‘Lense' vs. 'Lens': What's the Difference Between the Two?

By Carly Forsaith, updated on November 29, 2022

What's the difference between 'lense' vs. 'lens'? And which of the two should you use? That's precisely what this article will cover.

In short, the only correct way to spell the word is 'lens.' 'Lense' is simply an inaccurate version of the same word.

Definition: What Is a 'Lens'?

Let's start by defining the word. What is a lens? Well, it can stand for several different things. But in general, a lens is defined as something that affects how you see something.

Firstly, you could find a lens inside a camera. It allows you to zoom in or zoom out.

You'll also find lenses in your eye. Without them, we couldn't see clearly.

Lenses can also be found on glasses and in the form of contact lenses.

And last but not least, still fitting with the same definition, a lens is a perspective or viewpoint through which you see something.

What is the Difference Between 'Lens' Vs. 'Lense'?

There's no difference between the words' lens,' and 'lense' since the word 'lense' does not exist.

Sometimes, people can confuse the two and assume that the word 'lense' exists because the plural form of 'lens' is 'lenses.' But that's a mistake. There's only one correct way to spell 'lens,' and that is without an -e.

Is It Okay to Say 'Lenses'?

'Lenses' is the plural of 'lens,' so it's absolutely okay to say that.

According to the rules of pluralization, when a noun ends in 's,' you add 'es' to make the noun plural. And 'lens' is no different, which is why it's spelled 'lenses' in the plural.

Some other similar examples include:

Here are some example sentences that use the plural 'lenses':

I got red contact lenses for my vampire costume.

The first step is to fit the lenses into the kaleidoscope.

Have you tried looking at other lenses?

Examples of 'Lens' in a Sentence

Now that you know the word's meaning and the correct way to spell it, let's look at some example sentences containing 'lens.'

Remember to take into account the several different definitions of the word.

Has the microscope lens been inserted?

I'm hoping the sales assistant can help me choose a new lens for my camera.

Remember to bring a zoom lens!

You want the light to travel through the center of the lens so it doesn't bend.

Having a narrator helps you see things through the lens of the author.

Can you help me find my contact lens? I dropped it on the floor.

Please don't touch the lens; you'll get fingerprints on it.

Compare this photo with the snap taken with the wide-angle lens, and you'll see a huge difference.

We need to look at the problem through a different lens.

Concluding Thoughts on 'Lense' Vs. 'Lens'

To summarize, 'lens' is the only correct spelling for the word. 'Lense' does not exist. The plural of 'lens' is 'lenses.'

A lens is something that influences your vision in one way or another.

If this article has been helpful to you, you should check out our blog, where we cover many more confusing words.

We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook. Just click those two links - you'll see why.

It's important to share the news to spread the truth. Most people won't.

Written By:
Carly Forsaith
Carly Forsaith is one of the lead freelance writers for WritingTips.org. Carly is a copywriter who has been writing about the English language for over 3 years. Before that, she was a teacher in Thailand, helping people learn English as a second language. She is a total grammar nerd and spends her time spotting language errors on signs and on the internet.

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