs.” from time to time (and get away with it), the shortcut is for particular situations: legal documents and court cases.
While hundreds of years ago, they used the word “versus” to depict the competition that comes through a legal battle; eventually, the legal world replaced the word with “v.”
It is interesting to note that this pronunciation is like the letter “vee” rather than the word “versus.”
Here are some examples of “v.” in its full glory:
- Brown v. the Board of Education
- Roe v. Wade
- Dred Scott v. Sandford
Using “Vs” or “V”
While the uses are the same, the British have less infatuation with punctuation than the U.S. Rather than sprinkling periods all over. They are content to use the abbreviations by themselves:
- Carl Froch vs George Groves II was a spectacular boxing grudge match with over 80,000 people in attendance.
- Donahue v Stephenson
- While Tabitha was colouring upstairs, she could hear the shouts from mum vs dad in the downstairs living room.
While acceptable in the United Kingdom, ignoring the period as part of these two abbreviations is frowned upon in the United States.
Related: Proper Abbreviation of “Quarter” in Business Communication
The great thing about the word “versus” is that “vs.” or “vs” are both acceptable abbreviations. You can even spell out “versus” and it will still be an acceptable form. There is also the possibility of using “v.” but this is specific to legal writing and jargon.
Therefore, the good news is you can’t go wrong and you won’t ever make a mistake. So this will be fairly simple to remember and you can use it in speech or writing without having to concern yourself with pesky grammatical rules.
Defining the Word, “Versus”
The modern use of the word “versus” and its abbreviations means “opposed,” “against,” “in competition with” or “compared to.” It’s a quick way to indicate or imply a balance of one or more objects.
“Versus” Etymology
“Versus” is the past participle of the old Latin verb “vertere.” This essentially translates as “to turn.” Its first known use was in 1447 during a legal trial between John Husset versus John Notte. But, over the centuries, the use has expanded into anything to indicate someone or something that’s against another person or object.
Abbreviation Examples for “Versus”
Consider the examples below to deepen your knowledge base.
The US Labor Department versus Amazon Holdings
The US Labor Department vs. Amazon Holdings
The US Labor Department vs Amazon Holdings
The US Labor Department v. Amazon Holdings
Apples versus oranges
Apples vs. oranges
Apples vs oranges
Apples v. oranges [technically incorrect because it’s not a legal document]
Consider the effects of herbal remedies versus the list of contraindications for allopathic pharmaceuticals.
Consider the effects of herbal remedies vs. the list of contraindications for allopathic pharmaceuticals.
Consider the effects of herbal remedies vs the list of contraindications for allopathic pharmaceuticals.
Consider the effects of herbal remedies v. the list of contraindications for allopathic pharmaceuticals.
Stylistic Recommendations
According to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, the all-around standard hailed by professional journalists everywhere, you should always fully say or spell out the word “versus” in the context of writing and speaking. Abbreviations are acceptable when you desire to create a short-expression or for the sake of conserving space.
Conclusion
Regardless of the AP stylebook recommendations, you can use any form of the word “versus” to indicate against, comparison, opposition, or competition. It’s not difficult to remember and you’ll never go wrong no matter if you use “vs.” or “vs”.
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Conor is the main writer here at One Minute English and was an English teacher for 10 years. He is interested in helping people with their English skills and learning about using A.I tools at work.
You may have seen several abbreviations being used for the word “versus” and doubted which is the correct short form. This page looks at the different ways to abbreviate the word “versus” and shows how the abbreviations are used in context.
The word “versus” is abbreviated in two principal ways, either as “vs.” or “v.” In the USA, it is customary to use a period on all abbreviations, including “vs.”; however, in the UK, the period is usually omitted. Also, “v.” is used more in a legal context than in sports.
The Cambridge Dictionary states that the word “versus” is used to say that a person or people are competing against others. The most common context in which it is found is when discussing sports or legal cases.
The abbreviation “vs” or “vs.” is most commonly used when discussing sports or competitions of some kind. In contrast, the abbreviation “v” or “v.” are used more in legal documentation to refer to the two parties contesting a legal case.
Vs.
The abbreviation “vs.” is the 2-letter abbreviation for “versus” and is most commonly found when referring to sports or other competitions when two people or teams compete against each other.
The version with the period is most commonly found in the USA, where all abbreviations use a period.
Here are some examples of “vs.” in a sentence:
- This week`s game is Man Utd vs. Liverpool, which kicks off at 3 pm.
- The match was us children vs. the adults, and we lost 3-2.
- In an argument of climate change deniers vs. scientists, the scientists usually win.
Vs
The abbreviation “vs” is exactly the same as “vs.” except the former is more prevalent in British English, and the latter is commonly used in American English.
This abbreviation is used in situations referring to a sport or some type of competition. It is uncommon that you would see the abbreviation “vs” in a legal context, where “v” is preferred.
Here are some examples of “vs” in a sentence:
- As teenagers, it was a case of us vs the world, and unfortunately, we lost and had to adapt to the ways of the world.
- This week`s boxing match is Alverez vs Peacock, which will be shown at 10 pm EST.
- We are looking forward to the World Cup match of England vs Wales.
V.
The abbreviation “v.” with a period or “v” without a period represents the word “versus.” The period is commonly added in North America, where all abbreviations use a period.
In the UK, adding a period is less common, although you will still find that some people do add it.
The abbreviations “v.” and “v” are most commonly used in legal documentation referring to the two parties in a court case. You may also find them used in other situations such as sports or competitions, but it is less likely.
Here are some examples of how the abbreviation “v.” appears in a sentence:
- New anti-abortion laws have bypassed the precedent set by Roe v. Wade in 1973.
- Marbury v. Madison was a groundbreaking case in US legal history.
- The Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education set a precedent for equal rights and helped end racial segregation.
Does “vs.” Have a Period?
The abbreviation “vs.” is often used with a period at the end. This practice is more commonly done in the USA, where all abbreviations are typically finished with a period. There is no difference in meaning between the abbreviation with the period and the one without.
The practice is less common in the UK and other English-speaking countries, although you will still encounter it occasionally.
Is the Abbreviation for Versus Capitalized?
The abbreviation for “versus” should not be capitalized in a title because it only has two letters. However, if you write the full version of the word “versus” in a title, you should use a capital letter.
Furthermore, when the term “vs” appears mid-text, it should also appear in lowercase because it is a preposition rather than a proper noun, which means it doesn’t require a capital letter.
Should You Abbreviate Versus?
The word “versus” is commonly abbreviated both in-text and in titles to refer to sports, competitions, and legal cases. For example, when looking at a list of sports fixtures, it is common that all instances of the word “versus” are all abbreviated as a way of saving space on the paper or screen.
In academic writing, it is more uncommon to use the abbreviation for “versus”, but it is not common to use abbreviations at all in academic writing unless there is a good reason for doing so.
Common Usage of Versus Abbreviations
The three occasions you are most likely to see the abbreviation of the word “versus” are when looking at texts relating to sports fixtures, competitions, or legal cases.
The abbreviation “vs.” or “vs” is most likely used for sports and competitions, whereas “v.” or “v” is more common in documentation relating to legal cases.
In formal writing, you should avoid using abbreviations unless absolutely necessary.
Final Thoughts
The word “versus” in a legal context is abbreviated as “v” or “v.”. In contrast, in a sporting or competition context, the more common abbreviation is “vs” or “vs.” There is no difference in meaning between the four terms. However, the versions with periods are more common in the USA.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.