Understanding Beliefs and Believes: Simple Differences Explained

Understanding the Difference Between “Beliefs” and “Believes”

The words “beliefs” and “believes” look and sound a lot alike, but they are different. Let’s learn what they mean, how to use them, and how to remember which is which.

History of the Words

Both words come from the idea of thinking something is true. “Beliefs” comes from “belief,” an old word meaning something you think is true or real. “Believes” comes from “believe,” which means the action of thinking something is true. Both words have roots in Old English.

How to Use “Beliefs”

“Beliefs” is a noun. It talks about ideas or things people think are true. A person can have many beliefs.

• Some people have strong beliefs about kindness.
• Her beliefs guide her actions every day.
• Different cultures have different beliefs about life.
• His beliefs make him a good leader.
• Beliefs can change as people learn more.

How to Use “Believes”

“Believes” is a verb. It means to think something is true. It is used when talking about one person (he, she, or it).

• She believes in helping others.
• He believes the story is true.
• The boy believes his team will win.
• Everyone believes in her talent.
• It believes the weather will be sunny.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember, “beliefs” ends with “fs,” like “facts,” and is about thoughts or ideas. “Believes” ends with “ves,” like “verb,” showing an action of thinking.

Summary

“Beliefs” is a noun and talks about ideas people think are true. “Believes” is a verb and means the action of thinking something is true. Use “beliefs” for talking about thoughts, and “believes” when one person or thing thinks something is true.