Have you ever typed donts and wondered whether it needed an apostrophe? You’re not alone! Apostrophes can be tricky in English, especially when forming plurals of contractions. Fortunately, this one is easy to remember once you know the rule.
In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between donts vs don’ts, their meanings, examples, common mistakes, and an easy memory trick to help you spell the word correctly every time.
Quick Answer
- Don’ts ✅ — Correct spelling.
- Donts ❌ — Incorrect spelling.
Use don’ts when referring to things that people should not do.
Examples:
- Here are the dos and don’ts of job interviews.
- Learn the social media don’ts before posting online.
What Do Donts and Don’ts Mean?
Although these words look similar, only one is correct in modern English.
What Is Don’ts?
Don’ts is the plural form of the contraction don’t (do not). It means multiple actions or behaviors that should be avoided.
Examples:
- Interview don’ts
- Grammar don’ts
- Travel don’ts
- Workplace don’ts
What Is Donts?
Donts is a misspelling of don’ts.
It omits the apostrophe that belongs to the contraction “don’t.” Standard English requires the apostrophe to remain even when making the word plural.
Donts vs Don’ts Comparison Table
| Feature | Donts | Don’ts |
|---|---|---|
| Correct English Word | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Includes Apostrophe | No | Yes |
| Used in Modern English | No | Yes |
| Formal Writing | No | Yes |
| Meaning | None | Things you should not do |
Why Is “Don’ts” Correct?
The word comes from the contraction:
- Do not → Don’t
When making it plural, you simply add an s while keeping the apostrophe:
- Don’t → Don’ts
Therefore:
- Don’ts ✅ — Correct spelling.
- Donts ❌ — Incorrect spelling.
The apostrophe stays because it represents the missing letter “o” in “not.”
Examples of Don’ts in Sentences
- Every new employee should learn the workplace don’ts.
- Here are some important parenting don’ts.
- The article explains common interview don’ts.
- Students should understand classroom don’ts before the semester begins.
- Social media don’ts can help protect your online reputation.
- Learning the grammar don’ts will improve your writing.
- Travel don’ts can save you from unnecessary problems abroad.
Common Mistakes People Make
Many writers accidentally:
- Remove the apostrophe and write donts.
- Assume apostrophes should never appear in plurals.
- Confuse plural nouns with contractions.
- Miss the typo while proofreading.
Incorrect:
- ❌ Here are the basic interview donts.
Correct:
- ✅ Here are the basic interview don’ts.
Simple Memory Trick
💡 Memory Trick
- Don’t = Do not.
- Don’ts = Many things you should not do.
Rule: If the apostrophe belongs to the original word, keep it when adding the plural “s.”
When Should You Use Don’ts?
Use don’ts when talking about:
- Writing rules
- Workplace etiquette
- School guidelines
- Travel advice
- Social media behavior
- Professional communication
Examples:
- Dos and don’ts
- Interview don’ts
- Grammar don’ts
- Workplace don’ts
- Travel don’ts
- Parenting don’ts
When Should You Use Donts?
Never.
Donts is not considered correct in standard English and should always be written as don’ts.
American vs British English
There is no spelling difference between American and British English.
Both varieties use:
- ✅ Don’ts
- ❌ Donts
The apostrophe is required in both forms of English.
Related Words and LSI Keywords
- don’ts meaning
- dos and don’ts
- grammar rules
- apostrophe usage
- English punctuation
- commonly misspelled words
- professional writing
- English vocabulary
- plural contractions
- writing tips
- correct English usage
- proofreading guide
- punctuation rules
- English language learning
Tips for Remembering the Difference
- Keep the apostrophe from “don’t.”
- Simply add the letter “s” to make it plural.
- Remember that “don’ts” means things you should avoid doing.
- Never remove the apostrophe.
- Proofread contractions carefully when writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is donts a real word?
No. Donts is an incorrect spelling.
Which is correct: donts or don’ts?
Don’ts is the correct spelling in modern English.
Why does don’ts have an apostrophe?
The apostrophe remains because it is part of the original contraction “don’t.”
Is don’ts used in American and British English?
Yes. Both varieties of English use the same spelling.
Can contractions be plural?
Yes. Some contractions can take a plural form while keeping their apostrophe, such as don’ts.
What does don’ts mean?
It refers to actions, behaviors, or practices that should be avoided.
Summary
The difference between donts vs don’ts is simple. Don’ts is the correct spelling and is used when referring to multiple things that people should not do. Donts is a common punctuation mistake and should be avoided.
Whenever you’re writing lists of advice or rules, remember to keep the apostrophe. If it’s something people should not do, don’ts is always the right choice.
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