Dont’s or Don’ts: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Don’ts is the correct spelling. Dont’s is incorrect because it places the apostrophe after the letter t instead of using it inside the contraction don’t.

The word don’t is a contraction of do not. To make it plural, add s without moving or adding another apostrophe:

Singular: don’t
Plural: don’ts
Incorrect: dont’s
Incorrect: don’t’s

Use don’ts when referring to actions, habits, or behaviors that people should avoid.

Example:

The guide explains the dos and don’ts of writing a professional email.

What Is the Main Difference Between Dont’s and Don’ts?

The main difference is the position and purpose of the apostrophe.

Form	Status	Explanation	Example
Don’ts	Correct	Plural form of don’t	Learn the don’ts of workplace communication.
Dont’s	Incorrect	The apostrophe is placed after a misspelled form of dont	Avoid: The dont’s are listed below.
Don’t’s	Incorrect in normal usage	Adds an unnecessary second apostrophe	Avoid: Follow the do’s and don’t’s.
Donts	Incorrect in standard English	Removes the apostrophe required in don’t	Avoid: These are the donts of the process.

The correct form keeps the original apostrophe in don’t and adds a regular plural s:

don’t + s = don’ts

Is Don’ts the Correct Spelling?

Yes, don’ts is the correct plural spelling of don’t.

Use it when discussing several things that should not be done.

Examples:

The teacher explained the don’ts of the examination.
These are the main don’ts of online safety.
Every workplace has a few important dos and don’ts.
The article lists common fashion don’ts.
We reviewed the don’ts before beginning the project.
Ignoring the safety don’ts can cause serious problems.

In each sentence, don’ts means prohibited, discouraged, or unsuitable actions.

Is Dont’s a Correct Word?

No, dont’s is not correct in standard English.

The form is incorrect for two reasons:

Dont is not the correct spelling of don’t.
An apostrophe should not normally be added before s simply to form a plural.

Incorrect:

The manager discussed the dont’s of customer service.

Correct:

The manager discussed the don’ts of customer service.

The apostrophe belongs between n and t because it replaces the missing letter o in do not.

What Does Don’t Mean?

Don’t means do not. It is a negative contraction used with subjects such as I, you, we, and they.

Examples:

I don’t understand the question.
You don’t need to hurry.
We don’t work on Sundays.
They don’t agree with the decision.
Don’t touch the wet paint.
Don’t forget your appointment.

In the first four examples, don’t forms a negative statement. In the final two examples, it introduces a negative command.

What Does Don’ts Mean?

Don’ts is a plural noun meaning things that should not be done.

Examples of don’ts include:

Behaviors that are prohibited
Actions that are discouraged
Mistakes that should be avoided
Rules telling people what not to do
Habits considered rude, unsafe, or unsuitable

Examples:

Arriving late is one of the biggest interview don’ts.
Sharing passwords is an important cybersecurity don’t.
The handbook contains several workplace don’ts.
Talking over other people is one of the don’ts of polite conversation.
The coach reviewed the training dos and don’ts.

Although don’t usually functions as a verb contraction, don’ts functions as a noun.

Why Does Don’ts Have an Apostrophe?

Don’ts has an apostrophe because its base form, don’t, is a contraction.

The apostrophe replaces the missing o in do not:

do not → don’t

When the word becomes plural, the original apostrophe stays in place and s is added:

don’t → don’ts

The apostrophe does not create the plural. It already belongs to the contraction. The final s creates the plural.

This pattern can be shown as follows:

Step	Form	Explanation
Full expression	do not	Two separate words
Contraction	don’t	Apostrophe replaces the missing o
Plural noun	don’ts	S is added to the contraction

Why Is Dont’s Incorrect?

Dont’s is incorrect because it treats dont as the base word and adds an apostrophe before s.

There is no standard word dont meaning do not. The contraction must contain an apostrophe between n and t.

Compare the forms:

don’t = correct contraction
don’ts = correct plural noun
dont = incorrect spelling
dont’s = incorrect spelling and apostrophe placement

Incorrect:

The brochure lists the dont’s of food handling.

Correct:

The brochure lists the don’ts of food handling.

Why Is Don’t’s Usually Incorrect?

Don’t’s contains two apostrophes: one in the contraction and another before the plural s.

The second apostrophe is unnecessary because regular plurals are normally formed by adding s, not ’s.

Incorrect:

The instructor explained the don’t’s of the course.

Correct:

The instructor explained the don’ts of the course.

Apostrophe plus s commonly shows possession or forms certain contractions. It does not usually form an ordinary plural.

What Is the Difference Between Don’t and Don’ts?

Don’t is usually a verb contraction, while don’ts is a plural noun.

Word	Grammatical Role	Meaning	Example
Don’t	Negative contraction	Do not	Don’t enter this room.
Don’ts	Plural noun	Things that should not be done	The sign lists several don’ts.

Compare these sentences:

Don’t interrupt the speaker.

Here, don’t gives a negative command.

Interrupting the speaker is one of the main presentation don’ts.

Here, don’ts names a category of actions that should be avoided.

Is Don’ts Singular or Plural?

Don’ts is plural. Its singular form is don’t when the contraction is being treated as the name of a prohibited action or instruction.

Singular example:

One important don’t is sharing confidential information.

Plural example:

The policy explains several don’ts for handling confidential information.

The singular noun use may sound slightly informal, but it is common in guides, advice articles, training materials, and everyday speech.

How Do You Use Don’ts in a Sentence?

Use don’ts as a noun when referring to multiple actions that people should avoid.

A common sentence pattern is:

the don’ts of + activity or subject

Examples:

Learn the don’ts of business communication.
The trainer discussed the don’ts of lifting heavy equipment.
This guide covers the don’ts of international travel.
Parents should understand the don’ts of online sharing.
The lesson explains the don’ts of academic writing.

Another common pattern is:

possessive noun + don’ts

Examples:

Workplace don’ts
Interview don’ts
Dating don’ts
Fashion don’ts
Grammar don’ts
Social media don’ts
Dining don’ts
Safety don’ts

Complete sentences:

Checking your phone repeatedly is a common interview don’t.
The company’s safety don’ts apply to every employee.
The article describes several social media don’ts.
The stylist shared five fashion don’ts.
Plagiarism is one of the most serious academic don’ts.

Is It “Dos and Don’ts” or “Do’s and Don’ts”?

Both dos and don’ts and do’s and don’ts appear in edited English.

Dos and don’ts follows the usual rule that plurals do not require apostrophes:

do → dos
don’t → don’ts

However, do’s and don’ts is also widely accepted because the apostrophe in do’s makes the small word easier to recognize and prevents some readers from misreading dos.

Examples:

The handbook explains the dos and don’ts of workplace conduct.
The handbook explains the do’s and don’ts of workplace conduct.

The preferred form can depend on the organization’s style guide. Whichever form you choose, write don’ts, not dont’s or don’t’s.

Why Does “Do’s and Don’ts” Look Uneven?

The phrase do’s and don’ts may look uneven because the apostrophes serve different purposes.

In do’s, the apostrophe may be used to make the plural easier to read.

In don’ts, the apostrophe belongs to the contraction don’t and replaces the missing letter in do not.

Therefore, the phrase contains apostrophes for different reasons.

Word	Purpose of Apostrophe
Do’s	Helps clarify the plural of the short word do
Don’ts	Remains from the contraction don’t

Writers who prefer to avoid an apostrophe-based plural can use dos and don’ts.

Can You Write “Do Nots” Instead of “Don’ts”?

Do nots may occasionally appear when a writer wants to emphasize formal negative instructions, but don’ts is more natural in ordinary English.

Less natural:

The document contains several do nots.

More natural:

The document contains several don’ts.

Formal alternative:

The document contains several prohibited actions.

Other alternatives include:

Restrictions
Prohibitions
Rules
Warnings
Actions to avoid
Unacceptable behaviors
Negative instructions

In formal legal, technical, or regulatory writing, a precise phrase such as prohibited actions may be clearer than don’ts.

What Is the Grammar of Don’ts?

Don’ts is a countable plural noun.

It can function as the subject, object, complement, or part of a noun phrase.

Don’ts as the Subject

Don’ts are often easier to remember when examples are provided.
Don’ts help employees recognize unacceptable behavior.
Don’ts should be written clearly.

Don’ts as the Object

The trainer explained the don’ts.
We reviewed the dos and don’ts.
The handbook includes several don’ts.

Don’ts After a Possessive Form

The company’s don’ts are listed on the final page.
The school’s don’ts apply to all students.
The event’s don’ts include smoking and outside food.

Don’ts in a Compound Expression

Interview don’ts
Email don’ts
Workplace don’ts
Travel don’ts
Safety don’ts

How Do You Pronounce Don’ts?

Don’ts is pronounced like don’t followed by an s sound.

Simple pronunciation:

don’ts: DOHNTS

The word has one syllable.

The final consonant combination may sound compressed in fast speech, but the s remains part of the plural form.

Compare:

Don’t: DOHNT
Don’ts: DOHNTS

Example:

The dos and don’ts are easy to understand.

Should Don’ts Be Capitalized?

Capitalize don’ts when it begins a sentence or appears in a title that uses title capitalization.

Sentence beginning:

Don’ts are listed in the second section.

Lowercase within a sentence:

The instructor reviewed the don’ts before the activity.

Title example:

The Dos and Don’ts of Professional Networking

Heading example:

Important Don’ts for New Employees

Do not capitalize the word in an ordinary sentence unless a specific style requires it.

Can Don’ts Be Used in Formal Writing?

Yes, don’ts can be used in many forms of professional and educational writing, especially when the tone is practical and accessible.

It commonly appears in:

Training guides
Blog articles
Employee handbooks
Classroom materials
Safety instructions
Marketing content
Advice columns
Presentations
Checklists
User guides

Example:

The onboarding guide includes the dos and don’ts of communicating with clients.

For highly formal documents, use a more specific term when appropriate.

Informal or accessible:

Review the don’ts before using the equipment.

More formal:

Review the prohibited operating practices before using the equipment.

The best choice depends on the audience and purpose.

Can Don’ts Be Used in Academic Writing?

Don’ts can appear in informal academic guidance, instructional materials, or student-facing resources.

Example:

The lecturer explained the dos and don’ts of citing online sources.

In a formal research paper, however, phrases such as practices to avoid, prohibited methods, or common errors may sound more precise.

Less formal:

The following don’ts will help students avoid plagiarism.

More formal:

The following practices should be avoided to reduce the risk of plagiarism.

Can Don’ts Be Used in Business Writing?

Yes, don’ts is common in business writing when the document gives practical advice.

Examples:

The presentation covers the dos and don’ts of sales calls.
The manager shared five workplace don’ts.
The guide explains the don’ts of responding to customer complaints.
Employees received a list of cybersecurity don’ts.
The training session reviewed email dos and don’ts.

For policies or contracts, use exact instructions rather than relying only on the word don’ts.

General:

The guide lists several security don’ts.

More precise:

Employees must not share passwords, disable security software, or leave devices unlocked.

What Are Common Workplace Don’ts?

Workplace don’ts are behaviors employees should avoid because they may reduce productivity, damage professional relationships, or violate company rules.

Examples include:

Arriving late without notice
Sharing confidential information
Ignoring safety procedures
Interrupting colleagues repeatedly
Sending disrespectful messages
Taking credit for another person’s work
Using company resources improperly
Missing deadlines without communication
Discriminating against coworkers
Discussing private customer information publicly

Example sentence:

The orientation program explains these workplace don’ts to new employees.

What Are Common Email Don’ts?

Email don’ts are practices that can make a message unclear, unprofessional, or difficult to manage.

Examples include:

Leaving the subject line empty
Writing the entire message in capital letters
Sending confidential information to the wrong recipient
Using an unclear opening
Forgetting to attach a promised file
Replying to everyone unnecessarily
Using an aggressive tone
Sending a message without proofreading it
Including unrelated recipients
Writing an excessively long message without structure

Example:

One of the biggest email don’ts is sending a message before checking the recipient list.

What Are Common Interview Don’ts?

Interview don’ts are actions that may create a poor impression during a job interview.

Examples include:

Arriving late
Wearing unsuitable clothing
Interrupting the interviewer
Criticizing a former employer
Checking a phone during the interview
Giving answers unrelated to the question
Showing no knowledge of the company
Asking only about salary at the beginning
Providing false information
Leaving without thanking the interviewer

Example:

Checking your phone is one of the most recognizable interview don’ts.

What Are Common Writing Don’ts?

Writing don’ts are habits that reduce clarity, accuracy, or readability.

Examples include:

Writing long sentences without punctuation
Using words without understanding their meanings
Changing tense unnecessarily
Repeating the same idea too often
Using apostrophes to form ordinary plurals
Copying another writer’s work
Ignoring the intended audience
Using vague pronouns
Leaving spelling mistakes uncorrected
Mixing formal and informal styles without a reason

The spelling dont’s is itself a writing don’t because the apostrophe is placed incorrectly.

What Are Common Mistakes With Dont’s and Don’ts?

The most common mistakes involve apostrophe placement, plural formation, and confusion between the contraction and the noun.

1. Writing Dont’s

Incorrect:

The article discusses the dont’s of public speaking.

Correct:

The article discusses the don’ts of public speaking.

2. Writing Don’t’s

Incorrect:

Remember the do’s and don’t’s.

Correct:

Remember the do’s and don’ts.

3. Removing the Apostrophe

Incorrect:

These donts apply to all visitors.

Correct:

These don’ts apply to all visitors.

4. Confusing Don’t With Don’ts

Incorrect:

These don’t are important.

Correct:

These don’ts are important.

5. Using a Plural Verb With a Singular Don’t

Incorrect:

One important don’t are arriving late.

Correct:

One important don’t is arriving late.

6. Using a Singular Verb With Don’ts

Incorrect:

The don’ts is listed below.

Correct:

The don’ts are listed below.

7. Mixing Forms in One Document

Inconsistent:

The first section lists the don’ts, while the final section explains the dont’s.

Consistent:

The first section lists the don’ts, while the final section explains them in detail.

How Can You Remember Don’ts?

Remember that don’ts begins with the complete contraction don’t.

Use this three-step method:

Write do not.
Contract it to don’t.
Add s to make don’ts.

The apostrophe never moves.

Memory pattern:

do not → don’t → don’ts

You can also remember this sentence:

Keep the apostrophe inside “don’t,” then add the plural s.

What Are Correct Examples of Don’ts?

Correct examples include:

The coach explained the don’ts of strength training.
The website lists the dos and don’ts of password security.
These fashion don’ts are easy to avoid.
The teacher reviewed the classroom don’ts.
The guide contains useful travel don’ts.
We discussed the don’ts of professional networking.
Safety don’ts should be displayed near the equipment.
The workshop focused on common leadership don’ts.
One of the biggest dining don’ts is speaking with your mouth full.
The company updated its social media don’ts.
The editor identified several grammar don’ts.
Students should understand the don’ts of academic research.
The seminar covered the dos and don’ts of public speaking.
These customer-service don’ts can damage a company’s reputation.
Ignoring local customs is one of the major international travel don’ts.

What Are Incorrect Examples of Dont’s?

The following sentences contain incorrect spellings:

The dont’s are printed on the notice.
Follow the do’s and don’t’s.
These donts apply to every employee.
The teacher explained the dont’s of essay writing.
We created a list of interview don’t’s.

Corrected versions:

The don’ts are printed on the notice.
Follow the do’s and don’ts.
These don’ts apply to every employee.
The teacher explained the don’ts of essay writing.
We created a list of interview don’ts.

What Words Are Similar to Don’ts?

Words and phrases similar to don’ts include prohibitions, restrictions, warnings, rules, mistakes to avoid, unacceptable actions, forbidden practices, and negative instructions.

Word or Phrase	Meaning	Example
Prohibitions	Actions officially forbidden	The policy contains several prohibitions.
Restrictions	Limits placed on behavior	Travel restrictions apply during the storm.
Warnings	Statements about possible danger	Read the warnings before using the product.
Rules	Instructions controlling behavior	Follow the laboratory rules.
Mistakes to avoid	Common errors that should not be made	The guide lists mistakes to avoid.
Unacceptable actions	Behaviors that are not permitted	Harassment is an unacceptable action.
Forbidden practices	Activities specifically banned	The contract identifies forbidden practices.
Negative instructions	Commands telling someone not to act	The sign contains two negative instructions.

Use don’ts for an approachable tone. Use a more exact alternative when the document requires technical, legal, or formal language.

Is Don’ts the Same as Rules?

Don’ts and rules are related, but they are not exactly the same.

A rule can tell someone what to do or what not to do. A don’t specifically identifies something that should not be done.

Examples:

Rule:

Wear protective glasses inside the laboratory.

Don’t:

Don’t enter the laboratory without protective glasses.

A collection of rules may contain both positive instructions and don’ts.

Is Don’ts the Same as Prohibitions?

Don’ts can describe prohibitions, but the words differ in tone.

Don’ts sounds practical, conversational, and instructional.

Prohibitions sounds formal and official.

Conversational:

The guide explains the dos and don’ts of camping.

Formal:

The regulations describe all campsite prohibitions.

Use don’ts in advice and general guidance. Use prohibitions when discussing laws, regulations, contracts, or formal policies.

Is the Apostrophe in Don’ts Possessive?

No, the apostrophe in don’ts is not possessive.

It belongs to the contraction don’t, where it represents the omitted letter o from do not.

Compare:

The employee’s computer

The apostrophe shows that the computer belongs to the employee.

The workplace don’ts

The apostrophe forms part of the contraction don’t. It does not show ownership.

The final s makes the noun plural.

What Is the Possessive Form of Don’ts?

A possessive form such as don’ts’ is theoretically possible, but it is awkward and should usually be rewritten.

Awkward:

The don’ts’ importance was explained during training.

Clearer:

The importance of the don’ts was explained during training.

Likewise, avoid forcing a possessive form from a singular noun use of don’t.

Awkward:

That don’t’s meaning is unclear.

Clearer:

The meaning of that don’t is unclear.

Rewriting makes the sentence easier to read.

Should Quotation Marks Be Used Around Don’ts?

Quotation marks are not required when don’ts is used as a normal noun.

Normal:

The manual lists several don’ts.

Quotation marks may be used when discussing the word itself:

The word “don’ts” contains one apostrophe.

This distinction is known as the difference between using a word and mentioning a word.

Using the word:

The guide includes several don’ts.

Mentioning the word:

“Don’ts” is the correct plural spelling.

Are Straight and Curly Apostrophes Both Correct?

Both straight and curly apostrophes can represent the contraction correctly.

Straight apostrophe:

don’ts

Curly apostrophe:

don’ts

The difference is typographical, not grammatical. Curly apostrophes are common in professionally typeset articles, books, and websites. Straight apostrophes are common in plain-text files, coding environments, forms, and basic keyboards.

Both forms must place the apostrophe between n and t.

Correct:

don’ts
don’ts

Incorrect:

dont’s
dont’s

What Is the Best Spelling for Headings and Titles?

Use Don’ts in a heading when referring to actions that should be avoided.

Correct title examples:

The Dos and Don’ts of Business Writing
Five Interview Don’ts to Avoid
Social Media Don’ts for Small Businesses
Important Travel Don’ts
Workplace Don’ts Every Employee Should Know
Email Don’ts That Can Harm Your Reputation
Common Grammar Don’ts
Safety Don’ts for New Workers

Do not write:

The Dont’s of Business Writing
Five Interview Don’t’s
Social Media Donts

What Is the Final Answer: Dont’s or Don’ts?

Don’ts is correct. Dont’s is incorrect.

The apostrophe must remain between n and t because don’t is a contraction of do not. To make the contraction plural, add s without adding or moving an apostrophe.

Correct formation:

do not → don’t → don’ts

Correct examples:

Workplace don’ts
Interview don’ts
Safety don’ts
Fashion don’ts
Email don’ts
Travel don’ts
The dos and don’ts
The do’s and don’ts

Incorrect forms:

Dont’s
Don’t’s
Donts

Use don’ts in articles, guides, emails, presentations, training materials, schoolwork, and professional writing whenever you mean multiple things that should not be done.

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