Busses or Buses??

[Alex2kMommy]

Did a webster.com search on 'bus', and this is the result (the blue coloring is mine, of course):

10 results for: bus
View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | the Web

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) - Cite This Source
bus1  /bʌs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[buhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, plural bus‧es, bus‧ses, verb, bused or bussed, bus‧ing or bus‧sing.

–noun 1. a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.
2. a similar horse-drawn vehicle.
3. a passenger automobile or airplane used in a manner resembling that of a bus.
4. any vehicle operated to transport children to school.
5. a low, movable filing cabinet.
6. Electricity. Also called bus bar, bus‧bar /ˈbʌsˌbɑr/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[buhs-bahr] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. a heavy conductor, often made of copper in the shape of a bar, used to collect, carry, and distribute powerful electric currents, as those produced by generators.
7. Computers. a circuit that connects the CPU with other devices in a computer.
–verb (used with object) 8. to convey or transport by bus: to bus the tourists to another hotel.
9. to transport (pupils) to school by bus, esp. as a means of achieving racial integration.
–verb (used without object) 10. to travel on or by means of a bus: We bused to New York on a theater trip.


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[Origin: 1825–35; short for omnibus; (def. 6) short for omnibus bar]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Poor spelling is also one of my pet peeves, and I agree that 'buses' is a more common spelling over 'busses'. (I don't recall ever seeing 'busses' in reference to a bus!)

I also agree with the person who said your son should do the research and provide proof to the teacher that his spelling of the word is accurate. This can do several things for him:

1. Get the extra point on the spelling test!
2. Impress the teacher that he knew he was right and cared enough to research it.
3. Give him a boost of confidence!

If he has a decent sort of teacher, she will give him credit for doing the research and stating his case. (In my opinion, since his spelling is more common, he deserves extra credit!)

If he doesn't have a decent sort of teacher (and there are a few out there), he'll at least gain some experience in sticking up for what's right, especially when dealing with adults.

 

[Sandy51]

I have this happen when I have the word "canceled" on my spelling list. I tell the students that this is the way I want it spelled on the test. I know that
"cancelled: is also correct, but I make it clear to go from the list.


Sandy

 

[Tinijocaro]

Are we talking vehicles (buses) or kisses (busses)?

Not sure I'm following you- I've never heard THAT definition of busses. It means kisses?? Really?

 

[famofsix]

I have this happen when I have the word "canceled" on my spelling list. I tell the students that this is the way I want it spelled on the test. I know that
"cancelled: is also correct, but I make it clear to go from the list.


Sandy

If they are both correct, why does it matter which one they use? Would you mark it wrong on a writing piece? I always thought the purpose of spelling tests is to help students communicate better in writing. If either way is acceptable, I would think it would be alright to spell it either way on a spelling test.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If it was spelled that way on a study list it doesn't matter if right or wrong.

If no list then yes I would shoot an E-Mail or like other have said have DS ask for an explanation.

If a list--then the point is moot. If he studied the list and spelled it the alternative way, then he was wrong. It would probably happen with Theater/Theatre and some other words as well.

 

[MELSMICE]

....the only way I have ever spelled it is "buses".

Same here. I would let your DS handle it though. At 11 he's probably in 5th or 6th grade, right? He's old enough to look the word up, show proof that it is spelled correctly either way & present it to the teacher.

If there was a study guide they had to follow & it was spelled "busses" then I probably would still have him show the teacher but tell her he didn't expect to get credit for it seeing as though she wanted it spelled like it was on the study guide.

I've never seen it spelled "busses". Didn't know that spelling was correct also.

 

[Sandy51]

Yes, I would mark it wrong. A big part of being a successful student is following directions. As I have stated, they are told to spell as it appears on their spelling list. That is following directions.


Sandy

 

[mamatojon]

Yes, I would mark it wrong. A big part of being a successful student is following directions. As I have stated, they are told to spell as it appears on their spelling list. That is following directions.


Sandy

I'm sorry, I really mean no offense here, but I fail to see how this sort of thinking is helpful at all. I would argue that teaching kids to follow directions in spite of what is really a non-issue just suppresses independent thought and hurts in the long run more than it helps. It reeks of "control" and is one of the biggest issues I have with schools in general. School is designed not to create successful students but really to create successful adults, and the leaders of our society are not going to be those people who just blindly "follow directions". If both spellings are correct and you know that, then what exactly are you trying to achieve here anyway? The goal is education, right?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sorry, I really mean no offense here, but I fail to see how this sort of thinking is helpful at all. I would argue that teaching kids to follow directions in spite of what is really a non-issue just suppresses independent thought and hurts in the long run more than it helps. It reeks of "control" and is one of the biggest issues I have with schools in general. School is designed not to create successful students but really to create successful adults, and the leaders of our society are not going to be those people who just blindly "follow directions". If both spellings are correct and you know that, then what exactly are you trying to achieve here anyway? The goal is education, right?

They could be taught to spell a version of the word.

Sometimes there are many ways to tackle a problem

Heck--I could solve many a math problem without showing the work. But in many instances if I didn't show it--I would lose points. Why is that?

I could write a research paper properly--but I'd still have to turn in little assignments along the way as proof that I was doing it. Why is that?

B/c following directions is important.

If provided a list and as long as no words on that list were spelled incorrectly, what is the benefit of disputing that? The teacher didn't do anything wrong.

 

[after16years]

I think that both ways are correct, though I rather use 'buses'.

If I were the teacher, I will give a credit. Every student is different from each other. And so with every teacher. Maybe a teacher would ask the students to spell 'buses', while other may ask to spell 'busses'. And every student has their own decission whether to spell 'buses' or 'busses', because both of them are correct and may be used in written and daily conversation.

Well, everyone is different. This is my opinion and maybe some of you have different opinions.

 

[Mickey1122]

Hmmm....teacher here....the only way I have ever spelled it is "buses".

That is the way I spell it. To Buss means to kiss, right?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

WHAT IF--a student didn't know that the other way was correct. What if they just misremembered the word they studied? Should they get credit as well when it wasn't the word they studied and they didn't know it was correct?

OP's son knows it to be correct--though probably not the word he studied...but will SusieQ who spelled it that way as well..but it was simply an error for her...should she get credit as well?

 

[Mickey1122]

I think that we are examining this too much. It is one spelling word.

 

[mamatojon]

They could be taught to spell a version of the word.

Sometimes there are many ways to tackle a problem

Heck--I could solve many a math problem without showing the work. But in many instances if I didn't show it--I would lose points. Why is that?

I could write a research paper properly--but I'd still have to turn in little assignments along the way as proof that I was doing it. Why is that?

B/c following directions is important.

If provided a list and as long as no words on that list were spelled incorrectly, what is the benefit of disputing that? The teacher didn't do anything wrong.

Your examples are not comparable, we are talking about two commonly accepted spellings (cancelled vs canceled) that are both correct - very cut and dry. Documenting a research paper and solving math problems are a process, not a right/wrong thing. The learning occurs during the process, thus it is essential that the process is completed in a certain fashion. Spelling a word is as simple as correct/not correct and a teacher shouldn't just arbitrarily choose which spelling is her preferred spelling.

 

[mamatojon]

WHAT IF--a student didn't know that the other way was correct. What if they just misremembered the word they studied? Should they get credit as well when it wasn't the word they studied and they didn't know it was correct?

OP's son knows it to be correct--though probably not the word he studied...but will SusieQ who spelled it that way as well..but it was simply an error for her...should she get credit as well?

Well, I could pick randomly on a multiple choice test and at least get 1/4 right some of time - such is the nature of tests.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Spelling a word is as simple as correct/not correct and a teacher shouldn't just arbitrarily choose which spelling is her preferred spelling.

And we know she chose the word arbitraily how???????

 

[mamatojon]

And we know she chose the word arbitraily how???????

Well, I would assume arbitrarily unless she had some fixation on the word canceled. I can't imagine one would put that much thought into the proper spelling of a word. Maybe she just doesn't like double l's? Seems like the definition of arbitrary to me.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, I could pick randomly on a multiple choice test and at least get 1/4 right some of time - such is the nature of tests.

So I can't use a math problem and you are going to compare it to a multiple choice test?


Spelling tests--they give you a list..such is nature of those tests.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, I would assume arbitrarily unless she had some fixation on the word canceled. I can't imagine one would put that much thought into the proper spelling of a word. Maybe she just doesn't like double l's? Seems like the definition of arbitrary to me.

OP's word was bussing/busing or whatever the correct spelling is.

 

[mamatojon]

So I can't use a math problem and you are going to compare it to a multiple choice test?


Spelling tests--they give you a list..such is nature of those tests.

That wasn't my point - but I've spent too much time on this already.

Please don't take any of this personally, which is the vibe I'm getting from your posts. I have "issues" with schools and certain teaching styles in general so I probably shouldn't have even posted - I am just *not* a person that thinks that teachers should have carte blanche to do whatever they wish simply because of their position. I would be a nightmare to probably 3/4 of the teachers I had as a child if my son were to have them now. Good thing I homeschool I guess.