Is the plural of “don’t” written as “don’ts” or “don’t’s”? The correct spelling is don’ts. Don’t’s is incorrect because the apostrophe in don’t marks the letters omitted when do not is shortened to a contraction; it is not a second apostrophe added to make the word plural.
If you’re searching for don’ts or don’t’s, you probably want to know not only which form is correct but also why “don’ts” keeps its apostrophe and how to use it naturally in a sentence.
The confusion is understandable because apostrophes are often associated with possession and contractions, while ordinary plurals generally take -s without an apostrophe. In don’ts, the apostrophe belongs to the original contraction, and the plural -s is simply added afterward. For example, you can write “The guide lists several dos and don’ts” or “Here are a few don’ts to remember.”
This guide explains don’ts vs. don’t’s, including the correct plural spelling, apostrophe rules, grammar, pronunciation, examples, and common mistakes so you can use the word confidently.
Don’ts or Don’t’s
Don’ts is the correct standard spelling when you use don’t as a plural noun meaning things that should not be done.
Correct
- Read the dos and don’ts before starting.
- These are the main don’ts for new users.
- The guide lists several important don’ts.
- Learn the don’ts of professional email writing.
Incorrect
- Read the don’t’s before starting.
- These are the main don’t’s.
- The guide lists several don’t’s.
The key rule is simple:
don’t + s = don’ts
The apostrophe is already part of don’t. It does not mark the plural. The s does.
What does “don’ts” mean?
Don’ts is a noun that means things you should not do.
For example:
“The article explains the dos and don’ts of online safety.”
Here, dos means things that are recommended, while don’ts means things that should be avoided.
Don’t vs don’ts
These two forms have different functions.
Don’t is normally a contraction of do not:
“Don’t open the door.”
Don’ts is a plural noun:
“The safety guide contains several don’ts.”
So, if you are talking about multiple things that people should avoid, use don’ts.
The Origin of Don’ts
The spelling of don’ts becomes easier to understand when you look at the history of don’t.
Don’t is a contraction of do not. In a contraction, an apostrophe shows that letters have been left out.
do not → don’t
The apostrophe represents the missing o from not.
English has used contractions for centuries. Forms such as don’t, can’t, won’t, isn’t, and doesn’t allow speakers and writers to express common phrases more briefly.
Over time, some contractions began to be used as nouns. The word don’t can describe a rule or action that should be avoided:
“That is a don’t.”
Once don’t is being used as a noun, it can have a plural form:
“Those are two don’ts.”
The plural s is added to the existing word. The apostrophe remains because it belongs to the original contraction.
Why is “don’t’s” wrong?
The form don’t’s treats the apostrophe as if it were part of a normal plural-making rule. It is not.
The original word is:
don’t
Add the plural ending:
don’ts
There is no reason to insert another apostrophe.
This gives us:
don’t → don’ts
not:
don’t → don’t’s
The important apostrophe rule
The most useful rule to remember is:
The apostrophe in “don’ts” belongs to “don’t”; the “s” makes it plural.
This is different from a possessive apostrophe.
Compare:
- don’t = do not
- don’ts = things you should not do
The apostrophe does not mean that don’ts is possessive.
Why do spelling variations exist?
The confusion comes partly from the unusual appearance of a contraction being treated as a noun.
Writers are familiar with ordinary plurals:
- rule → rules
- book → books
- idea → ideas
They may also know that apostrophes are sometimes used with letters, numbers, abbreviations, or unusual forms. This can lead to the mistaken idea that don’t needs another apostrophe before s.
It does not.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no major British-American spelling difference between don’ts and don’t’s.
Both British English and American English use don’ts as the standard plural form.
| English variety | Preferred form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| American English | don’ts | Learn the dos and don’ts. |
| British English | don’ts | Learn the dos and don’ts. |
| Canadian English | don’ts | Follow the workplace dos and don’ts. |
| Australian English | don’ts | Know the travel dos and don’ts. |
| New Zealand English | don’ts | Read the main dos and don’ts. |
| Global English | don’ts | These are the key don’ts. |
The spelling therefore does not need to change when your audience changes from American to British English.
Dos and don’ts vs do’s and don’ts
A related question is whether the phrase should be “dos and don’ts” or “do’s and don’ts.”
Both forms can be found in published English, but dos and don’ts is a strong modern choice because dos can be formed by simply adding the plural s.
The difference is especially useful to understand:
- do → dos
- don’t → don’ts
Some writers use do’s because dos can look unusual or may be confused with the word dos in other contexts. This explains why do’s and don’ts still appears in books, websites, and other edited material.
However, this does not mean that the same logic should be applied to don’t.
For don’t, the standard plural is:
don’ts
not:
don’t’s
Happend or Happened: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Which Spelling Should You Use?
For normal modern writing, use don’ts.
You can use it confidently for American, British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and international English readers.
For a US audience
Use:
“The guide explains the main dos and don’ts.”
American readers will understand don’ts as the standard plural form.
For a UK audience
Use:
“The article lists the key dos and don’ts.”
There is no need to change don’ts to don’t’s for British English.
For Commonwealth audiences
Use don’ts in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand unless your publication follows a specific house style.
For global websites
Don’ts is the clearest option because it is widely understood and follows standard English spelling.
For academic and formal writing
Use don’ts when the word fits the tone.
For example:
“The report identifies several dos and don’ts for effective communication.”
If the context is highly formal, you can also replace the word with a more formal phrase such as prohibited actions, recommended practices, or actions to avoid.
Then use related phrases naturally, such as plural of don’t, how to spell don’ts, and dos and don’ts spelling.
Do not repeat the keyword in every paragraph. Clear information matters more than keyword density.
Common Mistakes with Don’ts
1. Writing “don’t’s”
❌ don’t’s
✅ don’ts
The second apostrophe is unnecessary.
2. Removing the apostrophe completely
❌ donts
✅ don’ts
In standard edited English, retain the apostrophe because don’t is a contraction.
3. Writing “dos and don’t’s”
❌ dos and don’t’s
✅ dos and don’ts
The plural form of don’t remains don’ts.
4. Confusing “don’t” with “don’ts”
These words do not have the same grammatical function.
Don’t:
“Don’t use your phone.”
Don’ts:
“The article lists five don’ts.”
The first is a contraction used in a sentence. The second is a plural noun.
5. Treating the apostrophe as the plural marker
The apostrophe does not make don’t plural.
Instead:
- don’t contains an apostrophe because it is a contraction.
- s makes don’t plural when it functions as a noun.
So:
don’t + s = don’ts
6. Assuming British English uses “don’t’s”
It does not.
British English does not require a second apostrophe. Don’ts is the standard form there too.
7. Assuming “do’s” and “don’t’s” must match
They do not have to match visually.
You may encounter:
dos and don’ts
or:
do’s and don’ts
But don’t’s is not needed simply because someone writes do’s.
Flour or Flower: What’s the Difference?
Don’ts in Everyday Examples
The noun don’ts is useful in many types of writing.
In emails
“Please review the dos and don’ts before your first day.”
“I have included a short list of workplace don’ts.”
These examples are clear and natural in professional communication.
In news articles
“The new guide explains the dos and don’ts for travelers.”
News and information websites often use dos and don’ts when giving practical advice.
In social media
“Five social media don’ts everyone should know.”
“Here are my biggest Instagram posting don’ts.”
The word works well in short online content because it quickly communicates a list of things to avoid.
In formal writing
“The policy identifies several important dos and don’ts.”
“The handbook outlines key workplace don’ts.”
For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives such as prohibited practices or actions to avoid.
In educational writing
“Students should learn the main dos and don’ts of academic writing.”
This construction is common in guides and instructional material.
In everyday conversation
“What are the don’ts?”
“Let me explain the main don’ts first.”
Here, don’ts clearly works as a plural noun.
Don’ts vs Don’t’s: Comparison Table
| Form | Standard? | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| don’t | Yes | Contraction of do not | Don’t worry. |
| don’ts | Yes | Plural noun | Learn the don’ts. |
| don’t’s | No | Incorrect plural form | Avoid this spelling. |
| donts | Not preferred | Apostrophe omitted | Use don’ts instead. |
| do | Yes | Verb or noun | Do your work. |
| dos | Yes | Plural noun | Follow the dos. |
| do’s | Also seen | Variant plural noun | Some styles use do’s. |
| dos and don’ts | Preferred modern form | Paired advice | Learn the dos and don’ts. |
| do’s and don’ts | Common variant | Paired advice | Read the do’s and don’ts. |
The easiest rule to remember
If you are unsure, remember this:
Don’t is singular as a contraction; don’ts is the plural noun.
You do not add a second apostrophe.
FAQs About Don’ts or Don’t’s
Is “don’ts” or “don’t’s” correct?
Don’ts is the correct standard form. Don’t’s adds an unnecessary apostrophe before the plural s.
How do you pluralize “don’t”?
When don’t is used as a noun, add s:
don’t → don’ts
Why does “don’ts” have an apostrophe?
The apostrophe is part of the original contraction don’t, which comes from do not. It does not indicate the plural.
Is “don’t’s” ever correct?
In standard modern English, don’t’s is not the preferred plural form. Use don’ts instead.
Is “donts” correct?
Don’ts is the standard spelling in edited English. Donts omits the apostrophe from the contraction and is not the preferred form.
Should I write “dos and don’ts” or “do’s and don’ts”?
Dos and don’ts is a strong modern choice. Do’s and don’ts is also found in published writing, so you may encounter both.
Is “don’ts” correct in British English?
Yes. British English uses don’ts just as American English does.
What does “don’ts” mean?
Don’ts means things that should not be done.
For example:
“The guide lists the dos and don’ts of online safety.”
Is “don’ts” a noun?
Yes. When it means things that should not be done, don’ts functions as a plural noun.
What is the difference between “don’t” and “don’ts”?
Don’t normally means do not:
“Don’t leave yet.”
Don’ts means things that should not be done:
“These are the main don’ts.”
Conclusion
When choosing between don’ts or don’t’s, use don’ts. It is the standard plural form when don’t is used as a noun to mean things that should not be done. The spelling may look unusual because the word already contains an apostrophe, but that apostrophe belongs to the contraction don’t, not to the plural.
The basic rule is easy: don’t + s = don’ts. Do not add another apostrophe. This rule applies across American, British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and most other forms of standard English.
You may also see dos and don’ts and do’s and don’ts. Both occur in real-world writing, although dos and don’ts is a strong modern choice. The important point is that don’t’s is not needed.
So, if you are writing an email, article, school assignment, guide, report, or social media post, choose don’ts. Remember: don’t = do not; don’ts = things you should not do.
I’m a young American content writer who specializes in English grammar, spelling accuracy, and commonly confused words. I creates clear, easy-to-understand content that helps learners, students, and professionals improve their writing by simplifying complex grammar topics and everyday language mistakes.
