oversea and overseas

Oversea and Overseas

Both spellings may be used, although Overseas appears to be more common and popular. However, the -s is generally dropped in favour of Oversea when the initial letter of the succeeding word is an “s”: Oversea Studies. You won't find the word "oversea" in most British Dictionaries, like Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary and Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Note: "Overseas" is not used to avoid unnecessary confusion from some ESL audiences.

For examples:

(1) Credits are also given for approved oversea studies. Source: Australia‘s Central Queenslands University

(2) This booklet outlines the registration requirements for all oversea companies that establish a place of business or branch in Great Britain. Source: UK Company house

Overseas Or Oversea

There is no oversea.

Today we have 3 speakers from overseas.

Please note that there is the word -- oversee. It means monitor.

For example: Peter and John oversee the project.

2010-08-03 12:19:43 補充：
Dear RubbisheicaChan,

Thank you for your teaching.
I did not know there is the word oversea before you told me.
I should have looked up the dictionary before answering this question.

But do you agree that nowadays most people in Hong Kong say overseas instead of oversea?

2010-08-03 22:25:18 補充：
I checked my 2 dictionaries. Oxford Advanced Learner's English-Chinese Dictionary 4th Edition does not have the word oversea. It has the word overseas.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary 7th Edition has the words oversea and overseas.
I guess most people nowadays use overseas instead of oversea.

只有overseas這個字，沒有沒有s的oversea.

所以只得一個意思：海外(相對所在國家以外的地方或統稱外國)