Won’t vs. Wont: What's the Difference?
Distinguish won't, the contraction of will not, from the uncommon word wont, meaning accustomed or habit, with examples, a quiz, and FAQs.
Won’t, with an apostrophe, is the contraction of will not. Wont, without an apostrophe, is an uncommon adjective meaning accustomed or a noun meaning a customary habit. In nearly every ordinary negative future statement, won’t is the word you need.
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At 4:40 p.m., a status message says “The export wont finish today.” The sentence means will not, so the missing apostrophe changes a familiar contraction into a rare word about habit: “won’t finish.”
Won’t vs. Wont at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| won’t | Contraction | will not | The meeting won’t start until everyone arrives. |
| wont | Adjective or noun | accustomed; a usual practice or habit | As was her wont, she reviewed the figures twice. |
How to use won’t
Won’t combines will and not. Although its spelling is irregular, it behaves like other negative contractions: can’t, shouldn’t, and wouldn’t. Use it for refusal, prediction, or a future event that will not happen.
The meeting won’t start until everyone arrives.
How to use wont
Wont is a formal or literary word connected with custom. The adjective often appears in be wont to, meaning be accustomed to. The noun commonly appears in as is someone’s wont, meaning as is that person’s habit.
As was her wont, she reviewed the figures twice.
Rules that make the choice easier
Expand the contraction
If will not fits, write won’t: “It won’t load” becomes “It will not load.” This is the fastest and most reliable test.
Reserve wont for habits
Use wont only when the sentence concerns something customary or habitual. Because the word is uncommon, plain alternatives such as accustomed or habit may be clearer.
Keep the apostrophe visible
The apostrophe is meaningful punctuation, not decoration. Leaving it out produces a different word rather than an informal spelling of won’t.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Incorrect: I wont be late. Correct: I won’t be late.
- Do not add an apostrophe to the noun phrase “as is his wont.”
- Avoid wont in plain business writing when habit or accustomed communicates more directly.
Quick practice
1. The printer ___ connect to Wi-Fi.
Answer: won’t
2. As was her ___, she arrived early.
Answer: wont
3. Which form expands to will not?
Answer: won’t
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between won't and wont?
Won’t means will not; wont refers to a habit or to being accustomed to something.
Is wont without an apostrophe a word?
Yes. Wont is a formal word meaning accustomed or a customary practice.
Why does won't have an apostrophe?
It is a contraction of will not, and the apostrophe marks omitted letters.
Is it wont work or won't work?
Write won’t work because the phrase means will not work.