Plusses or pluses

Pluses and plusses are both recorded plural spellings of plus, though pluses is a straightforward choice for most general writing. The noun can refer to advantages or to plus signs. Keep the spelling consistent within a document.

Meaning and context

When plus means an advantage, its plural can describe benefits in a comparison. When it means a symbol, the plural can refer to several written plus signs. Neither use requires an apostrophe simply because the word has become plural.

Examples and usage

The plan has several pluses describes advantages. The worksheet contains three plus signs avoids any uncertainty about the symbol sense. In a sentence such as The plan’s main plus is flexibility, the apostrophe belongs to the possessive plan’s.

What to check

If an organization or publisher specifies one spelling, follow that house style. In a formal comparison, advantages may also be clearer than pluses. Choose based on the intended audience rather than assuming that the longer spelling necessarily means something different.

Explore more: Word meanings and writing guides