Should "wont" have an apostrophe?

Question

Should it be won't or just wont? My understanding is that if the majority of people use one way then it becomes accepted as the 'correct' way. Has this happenned with "won't"?

Answer 1

Won't is a contraction of "would not". It needs an apostrophe. The inability to spell, punctuate and speak will be the downfall of American society.

Answer 2

Difficult to answer, since "wont", no apostrophe is actually a word in itself, meaning natural tendency, as in "In days gone by, buffalo freely roamed the plains as was their wont." If "will not" is what is meant, then it should be "won't". Dropping the apostrophe is probably a combination of laziness and typographical error. Incidentally, the same applies to cant vs can't, i.e. it depends on what is meant (look it up).

Answer 3

The grammatically correct way is "won't" with the apostrophe. However, when online in a casual setting, it has become acceptable to ignore spelling and grammar completely.

Answer 4

The spelling and punctuation conventions adopted by IMers and text messages are perfectly okay for those purposes, but do not constitute legitimate changes in the correct spelling, punctuation or grammar of the language. Unless you will be satisfied with minimum-wage jobs all your life, it is essential that you either learn to spell correctly or write with the genius of a Hemingway. Otherwise, in a few years, you are going to be working for the dorks you are making fun of today.

Answer 5

If you mean "will not" as a contraction. If you are saying "likely to," then the word is wont (without the apostrophe).

Answer 6

"Wont" is a word. It means essentially "what we do." It is our wont to celebrate Independence Day.

Answer 7

Needs the '

Answer 8

yes, WON'T