Dos vs. Don’ts – Which is Correct?
“Dos” and “don’ts” are both correct plural nouns. “Dos” means recommended actions, while “don’ts” means actions to avoid. Use “dos and don’ts” when presenting advice, rules, or etiquette. The apostrophe in “don’ts” replaces omitted letters in “do not”; “dos” normally has no apostrophe in standard English usage.
Dos or Don’ts – Which is Correct?
Dos and don’ts are both correct, but they have opposite meanings. A do is an action that is recommended or permitted, while a don’t is an action that should be avoided or prohibited.
The standard plural forms are dos and don’ts. Although do’s sometimes appears, many modern style guides recommend dos because the word is simply being pluralized. The apostrophe in don’ts is retained because don’t is a contraction of do not.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Think of dos as “things to do” and don’ts as “things not to do.” The apostrophe in don’ts reminds you that letters have been removed from do not. A simple memory sentence is: Dos are actions to take; don’ts are actions to leave alone.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dos | Plural noun | Recommended or permitted actions | The guide lists the dos of professional networking. |
| don’ts | Plural noun | Actions that should be avoided or prohibited | The handbook explains the don’ts of workplace communication. |
How to Use Dos
Dos is the plural form of the noun do when do means a recommended action, suitable behavior, or positive guideline. It commonly appears in the phrase dos and don’ts, but it can also be used independently. The word is appropriate in casual, educational, professional, and instructional writing.
Use dos when referring to multiple actions that people should take. In polished writing, avoid adding an apostrophe: dos is generally preferred to do’s.
Example 1: The presentation covers the dos of effective public speaking.
Example 2: One of the most important dos of online security is using a unique password.
Example 3: The travel article separates packing dos from packing don’ts.
What are the different forms of Dos?
Dos is already the plural noun form. Its singular form is do when referring to one recommended action. For example, you might say, “A major do is arriving on time,” and “The list contains several dos.” In the familiar paired expression, the plural dos and don’ts is most common.
Etymology of the word Dos
The noun do comes from the Old English verb dōn, meaning “to put,” “place,” or “perform.” English later developed the noun do for an action, event, or recommended practice. The plural dos follows the regular English plural pattern, although older writing sometimes used do’s to make the plural easier to read.
How to Use Don’ts
Don’ts is the plural form of the noun don’t. It refers to actions, behaviors, or choices that should not be made. The word is especially common in instructional lists, etiquette guides, workplace policies, safety advice, and phrases such as dos and don’ts.
The apostrophe is important because don’t is a contraction of do not. When creating the plural, the apostrophe remains: don’ts. The form dont’s is incorrect because it places the apostrophe in the wrong position.
Example 1: The employee guide includes several don’ts for handling confidential information.
Example 2: Interrupting a speaker is one of the major don’ts of respectful conversation.
Example 3: The museum’s visitor guide explains the dos and don’ts of photography.
What are the different forms of Don’ts?
Don’t is the singular noun form when referring to one prohibited action, while don’ts refers to more than one. For example, “Checking your phone during the interview is a don’t” describes one rule, whereas “The handbook lists several don’ts” describes multiple rules. As a contraction, don’t can also function as a verb phrase meaning do not, but that use is different from the plural noun don’ts.
Etymology of the word Don’ts
Don’t developed as a contraction of do not. The word do traces back to Old English dōn, while not has Germanic origins and has long served to express negation. The apostrophe marks the letters omitted from do not. The plural noun don’ts then adds the regular plural ending to don’t.
Related Concepts
Understanding contractions, plural nouns, and positive versus negative instructions makes the difference between dos and don’ts easier to remember.
- Contractions: A contraction combines words and replaces omitted letters with an apostrophe. Don’t is the contraction of do not, which explains why its apostrophe remains in the plural don’ts.
- Plural nouns: Plural nouns refer to more than one person, object, action, or idea. Dos and don’ts are plural nouns describing multiple recommendations or prohibitions.
- Positive and negative instructions: A do identifies behavior to follow, while a don’t identifies behavior to avoid. Together, they provide a balanced set of guidelines.
- Apostrophes in plurals: Apostrophes usually do not form ordinary plurals. Therefore, dos is preferred over do’s in most modern standard writing.
Examples from Media and Literature
The expression dos and don’ts is widely used in practical writing and popular communication because it presents advice in a clear, memorable format.
- Newspaper and magazine advice: Travel features often present the dos and don’ts of visiting a destination, covering local customs, clothing, tipping, and photography.
- Workplace guides: Business articles frequently list the dos of professional email etiquette, followed by don’ts such as using unclear subject lines or sending angry messages.
- Health and safety materials: Public information campaigns use dos and don’ts to distinguish safe behavior from actions that may create unnecessary risks.
- School handbooks: Student rules commonly include dos, such as arriving prepared, and don’ts, such as bullying or damaging school property.
- Travel and lifestyle books: Guidebooks use the paired expression to make cultural etiquette accessible to readers who may be unfamiliar with local expectations.
Dos Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Recommendations | Suggestions about actions that are likely to be helpful or appropriate. |
| Guidelines | General instructions that direct behavior or decisions. |
| Best practices | Methods or actions considered especially effective. |
| Suggestions | Ideas offered for consideration rather than strict commands. |
Don’ts Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Prohibitions | Actions or behaviors that are officially forbidden. |
| Warnings | Statements that alert people to possible problems or dangers. |
| Restrictions | Rules that limit what someone may do. |
| Cautions | Advice urging people to avoid a potentially harmful action. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “dos or don’ts” grammatically correct?
Yes. Both dos and don’ts are correct plural nouns. However, the complete phrase is usually written as dos and don’ts because it presents recommended and prohibited actions together.
Question 2: Should I write “do’s” or “dos”?
Dos is generally the preferred modern spelling. The apostrophe is not needed to form the plural of do. The spelling do’s is still seen, but it is less consistent with the standard rule that ordinary plurals do not use apostrophes.
Question 3: Why does “don’ts” have an apostrophe?
Don’ts retains the apostrophe because don’t is a contraction of do not. The apostrophe shows where letters were omitted. The correct plural is don’ts, not dont’s.
Conclusion
Dos means recommended actions, while don’ts means actions to avoid. Both words are correct, and the standard phrase is dos and don’ts. Remember that dos normally has no apostrophe, whereas don’ts keeps its apostrophe because it comes from do not. Pro Tip: Using the correct forms in professional writing demonstrates attention to detail and protects your credibility.
