Aughts vs. Naughts – Which is Correct?

Both “aughts” and “naughts” are valid terms for the first decade of a century, especially the years 2000–2009. Both can describe the decade, but “aughts” is more common in American English, while “naughts” emphasizes zero. Choose “aughts” for broadest recognition and clarity. In writing, identify the years to avoid ambiguity.

Aughts or Naughts – Which is Correct?

Both “aughts” and “naughts” are correct when referring to a decade beginning with zero, such as the years 2000 through 2009. The main difference is usage and familiarity. Aughts is the more widely recognized term in American English, while naughts is less common but understandable and historically connected to the word naught, meaning zero.

“The aughts” usually refers to the 2000s, just as “the nineties” refers to 1990–1999. Because neither term is universally familiar, stating the years directly is often the clearest choice in formal, technical, or international writing.

Because decade names can invite spelling confusion, compare Eighth vs. Eigth when checking similarly tricky word forms.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of aught and naught as two names for zero. If you want the term most readers are likely to recognize, choose aughts. If you want to highlight the idea of “zero years,” choose naughts. A useful swap test is this: replace the word with “the 2000s.” If the sentence still makes sense, either term may work, but “aughts” will usually sound more natural in American English.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
aughts	Plural noun	A decade ending in a single-digit year, especially 2000–2009	The aughts introduced social media to everyday life.
naughts	Plural noun	A decade associated with zeros, especially 2000–2009	Fashion from the naughts is returning.

How to Use Aughts

Aughts is a plural noun used mainly to refer to the first decade of a century. In contemporary American English, it most often means the years 2000 through 2009. The word commonly appears in discussions of music, fashion, technology, politics, entertainment, and cultural history.

The term is conversational and familiar to many readers, but it can still create uncertainty because people use several names for the decade, including “the 2000s,” “the early 2000s,” and “the noughties.” In formal writing, “the years 2000–2009” may be clearer.

Example 1: The aughts saw the rapid rise of broadband internet and online networking.

Example 2: Many popular fashion trends from the aughts are appearing in modern collections.

Example 3: She began her career in the aughts and became widely known during the following decade.

What are the different forms of Aughts?

Aughts is already a plural noun in its decade-related use. Its singular base word is aught, an older term meaning “anything,” “nothing,” or zero, depending on context. When referring to a decade, speakers generally use the plural form “the aughts,” not “the aught.” The related phrase “aughts” can also refer to groups of zeros in some technical or historical contexts, although that use is uncommon.

Etymology of the word Aughts

Aught comes from Old English āwiht, meaning “anything” or “something.” Over time, its pronunciation and spelling developed into “aught.” Because “aught” came to be used for the digit zero, especially in expressions such as “the aughts,” it became a name for decades beginning with zero. The term became particularly associated with the 2000s.

How to Use Naughts

Naughts is a valid plural noun formed from naught, an established word meaning zero or nothing. It can refer to the first decade of a century, especially the years 2000 through 2009. However, it is less common than “aughts” in American English and may sound unusual to some readers.

“Naughts” is useful when the writer wants to emphasize the decade’s string of zeros. It can also appear in discussions of numbers, scores, or historical periods. In British English, noughts and noughties are often encountered, although “naughts” is also a legitimate spelling in English.

Example 1: The naughts brought major changes in the way people consumed news.

Example 2: Her playlist is filled with pop songs from the naughts.

Example 3: The company’s rapid expansion during the naughts shaped its modern identity.

What are the different forms of Naughts?

Naughts is the plural form of naught when the word refers to zeros or multiple zero-based periods. In its decade-related use, it normally appears as “the naughts.” The singular form “naught” means zero or nothing, while the adjective phrase “naught-point” may be used in specialized contexts. The plural “naughts” is regular and does not change its spelling in different grammatical positions.

Etymology of the word Naughts

Naught developed from the phrase “no aught,” meaning “nothing.” It is related to “nought,” an older form that remains especially common in British English. Both words have long been used to mean zero. The plural “naughts” acquired its decade-related meaning because the years 2000 through 2009 contain prominent zeros.

Related Concepts

Understanding number words, decade names, and regional spelling differences makes it easier to choose between “aughts” and “naughts.”

• Decade names: Decades are commonly identified by their final two digits, such as “the eighties” for 1980–1989. The 2000s are unusual because they do not have a universally agreed-upon short name.
• Zero words: “Aught,” “naught,” and “nought” can all refer to zero or nothing, although their frequency and regional preferences differ.
• American and British English: American English often favors “aughts,” while British English commonly uses “noughties” for the 2000s.
• Contextual clarity: When a decade name could be misunderstood, writing the exact years—such as “2000–2009”—eliminates ambiguity.

Examples from Media and Literature

The following examples show how “aughts” can describe the culture and events of the 2000s, while “naughts” can serve as a less common alternative.

• Music journalism: A review may describe the aughts as the era of downloadable music, reality television, and the expansion of digital music services.
• Film criticism: A critic might examine how superhero films changed during the aughts, particularly as major comic-book franchises gained larger audiences.
• Fashion writing: An article may discuss the return of naughts trends such as low-rise jeans, logo-heavy accessories, and colorful casualwear.
• Technology reporting: A news feature may identify the aughts as the decade when social networking, smartphones, and user-generated websites became mainstream.
• Memoir and fiction: A character may look back on the naughts to establish the cultural setting of a story set between 2000 and 2009.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. In several sentences, both terms are grammatically possible; select the term that best fits the stated context.

1. Many of the decade’s biggest technology companies were founded during the ______.
2. The writer used “the ______” because the article focused on the decade’s repeated zeros.
3. For maximum clarity, the report referred to the years 2000–2009 rather than the ______.
4. Her collection explores music and fashion from the ______.
5. In American English, ______ is generally the more widely recognized name for the decade.

Answer Key

1. aughts
2. naughts
3. aughts or naughts
4. aughts or naughts
5. aughts

Aughts Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
the 2000s	The decade from 2000 through 2009; the clearest and most widely understood alternative.
2000–2009	The exact numerical designation for the decade.
first decade of the 21st century	A formal description of the years 2000 through 2009.
early 2000s	A less exact expression that usually refers to the beginning portion of the decade.

Naughts Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
the 2000s	The standard numerical name for the decade beginning in 2000.
aughts	A more common alternative name for the years 2000 through 2009.
noughties	A chiefly British English term for the 2000s.
2000–2009	The exact year range represented by “the naughts.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “aughts” or “naughts” correct?
Both are valid terms for the decade from 2000 through 2009. “Aughts” is generally more common and more readily understood in American English, while “naughts” is a less common alternative.

Question 2: Is “naughts” the same as “noughties”?
They can refer to the same decade, but “noughties” is especially associated with British English. “Naughts” is an accepted spelling, while “aughts” is often preferred in American English.

Question 3: Should I write “the aughts” or “the aughts decade”?
Write “the aughts.” The word already refers to a decade in this context, so “the aughts decade” is usually repetitive. For maximum clarity, write “the 2000s” or “2000–2009.”

Conclusion

“Aughts” and “naughts” are both correct names for the decade from 2000 through 2009. “Aughts” is the safer choice for most American English writing because it is more familiar, while “naughts” highlights the decade’s zeros and remains fully understandable. Pro Tip: In professional writing, use “the 2000s” or state the exact years when clarity and credibility matter most.