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AbbreviationsCapitalizationCompound Words: Everything You Need to KnowContractionsSpellingWhat is the difference between 'believes' and 'beliefs'?

The words believes and beliefs are often confused by writers. But what is the difference?
Beliefs means things that are believed, opinions, religious tenets when used as a noun.
Believes means having confidence in and accepting as true when used as a verb.
A good way to remember the difference is The verb belieVes has a V.
Out of the two words, 'beliefs' is the most common.
It's easy to confuse words that have similar spellings and meanings but are different parts of speech.
Beliefs is a plural noun that means "thoughts that are accepted as true, religious tenets, opinions."
Believes is the third-person singular form of the verb "believe." It means "to accept with faith, or to hold an opinion, to accept something as right or true."
Which is correct 'he believes to be' or 'he beliefs to be'?
You should use 'he believes to be'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Should it be 'lawyer reasonably believes necessary' or 'lawyer reasonably beliefs necessary'?
The right phrase is 'lawyer reasonably believes necessary'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Is the phrase 'what he believes to' or 'what he beliefs to'?
The correct phrase is 'what he believes to'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Is the correct expression ', he believes ,' or ', he beliefs ,'?
You should use ', he believes ,'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Which is correct 'issuer reasonably believes satisfies' or 'issuer reasonably beliefs satisfies'?
The right expression is 'issuer reasonably believes satisfies'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Which is correct ', beliefs , and' or ', believes , and'?
The correct expression is ', beliefs , and'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
What's the correct phrase 'religious beliefs and practices' or 'religious believes and practices'?
The correct expression is 'religious beliefs and practices'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Is the expression 'values , beliefs ,' or 'values , believes ,'?
The correct phrase is 'values , beliefs ,'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Is the right expression 'beliefs , values ,' or 'believes , values ,'?
The right phrase is 'beliefs , values ,'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Which is right 'beliefs and practices .' or 'believes and practices .'?
The correct expression is 'beliefs and practices .'. These phrases are often confused by writers.
Some synonyms of believes are: think, accept, consider, suppose .
Some synonyms of beliefs are: thinks, persuasions, faiths, theories, opinions, worldviews.
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The definitions in this article were adapted from Wiktionary.
Examples of believes in a sentence
He believes she couldn’t cope with that, and that it broke her down.- The Jewel Box by Anna Davis
Already she believes that George is super-baby.- Babyville by Jane Green
We’re here because the Director believes your safety requires the Course.”- The Hound of Rowan by Henry H. Neff
Well, the Devil believes in the Devil, and plays the greatest con game of hide-and-seek.- The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx; Ian Gittins
Verse 7 is a good summary of acceptance: Love “bears all things, believes all things.”- Lord, Change My Attitude: Before Its Too Late by James MacDonald
Examples of beliefs in a sentence
The things he didn't have were loyalty or beliefs.- The shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón; Lucía Graves
The primitive mud of ancestral pagan beliefs and absolute monoatheism.- Grand Junction by Maurice G. Dantec
We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs,- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
PEOPLE ARE NEVER PLEASED WHEN YOU REVEAL THAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE WRONG.- Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
He knew a little of their beliefs.- The Twisted Root by Anne Perry