Many English learners confuse “wont” and “won’t” because they look almost identical. However, these two words have completely different meanings.
👉 The simple answer is:
- Won’t is the contraction of will not.
- Wont is a less common word meaning accustomed to or habitually doing something.
👉 For example:
- I won’t be late for class. ✔️
- She was wont to take a walk every evening. ✔️
In everyday English, won’t is used much more often than wont.
What Does “Won’t” Mean?
Won’t is a contraction of will not.
👉 It is used to talk about something that will not happen in the future.
Examples:
- I won’t forget your birthday.
- He won’t come to the meeting.
- They won’t be ready on time.
- We won’t give up.
What Does “Wont” Mean?
Wont is an adjective or noun.
👉 It means:
- Accustomed to doing something
- A usual habit or practice
This word is quite formal and uncommon in modern English.
Examples:
- She was wont to read before bed.
- He is wont to arrive early.
- Such behavior was not his wont.
- They were wont to spend summers by the sea.
Wont vs Won’t (Quick Comparison)
| Word | Meaning | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Won’t | Will not | Very common |
| Wont | Accustomed to; habit | Rare |
👉 Important:
Most of the time, people mean won’t when writing.
Sentence Examples
Using “Won’t”
- I won’t miss the bus.
- She won’t agree to the plan.
- We won’t forget the experience.
- The store won’t open today.
Using “Wont”
- He was wont to tell stories.
- She is wont to wake up early.
- Such mistakes are not his wont.
Common Mistakes
❌ I wont go to school tomorrow.
✔️ I won’t go to school tomorrow.
❌ She won’t to read before bed.
✔️ She was wont to read before bed.
👉 Remember:
- Will not → won’t
- Habit or custom → wont
Practice Time
Fill in the blanks:
- I ______ be late today.
- She was ______ to take long walks.
- They ______ attend the event.
- Such behavior is not his ______.
- We ______ forget this lesson.
Answers:
- won’t
- wont
- won’t
- wont
- won’t
Easy Memory Trick
👉 Think like this:
- Won’t has an apostrophe because it is short for will not.
- Wont has no apostrophe and refers to a habit or custom.
If you mean will not, always use won’t.
Final Thought
Although wont and won’t differ by only one apostrophe, they have very different meanings. Won’t is the common contraction of will not and appears frequently in everyday conversation and writing. Wont, on the other hand, is a formal word that means accustomed to or habitually doing something. Knowing this difference will help you avoid mistakes and write with greater accuracy and confidence.
