Determine how many verses you need to write. Sheet music cannot always accommodate more than two or three verses per staff, so plan how large or small you must write each word to fit the most lyrics. Begin verses close to the treble clef if you must fit more than two.
Write each verse in the white space between the treble clef and the bass clef. If there is more than one verse, precede each verse with the corresponding number and a period. Thus, verse one should have a "1." at the beginning, verse two should have a "2." and so forth.
Line up each word with the corresponding note in the melody. For example, if the accompanist plays a "G" when the singer is singing the word "heart," be sure to list "heart" directly underneath the "G."
Hyphenate words with more than one syllable. In some songs, words span several notes or even measures. Put a hyphen in between each syllable and keep each syllable lined up according to the corresponding melody note as if it were a single word. For single syllable words spanning several beats or notes, insert several spaced hyphens or a solid line stretching from the beginning of the word until the ending note.
Punctuate the lyrics. Because lyrics are more poetic than everyday speaking, you probably won't use many periods, but insert commas and question marks in the appropriate places to mark the end of a thought or ask a question. Put a period at the end of each verse.
Capitalize the first letter of each phrase in a verse. When written on plain paper, verses are often four lines long and each line is capitalized. Use this capitalization as a reference for where you should capitalize lyrics on the sheet music. Always capitalize proper nouns, regardless of their location in the music.
Distinguish the verses from the chorus by placing the chorus in the exact middle of the white space. This way, singers can tell the lyrics must be sung at each repeat, regardless of which verse they have finished.