Have you ever paused over wont or won’t while writing? The two forms look almost the same, but they do different jobs. Won’t is short for “will not,” while wont refers to a habit or customary behavior. The apostrophe matters because it changes the meaning.
Quick Answer:
Use won’t when you mean “will not.” Use wont when you mean a usual habit or custom, as in “She is wont to arrive early.”
Wont vs. Won’t: The Difference
| Word | Meaning | Example |
| Won’t | Short for “will not” | I won’t be late. |
| Wont | A habit or customary behavior | He followed his usual wont. |
| Be wont to | To be accustomed or inclined to do something | She is wont to ask questions. |
What Does “Won’t” Mean?
Won’t is the contraction of will not. It is common in everyday conversation and informal writing, and it can express refusal, a decision, or a future action that will not happen.
Examples:
- I won’t forget to call you.
- They won’t join us for dinner.
- He won’t change his mind.
A simple test can help: replace won’t with will not. If the sentence still makes sense, the contraction is correct.
What Does “Wont” Mean?
Wont is a less common word. As a noun, it means a habit, custom, or usual way of behaving. You may see it in expressions such as “as is her wont,” which means “as she usually does.”
Examples:
- As is his wont, Daniel arrived before everyone else.
- She returned to her wont of reading before bed.
Wont can also appear as an adjective in the phrase be wont to, meaning to be accustomed or inclined to do something. This use sounds formal or literary today.
Example:
- Our neighbor is wont to take an early morning walk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is leaving out the apostrophe when you mean won’t. For example, “I wont go” is incorrect if you mean “I will not go.” Write “I won’t go.”
However, wont is not always a spelling error. It is correct when the sentence refers to a habit or uses the phrase “be wont to.” Because this meaning is uncommon, many writers can usually choose a simpler phrase such as “usually” or “is accustomed to.”
Easy Way to Remember
Think of the apostrophe in won’t as a sign that letters have been left out of “will not.” If you are talking about a routine or custom, wont may be the word you need.
FAQs
Is “wont” a real word?
Yes. Wont is a real word meaning a habit or customary behavior, though it is less common in modern English.
What is the meaning of “won’t”?
The won’t meaning is “will not.” For example, “I won’t go” means “I will not go.”
Is “wont vs won t” a spelling difference?
Yes, the apostrophe distinguishes won’t, the contraction of “will not,” from wont, a word related to habit or custom.
Conclusion
The difference between wont or won’t is simple once you focus on meaning. Use won’t for “will not,” and use wont for a habit or customary behavior. In most everyday writing, you will probably need won’t; save wont for the less common situations where its specific meaning fits.
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Mignon Fogarty is an experienced English grammar and writing expert specializing in grammar, word usage, and clear American English. At EduNexxt, her focus is making grammar simple, accurate, and practical.
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