Have you ever seen donts and dont’s and wondered which one is correct? This small spelling question can cause a lot of doubt. The problem comes from the word don’t, which already has an apostrophe. When we make it plural, it can feel natural to add another apostrophe. But that is not how standard English works.
The correct plural form is usually don’ts, not don’t’s. The apostrophe in don’t shows that letters have been left out. It does not show possession. When we talk about more than one “don’t,” we simply add -s.
For example, you can write, “The guide lists several do’s and don’ts.” However, many style guides now prefer dos and don’ts or do’s and don’ts, depending on the style being followed.
People search for “donts or dont’s” because apostrophes can be confusing, especially when a word already contains one. In this guide, we will explain the correct forms, the history behind them, British and American usage, common mistakes, and simple examples.
Donts or Dont’s: Quick Answer
The answer depends on the word you mean.
If you mean the plural of don’t, the standard form is:
don’ts
Example:
The teacher explained the important don’ts of the test.
You may also see:
don’t’s
But this form is generally considered unnecessary and is best avoided in modern standard writing.
What about “dos”?
The plural of do can be written in different ways.
You may see:
- dos
- do’s
Many modern style guides prefer dos because apostrophes usually do not make ordinary plurals.
However, do’s and don’ts is still widely seen.
For example:
Here are the dos and don’ts of job interviews.
Or:
Here are the do’s and don’ts of job interviews.
The important point is that dont’s is not the best standard form for the plural of don’t.
Quick rule
Remember:
don’t → don’ts
Not:
don’t → don’t’s
The apostrophe already belongs to the word don’t.
The Origin of Donts and Don’ts
To understand this spelling, we first need to understand don’t.
Don’t is a contraction of do not.
The apostrophe shows that letters have been removed.
do not → don’t
The apostrophe replaces the missing letters.
English uses many contractions:
- cannot → can’t
- will not → won’t
- is not → isn’t
- are not → aren’t
- do not → don’t
- does not → doesn’t
When we make don’t plural as a noun, we are talking about several instances of the word or idea “don’t.”
We do not need to add another apostrophe.
So:
don’t + s = don’ts
This is similar to other words that already contain apostrophes.
The apostrophe is part of the original word. It does not mean possession.
Why does “don’t’s” look tempting?
The mistake happens because many people learn that apostrophes can appear before s.
For example:
John’s book
Here, the apostrophe shows possession.
But in don’t, the apostrophe has a different job. It shows missing letters.
Adding another apostrophe before the plural s is therefore not needed.
British English vs American English Spelling
British and American English generally use the same spelling for don’t and don’ts.
| Form | British English | American English |
| Contraction | don’t | don’t |
| Plural noun | don’ts | don’ts |
| Less preferred form | don’t’s | don’t’s |
| Meaning | More than one “don’t” | More than one “don’t” |
The main difference is not between British and American spelling. It is about style.
Different style guides may make different choices about words such as dos, do’s, don’ts, and don’t’s.
British English
You may see:
The article gives readers some useful dos and don’ts.
You may also see:
The article gives readers some useful do’s and don’ts.
American English
The same forms can appear:
Here are the dos and don’ts of writing.
Or:
Here are the do’s and don’ts of writing.
For modern professional writing, dos and don’ts is a clean choice.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
If you want simple, modern, professional English, use:
dos and don’ts
This form avoids an extra apostrophe in dos and keeps the apostrophe in don’ts because it is part of the original contraction.
For US readers
Use:
dos and don’ts
This is a clear and modern form.
For UK readers
You can also use:
dos and don’ts
It is easy to understand and works well in general writing.
Commonwealth readers
The same form works well:
dos and don’ts
For global writing
Dos and don’ts is usually the safest modern choice.
If you are following a specific style guide, however, check its rules. Some guides may prefer do’s and don’ts.
What should you avoid?
Avoid:
donts
if you are trying to write the contraction don’t correctly.
Also avoid:
don’t’s
when you simply mean the plural of don’t.
The best choice is:
don’ts
Common Mistakes with Donts or Dont’s
Mistake 1: Writing “donts”
Incorrect:
Here are the dos and donts.
Correct:
Here are the dos and don’ts.
The apostrophe in don’t must stay because it is part of the contraction.
Mistake 2: Adding a second apostrophe
Less preferred:
Here are the do’s and don’t’s.
Better:
Here are the dos and don’ts.
The second apostrophe in don’t’s is not needed.
Mistake 3: Using an apostrophe for every plural
Some writers think apostrophes make words plural.
That is usually wrong.
For example:
book’s
normally means something belongs to a book or to a person named Book.
For a normal plural, use:
books
The same basic idea applies to dos.
Mistake 4: Confusing “don’t” and “doesn’t”
Don’t is used with I, you, we, and they.
Examples:
I don’t know.
They don’t agree.
Doesn’t is used with he, she, and it.
Examples:
She doesn’t know.
It doesn’t work.
When you talk about several examples of these words, keep their original spelling.
Mistake 5: Removing the apostrophe
Incorrect:
Dont forget the rules.
Correct:
Don’t forget the rules.
Here, don’t means do not.
The apostrophe must remain.
Donts or Dont’s in Everyday Examples
These forms appear in many types of writing.
In emails
You might write:
Please review the dos and don’ts before the meeting.
Or:
I have attached a short list of the key dos and don’ts.
This style is clear and professional.
In news
News articles may use the phrase:
Experts share the dos and don’ts of online safety.
The phrase is common because it gives readers a simple list of things to do and things to avoid.
On social media
You might see:
Here are five dos and don’ts for new users.
Or:
Know the dos and don’ts before you post.
In formal writing
In a report, you might write:
The guide explains the main dos and don’ts for staff members.
This is clear, but in very formal writing, you could also say:
The guide explains the recommended practices and actions to avoid.
In everyday speech
People often say:
What are the dos and don’ts?
This means:
What should I do, and what should I avoid?
The phrase is very common in English.
Donts or Dont’s: Comparison Table
| Form | Correct? | Use | Example |
| don’t | Yes | Contraction of do not | I don’t agree. |
| don’ts | Yes | Plural of “don’t” | Read the don’ts carefully. |
| don’t’s | Generally avoid | Unnecessary extra apostrophe | Avoid this form in modern writing. |
| dont | No, when meaning “don’t” | Missing apostrophe | Don’t write “dont” in standard English. |
| donts | No, when meaning the plural of “don’t” | Missing apostrophe | Use “don’ts” instead. |
| dos | Yes | Plural of “do” | Learn the dos and don’ts. |
| do’s | Accepted in some styles | Plural of “do” | Some style guides allow this form. |
The easiest version
If you want one simple phrase to remember, use:
dos and don’ts
It is clear, short, and widely understood.
Why Does “Don’ts” Keep the Apostrophe?
This is an important point.
The apostrophe in don’ts is not being used to make the word plural.
The word already contains the apostrophe:
don’t
When we add s, we get:
don’ts
The apostrophe stays because it belongs to the original word.
Compare:
don’t → don’ts
The s simply tells us there is more than one.
This is why removing the apostrophe gives:
donts
which changes the spelling of the original contraction.
Practice Exercise
Choose the correct form.
- Here are the dos and ______ of good writing.
- I ______ like that idea.
- The guide explains several ______.
- ______ forget your keys.
- She ______ understand the question.
Answers
- don’ts
- don’t
- don’ts
- Don’t
- doesn’t
Donts or Dont’s: Google Trends & Usage Data
The phrase “dos and don’ts” is widely used in English. People search for it when they want quick rules about what they should and should not do.
Common search topics include:
- dos and don’ts of interviews
- dos and don’ts of writing
- dos and don’ts of travel
- dos and don’ts of email
- dos and don’ts of social media
- dos and don’ts of business
The exact search level can change by country and topic.
The phrase is used in both British and American English. There is no major country-based spelling difference for don’t.
For SEO writing, the search intent is usually easy to understand. People want a simple list of things to do and things to avoid.
If you are writing an article around this keyword, answer the spelling question first. Then explain why don’ts keeps its apostrophe.
The most useful modern form is generally:
dos and don’ts
For exact search-volume numbers, use a current keyword tool such as Google Trends, Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Semrush rather than relying on old estimates.
FAQs;
1. Is “don’ts” correct?
Yes. Don’ts is the standard plural form when you are talking about more than one “don’t.”
Example:
Learn the dos and don’ts of the job.
2. Is “don’t’s” correct?
It is best avoided in modern standard writing. The extra apostrophe is not needed.
Use:
don’ts
3. Is “donts” correct?
Not when you mean the plural of don’t. Keep the original apostrophe:
don’ts
4. Should I write “dos and don’ts” or “do’s and don’ts”?
Both forms can be found in English. Dos and don’ts is a clean modern choice because ordinary plurals usually do not need apostrophes.
5. Why does “don’ts” have an apostrophe?
Because don’t is a contraction of do not. The apostrophe shows that letters were removed. The apostrophe stays when the word becomes plural.
6. What does “dos and don’ts” mean?
It means a list of things you should do and things you should not do.
Example:
Read the dos and don’ts before your interview.
7. Is “don’ts” the same in British and American English?
Yes. British and American English use don’ts in the same basic way.
Conclusion;
The spelling question “donts or don’ts” becomes easy when you understand why the apostrophe is there. Don’t is a short form of do not. The apostrophe shows that some letters have been left out. When you make the word plural, you add s, but you do not remove the original apostrophe.
The standard form is therefore don’ts.
You may also see do’s and don’ts, especially in older or style-based writing. However, dos and don’ts is a simple modern form that works well in most general and professional writing. The form don’t’s adds an unnecessary second apostrophe and is best avoided.
British and American English follow the same basic spelling here. The main issue is style, not regional spelling.
When writing an article, email, guide, or social post, remember this simple rule: don’t → don’ts. Keep the apostrophe that belongs to don’t, then add s for the plural. This small rule will help you write the phrase correctly and avoid a very common apostrophe mistake.
Emily Carter is an English grammar writer based in Portland, Oregon, with 7+ years of experience turning tricky grammar rules into simple, easy lessons.
