If you have ever typed faves or favs and paused to wonder which spelling is right, you are not alone. Both forms appear online every day, but faves is the more common and widely accepted spelling. It is the preferred plural form of fave, which is a shortened version of favorite. While favs also appears in casual writing, it is far less common and may look unusual to many readers.
The confusion comes from the way English shortens words. Some abbreviations simply add an s to form the plural, while others change slightly to make pronunciation and spelling feel more natural. Since favorite becomes fave, many people are unsure if the plural should be faves or favs.
The good news is that the answer is easy to remember once you know where the shortened word comes from. You do not need to memorize complicated spelling rules or rely on guesswork every time you write a social media post, text message, or blog article.
This guide explains the difference between the two spellings, why one is more common, where each appears, and how to avoid the most common mistakes. By the end, you will know which spelling sounds natural and when it makes sense to use it.
Quick Definition
Fave is an informal shortened form of the word favorite. The standard plural is faves, which simply means favorites.
Favs is also used by some people, especially online, but it is much less common. If you want the safest and most natural spelling, choose faves.
Direct Answer
If you are deciding between the two spellings, use faves. It is the most common plural form of fave and the one most readers expect to see.
You may still come across favs in text messages, usernames, social media posts, or online communities, but it is not the preferred spelling in general writing.
Comparison Table
| Word Or Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence | Best Time To Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faves | Plural of fave meaning favorites. | These are my favorite movies. They are my faves. | Casual writing, blogs, text messages, and social media. |
| Favs | Alternative plural spelling of fave. | Here are my favs from the new album. | Informal online writing where personal style matters. |
Why People Get Confused
It is easy to understand why these spellings cause uncertainty. Both appear across the internet, and both refer to the same idea. If you search social media, you will find thousands of examples using each version.
The confusion starts with the singular form. Most people know the full word is favorite, but the shortened version is fave, not fav. Once that shortened form becomes familiar, the natural plural is faves.
Some writers skip the final e and write favs instead. They are following a simple abbreviation pattern, much like turning photo into photos. While readers still understand the meaning, that spelling is less common because it does not match the usual shortened form of favorite.
This is one of those cases where everyday usage matters more than a strict grammar rule. Both spellings communicate the same idea, but one has become the clear favorite among English speakers.
Where The Word Fave Comes From
The word fave is a clipped word. That means it is created by shortening a longer word without changing its meaning. English has many clipped words that people use every day.
Think about words like these.
- Gym from gymnasium.
- Ad from advertisement.
- Demo from demonstration.
- Lab from laboratory.
The same thing happens with favorite. Instead of saying or writing the entire word, people often shorten it to fave, especially in casual conversations and online writing.
Because the singular form ends with an e, adding s creates the natural plural faves. That spelling has become the standard choice in blogs, entertainment websites, lifestyle magazines, and social media.
Why Favs Still Exists
If faves is the common spelling, why do people still write favs?
The answer is simple. People often shorten words in different ways when they type quickly. Online conversations move fast, and many users care more about speed than consistency.
Some writers also assume the abbreviation should come directly from the first part of favorite, producing fav instead of fave. From there, adding s creates favs.
Readers almost always understand the intended meaning, but the spelling looks less natural because fav is not the form most dictionaries and style references recognize as the standard abbreviation.
Why Faves Is The Better Choice
If your goal is to sound natural and write the way most English speakers do, faves is the better option. It matches the accepted shortened form of favorite, and readers recognize it immediately.
You will find faves in blog posts, lifestyle magazines, entertainment websites, recipe collections, travel guides, and social media captions. It has become the spelling most people expect because it follows naturally from the singular word fave.
Imagine reading these sentences.
- Here are my faves from this year’s book fair.
- Share your faves in the comments.
- These are my all time faves for road trips.
Each sentence feels smooth and familiar. The spelling does not distract the reader because it matches the way people usually write the word.
Now compare them with these examples.
- Here are my favs from this year’s book fair.
- Share your favs below.
These sentences are still understandable, but many readers notice the spelling because it appears less often. That does not make it wrong, but it is not the form most people naturally expect.
Where You Will See Each Spelling
The internet has made informal writing more common than ever. Social media, text messages, and online communities have also introduced many personal spelling styles.
That is one reason both versions continue to appear. Different writers develop different habits, and not everyone follows the same style guide.
Here is where you are most likely to see each spelling.
| Place | Faves | Favs |
|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle blogs | Very common | Rare |
| Entertainment websites | Very common | Occasionally |
| Social media captions | Very common | Common |
| Text messages | Common | Common |
| Marketing copy | Common | Rare |
| Professional writing | Rare because favorite is usually written in full. | Very rare. |
This pattern shows an important point. In professional writing, most editors avoid both shortened forms and simply write favorite. The shortened versions are mainly used when the tone is casual and conversational.
Should You Ever Use Favs
There are situations where favs makes sense.
Some online communities, gaming groups, and social media creators use it because it is shorter or matches their personal style. You may also see it in usernames, hashtags, playlists, and folder names where saving one character feels useful.
Even in those situations, readers still know exactly what the writer means. The difference is not about understanding. It is about which spelling looks more familiar.
If you are writing for a wide audience, faves is still the safer choice. It feels more polished while keeping the same relaxed tone.
Faves In Real Conversations
Although fave began as a written abbreviation, people now say it in everyday conversations.
Someone might ask.
- What are your faves from the new bakery?
Or say.
- Those are my all time faves.
The shortened word sounds friendly and informal. It works well when talking with friends, family members, or coworkers.
You probably would not hear it during a formal presentation or see it in an academic paper. In those situations, the complete word favorites sounds more appropriate.
Thinking about your audience makes choosing the right word much easier.
Common Mistakes People Make
Most mistakes happen because people mix the full word and the shortened word or use the informal version where a formal word would work better.
Writing Favs In Formal Content
This is not a spelling mistake, but it can make professional writing feel too casual.
For example.
❌ Please list your favs in the research report.
A better choice is.
✔ Please list your favorites in the research report.
The complete word sounds more polished and fits the setting.
Mixing Fave And Favorite
Some writers switch between the shortened and full forms without thinking about consistency.
For example.
❌ Here are my favorite movies and my fave books.
This sentence is not technically wrong, but it feels uneven.
A smoother version is.
✔ Here are my favorite movies and favorite books.
Or.
✔ Here are my fave movies and fave books.
Keeping the style consistent makes the writing easier to read.
Assuming Every Shortened Word Follows The Same Rule
English abbreviations are not always predictable. Some words keep their final letter, while others do not.
For example.
- Advertisement becomes ad.
- Gymnasium becomes gym.
- Favorite becomes fave.
That is why learning the accepted shortened form is often easier than trying to invent one.
Easy Ways To Remember The Correct Spelling
You do not need a complicated memory trick.
Just remember that the singular word is fave. Since it already ends with the letter e, adding s creates faves.
Think about another simple example.
- Cake becomes cakes.
- Game becomes games.
- Fave becomes faves.
The pattern feels natural because you are simply adding s to a word that already ends in e.
Another helpful tip is to picture a social media post asking.
- What are your faves this month?
That version looks familiar because it is the one most people use.
Similar Shortened Words
English is full of shortened words that started as informal speech before becoming widely accepted.
Here are a few examples.
| Full Word | Short Form |
|---|---|
| Favorite | Fave |
| Advertisement | Ad |
| Mathematics | Math |
| Gymnasium | Gym |
| Refrigerator | Fridge |
These shortened forms make conversations quicker and more relaxed. They also show that English changes naturally over time as people look for easier ways to communicate.
Understanding that pattern makes it easier to accept fave as a normal part of modern English instead of seeing it as slang or incorrect spelling.
FAQs
Is faves the correct plural of fave?
Yes. Faves is the standard and most widely accepted plural of fave, which is the informal shortened form of favorite. It is the spelling you will see most often in blogs, entertainment articles, and social media posts.
Why do some people write favs instead of faves?
Some people shorten favorite to fav instead of fave because it seems quicker to type. Others simply copy the spelling they have seen online. Readers usually understand the meaning, but faves is still the more familiar and widely used form.
Can I use faves in professional writing?
It depends on your audience. If you are writing a formal report, business email, or academic paper, use favorites instead. Faves works best in casual writing where a relaxed and conversational tone fits naturally.
Is fav a real word?
Fav appears in text messages, usernames, hashtags, and online communities, but it is less commonly recognized as the standard shortened form. Most dictionaries and style references treat fave as the accepted abbreviation of favorite.
Is fave a real word?
Yes. Fave is an informal word that has been widely used for many years. It appears in modern dictionaries and is commonly used in everyday American English, especially in conversations, blogs, and social media.
Do British and American English use fave differently?
Both American and British English recognize fave as an informal abbreviation of favorite or favourite. The main difference is the spelling of the full word. American English uses favorite, while British English uses favourite. The shortened form fave is common in both.
Should I use faves or favorites?
That depends on the situation. Use favorites in formal or professional writing because it sounds more polished. Use faves when the tone is casual, friendly, or conversational.
Final Thoughts
The question of faves or favs has a simple answer once you know how the shortened word is formed. Since the accepted abbreviation is fave, the natural plural is faves. That spelling is more familiar, more widely used, and more likely to meet your readers’ expectations.
You will still come across favs, especially on social media, in text messages, and in online communities. It is easy to understand, and most people will know exactly what it means. Even so, it remains the less common choice and can look unusual to some readers.
If you are writing for a broad audience, choosing faves is the safer option. It keeps the relaxed, conversational tone while following the spelling most people recognize. For formal writing, skip both shortened forms and use favorites instead.
The next time you share your favorite books, movies, songs, or restaurants, you will know which spelling fits best. That small choice makes your writing look more natural and helps your message connect with readers without distracting them.
