LOS ANGELES (AP) — Visitors to the University of Southern California might well be muttering, "What fools these mortals be" as they stroll past a statue of the legendary queen of Troy and notice William Shakespeare's name seemingly misspelled at its base.

To USC officials, it's much ado about nothing.

"To E, or not to E, that is the question," the school responded in a statement Tuesday when asked why Shakespeare's name is missing the last letter E in a quotation attributed to him.

The school noted Shakespeare has been spelled nearly two dozen different ways over the years. Officials say they...