The correct plural of how-to is how-tos, not “how-to’s.” No apostrophe is needed. Use how to (two words, no hyphen) when you mean an action, and how-to (hyphenated) when you mean a guide or resource.
What Does “How-To” Mean?
How-to describes something instructional. It tells you a guide, article, or video exists to teach a skill.
You’ll see it everywhere: cooking blogs, tech tutorials, DIY manuals, software walkthroughs. The word works hard across many industries.
“How-To” as a Noun
When how-to stands alone, it names the thing itself. It’s the guide.
- “I read a great how-to on fixing a leaky faucet.”
- “She wrote a how-to for new hires.”
Here, how-to is the object of the sentence. It’s a noun.
“How-To” as an Adjective
How-to can also describe another noun. This is called a compound modifier.
- how-to guide
- how-to video
- how-to article
- how-to manual
In each case, how-to tells you what kind of resource you’re looking at. The hyphen glues the two words into one descriptive unit.
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What Does “How-Tos” Mean?
How-tos simply means more than one how-to. If one guide is a how-to, five guides are five how-tos.
This follows a normal pattern in English. Hyphenated compound nouns usually take an -s at the very end.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| how-to | how-tos |
| check-in | check-ins |
| runner-up | runners-up |
When to Use “How-Tos” in a Sentence
Use how-tos when the word stands on its own as a plural noun:
- “This site publishes weekly how-tos.”
- “Our library has hundreds of how-tos.”
Don’t use it when another noun already carries the plural:
- Wrong: “We wrote 20 how-tos guides.”
- Right: “We wrote 20 how-to guides.”
The plural belongs to guides, not to how-to.
Why “How-Tos” Looks Unusual to Writers
Many writers pause here because how-to already looks like a phrase, not a single word. Adding a plain -s can feel wrong on sight.
That instinct is understandable, but it’s misleading. English pluralizes many hyphenated nouns this exact way, including mash-ups and sign-ins. How-to just follows the crowd.
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How-To vs. How-Tos
| Form | Job It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| how to | Introduces an action | Learn how to bake bread. |
| how-to | Noun or adjective | I found a useful how-to. / a how-to guide |
| how-tos | Plural noun | These how-tos are excellent. |
| how-to’s | Usually incorrect | Avoid this form. |
The Simple Rule to Remember
Ask yourself one question: does the phrase name a thing, or describe an action?
- Naming a thing → hyphenate: how-to, how-tos
- Describing an action → two words, no hyphen: how to
That’s the entire rule in one sentence.
Is “How-To’s” Correct?
No. Apostrophes show possession or a contraction. They don’t create plurals in standard writing.
Major style guides back the hyphenated plural, how-tos, without an apostrophe.
Why the Apostrophe Is a Common Mistake
Writers add the apostrophe out of habit. The word looks unfamiliar, so an apostrophe feels like it “smooths things out.”
It doesn’t. It actually signals possession instead, which confuses the sentence’s meaning.
Correct vs. Incorrect Examples
- Incorrect: “Check out our new how-to’s for beginners.”
- Correct: “Check out our new how-tos for beginners.”
- Incorrect: “These how-to’s are outdated.”
- Correct: “These how-tos are outdated.”
The fix is always the same: drop the apostrophe.
How to Use “How-To” and “How-Tos” in Real Sentences
Examples in Titles and Headlines
- “How to Change a Flat Tire” — introduces an action, no hyphen.
- “The Ultimate How-To Guide for Flat Tires” — how-to modifies guide.
- “10 Car-Care How-Tos Every Driver Should Know” — standalone plural noun.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using an apostrophe for the plural (how-to’s)
- Dropping the hyphen in the adjective form (how to guide)
- Pluralizing both words (how-tos guides)
- Adding a hyphen inside a verb phrase (learn how-to cook)
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FAQs
What is the correct plural of “how-to”?
The correct plural is how-tos. No apostrophe is needed since it’s a standard plural noun.
Is “how-to’s” ever correct?
Rarely. It’s mostly seen as an error, though it can show possession in rare cases, like “the how-to’s steps.”
Should “how-to” always be hyphenated?
Only when it’s a noun or adjective. Skip the hyphen when it introduces an action, as in “how to cook.”
What’s the difference between “how to” and “how-to”?
How to introduces an action or method. How-to names or describes an instructional resource.
Why does “how-tos” look strange to some writers?
Because the word combines two smaller words into one unit. English does this often, so the plural still applies normally.
Is this a British vs. American English issue?
Not really. Style guides on both sides agree: how-tos is the standard plural, with only minor stylistic variation between guides.
Conclusion
The rule is simple once you see it clearly. Use how to for actions, how-to for a guide or descriptor, and how-tos for more than one guide. Skip the apostrophe every time. Keep this rule handy, and you’ll never second-guess the phrase again.
Hi, I’m John Henry, the voice behind Grammar Nudge. I make grammar simple and easy to understand, from basic rules to advanced writing tips. Clear explanations. Practical examples. No confusion.
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