What's the Difference Between "v." and "vs."

dwaxe

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This question has plagued me since my first year of high school, during which someone told me that these two abbreviations are not abbreviations for the same word. Perhaps there is another source to corroborate what I currently assume to be a myth?
 
This was told to me by a student in Mock Trial, so might there be a context in law for which these two abbreviations don't mean the same thing?
 
it's "against" anyway. "versus" is a lame american attempt at "political correctness".

political correctness? I think it just makes more sense for 'v' to mean 'verses' than it is for 'v' to mean 'and' or 'against'.

Versus
Against or opposed to, the abbreviation v. usually used in case names (for example: McCulloch v. Maryland). In Commonwealth countries such as England and Australia, it is usually read as 'and' in civil matters (Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd would be Strickland 'and' Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd) and 'against' in criminal matters (Dietrich v R would be Dietrich 'against' The Queen (R)). In the United States, it is often read as vee, pronouncing the letter itself.
 
it's "against" anyway. "versus" is a lame american attempt at "political correctness".

It's rather an attempt to look sophisticated. Like "pie a la mode". It's actually just an apple pie with ice cream...
 
political correctness? I think it just makes more sense for 'v' to mean 'verses' than it is for 'v' to mean 'and' or 'against'.
'v' means 'OR' anyway! ;)
 
Maybe the use of v. is to avoid confusion with v.s.
Personally think I use vs. but I'll have to wait until the next time I'm writing it to be sure.
 
I usually see "v." used in reference to legal cases, (Roe v. Wade), while "vs." is used in most other contexts, like movie titles (Alien vs. Predator).
 
political correctness? I think it just makes more sense for 'v' to mean 'verses' than it is for 'v' to mean 'and' or 'against'.

Versus
Against or opposed to, the abbreviation v. usually used in case names (for example: McCulloch v. Maryland). In Commonwealth countries such as England and Australia, it is usually read as 'and' in civil matters (Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd would be Strickland 'and' Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd) and 'against' in criminal matters (Dietrich v R would be Dietrich 'against' The Queen (R)). In the United States, it is often read as vee, pronouncing the letter itself.


This seems most accurate. You read the 'v' as an 'and'. However, you read it is an 'and' all the time out of habit (because all other law does) so you can still read it as 'and' for criminal cases.

(replace read/for speak if that's your preference :))
 
none, except v. is used in law more and vs. is used for fights more. Like Red Team vs. Blue team
 
"v." is used in American legal case captions to denote the parties' relationship. "Vs." is a channel that shows hockey games.

Cleo
 
"v." is used in American legal case captions to denote the parties' relationship. "Vs." is a channel that shows hockey games.

Cleo

V is a TV miniseries about alien nazis trying to take over the world. VS is a brand of sexy underwear. :mischief:
 
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