Meaning & use
plus
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Meanings
preposition
Added to; used to show that one amount or thing is added to another.
Grammar: Often used in math: Two plus three equals five. It can also mean 'as well as' in lists.
Patterns
- number + plus + number
- A plus B
Four plus five equals nine.
The rent is $800 a month plus utilities.
She earns a base salary plus bonuses.
preposition
As well as; in addition to.
Grammar: Used to add extra information: The house has three bedrooms plus a study.
Patterns
- noun + plus + noun
The package includes breakfast plus free Wi-Fi.
We need two more chairs plus a table.
He speaks French plus a little German.
nouncountable
A positive or good feature of something.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'a plus' or 'one of the pluses'.
Patterns
- a plus
- one of the pluses
The central location is a big plus.
One of the pluses of working here is the flexible hours.
Experience with coding is a plus for this job.
adjectivebefore a noun
Slightly above a particular number or level.
Grammar: Used after a number: 18 plus means 18 or more.
Patterns
- number + plus
All students aged 16 plus are welcome.
The temperature was 30 plus degrees all week.
Tickets cost $20 plus for adults.
conjunctioninformal
And also; used to add a further point in informal speech.
Grammar: Informal; often at the beginning of a clause: I was tired, plus it was raining.
Patterns
- clause + plus + clause
I don't want to go out—plus, I have to study.
The hotel was cheap, plus it was near the beach.
She's very qualified, plus she has a great attitude.
Word forms
| plural | pluses |
|---|
Common combinations
- a big plus
- Being able to work from home is a big plus for many employees.
- plus point
- The plus point of this plan is its low cost.
- plus sign
- Use a plus sign to show addition.
- plus or minus
- The estimate is 100 plus or minus 5.
Synonyms and how they differ
- and
- And is a general conjunction for joining words; plus is often used in math or to add a specific extra item.
- advantage
- Advantage is a more formal noun for a good feature; plus is informal and often used in the phrase 'a plus'.
Opposites
Commonly confused: plus or plus sign?
plus vs plus sign
The symbol + is called a plus sign. The word 'plus' itself is used in speech and writing to mean 'added to'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'plus' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Plus is followed directly by the added item: 'plus tax'. The other options insert unnecessary prepositions (of, to, for) that do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.