When you want to explain a process clearly, choosing the right wording can make your content easier to understand and more professional. One common question is whether the correct form is “How To’s” or “How Tos.”
The phrase “How Tos” is generally preferred when you are talking about multiple guides, instructions, or articles that explain how to do something. You may see it in blogs, websites, tutorials, manuals, and educational content.
On the other hand, “How To’s” is sometimes used informally, but the apostrophe is usually unnecessary because “how-to” is being treated as a noun rather than showing possession.
How To’s or How Tos: Which Is Correct?
The most useful form to remember is how-tos.
When how-to functions as a noun meaning an instructional guide, its plural is commonly written as how-tos.
For example:
- I enjoy reading how-tos about photography.
- The website publishes practical how-tos every week.
- We need more how-tos for beginners.
- This section contains cooking how-tos.
- She writes detailed how-tos about software.
The form how to’s is usually incorrect because the apostrophe is being used to make an ordinary plural.
Quick Answer
How-tos is the preferred spelling when you mean multiple instructional guides.
How-to is normally used for one instructional guide or as a modifier.
How to’s is generally incorrect when you are simply making the phrase plural.
| Form | Typical use | Example |
| how-to | Singular noun or adjective | I read a useful how-to. |
| how-tos | Plural noun | The site has several how-tos. |
| how-to guide | Instructional guide | This is a how-to guide. |
| how-to guides | Multiple guides | We publish how-to guides. |
| how to | Verb construction | I know how to cook. |
| how to’s | Usually incorrect plural | Avoid this form in standard writing. |
What Does “How To” Mean?
How to is a phrase used to introduce a method, process, or instruction.
It normally appears before a verb.
For example:
- how to cook
- how to swim
- how to write
- how to drive
- how to study
- how to fix a computer
- how to create a website
Here, how to is not a noun.
Consider this sentence:
I learned how to make bread.
The phrase how to make explains the method or process of making bread.
Another example is:
She showed me how to use the software.
In this sentence, how to use explains the action being taught.
Because how to is part of the grammatical structure of the sentence, you should not add an apostrophe.
Examples of “How To” as a Phrase
- I know how to solve this problem.
- Can you show me how to open the file?
- He explained how to install the program.
- We learned how to prepare the recipe.
- She taught me how to use the camera.
Notice that none of these examples needs an apostrophe.
What Is a “How-To”?
A how-to is an instructional piece of content that explains how to perform a task.
It can be a guide, article, video, manual, tutorial, or other instructional resource.
For example:
I found a helpful how-to on fixing a leaking faucet.
Here, how-to is functioning as a noun.
It means something similar to:
- instructional guide
- tutorial
- set of instructions
- practical guide
- step-by-step explanation
The hyphens help show that how-to is being treated as a single compound term.
Examples of “How-To” as a Noun
- This how-to explains how to bake a cake.
- I found a useful how-to online.
- The magazine published a gardening how-to.
- He wrote a detailed how-to for beginners.
- We need a simple how-to for this process.
In each example, how-to refers to an instructional resource.
What Is the Plural of “How-To”?
The plural form is commonly written as how-tos.
You simply add -s to the end of the compound noun.
Singular
This is a helpful how-to.
Plural
These are helpful how-tos.
The apostrophe is not needed.
This follows the general rule that regular nouns form their plurals with -s without an apostrophe.
For example:
- book → books
- guide → guides
- tutorial → tutorials
- article → articles
- how-to → how-tos
Therefore:
One how-to → several how-tos
Why Is “How To’s” Usually Incorrect?
The apostrophe in how to’s is unnecessary when you are simply forming a plural.
In modern English, apostrophes are generally not used to make ordinary nouns plural.
For example, these are incorrect in standard writing:
- book’s
- apple’s
- computer’s
- tutorial’s
when the writer simply means multiple books, apples, computers, or tutorials.
The correct forms are:
- books
- apples
- computers
- tutorials
The same principle applies to how-to.
So:
❌ how to’s
✅ how-tos
The Apostrophe Has Other Jobs
Apostrophes usually show:
- Possession
- Contractions
- Some special cases involving letters or symbols
For example:
Possession:
The student’s book is on the desk.
Contraction:
It’s raining.
Here, it’s means it is or it has depending on context.
But when you simply want the plural of how-to, there is no need for an apostrophe.
How-To vs. How Tos
At first glance, how-to and how tos may look similar, but punctuation and style matter.
The most common distinction is:
- how-to = singular compound noun or adjective
- how-tos = plural noun
For example:
I wrote a how-to about gardening.
But:
I wrote several how-tos about gardening.
The second sentence refers to more than one instructional guide.
Is “How Tos” Wrong?
How tos can be found in real-world writing, especially when writers treat the phrase as an open compound. However, how-tos is generally the clearer and more conventional spelling when how-to is being used as a compound noun.
For polished website content, headlines, and professional writing, consistency matters.
If your publication’s style guide specifies how tos, follow that guide. Otherwise, how-tos is a safe standard choice.
How-To as an Adjective
The word how-to can also work as an adjective before another noun.
For example:
I published a how-to article.
Here, how-to describes the type of article.
Other examples include:
- how-to guide
- how-to book
- how-to video
- how-to tutorial
- how-to manual
- how-to website
- how-to section
- how-to content
In these expressions, the hyphen helps connect the words and shows that they work together as a modifier.
Examples
This is a how-to guide for beginners.
She created a how-to video about photography.
The magazine has a useful how-to section.
We need a simple how-to manual.
In these examples, how-to comes before another noun.
How-To Guide vs. How To Guide
Both forms can appear in writing, but they have different grammatical structures.
How-to guide
When how-to is being used as a compound adjective modifying guide, the hyphenated form is clear:
I wrote a how-to guide.
This means a guide that explains how to do something.
How to guide
Without the hyphen, the phrase can be interpreted differently because how to is normally a grammatical phrase.
For example:
She explained how to guide the machine.
Here, how to guide means “the method of guiding the machine.”
The word guide is functioning as a verb.
Compare:
This is a how-to guide.
with:
He explained how to guide the students.
The first uses how-to as a modifier. The second uses how to as part of a verb construction.
How-Tos vs. How-To Guides
Both terms can be useful, but they do not always mean exactly the same thing.
A how-to can be a short instructional article, tutorial, video, or guide.
A how-to guide specifically emphasizes the guide format.
For example:
Our website contains hundreds of how-tos.
This means the website contains many instructional pieces.
You could also write:
Our website contains hundreds of how-to guides.
This is more explicit and immediately tells the reader what those resources are.
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning |
| how-to | One instructional resource |
| how-tos | Multiple instructional resources |
| how-to guide | One guide explaining how to do something |
| how-to guides | Multiple instructional guides |
| how to | Phrase introducing a method or action |
How to Use “How-To” Correctly
Using how-to correctly becomes easy once you identify its grammatical role.
Ask yourself:
Am I talking about an instructional resource?
If yes, how-to or how-tos may be appropriate.
For example:
I downloaded a how-to.
You are talking about a guide or instructional resource.
If you are talking about an action, use how to.
For example:
I learned how to download the file.
You are describing the process of downloading.
A Simple Test
Try replacing how-to with guide.
If the sentence still makes sense, you may be using how-to as a noun.
I found a useful how-to.
Replace it:
I found a useful guide.
That works.
Now consider:
I learned how to cook.
You cannot replace how to with guide:
I learned guide cook.
That does not work.
So how to in this sentence is a grammatical phrase rather than a noun.
Common Mistakes With How-To
Many writers make punctuation mistakes with this expression. Here are some of the most common ones.
Mistake 1: Writing “How To’s” for the Plural
❌ We have many how to’s on our website.
The apostrophe is unnecessary.
Better:
✅ We have many how-tos on our website.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Hyphens in a Compound Modifier
❌ This is a how to guide.
Better:
✅ This is a how-to guide.
The hyphen makes the compound modifier easier to understand.
Mistake 3: Confusing “How To” With “How-To”
Consider these sentences:
I know how to write.
I found a how-to about writing.
The first uses how to as part of a grammatical construction.
The second uses how-to as a noun.
Mistake 4: Using an Apostrophe for Every Plural
Some writers assume that unusual words need apostrophes when pluralized.
That is not generally true.
You do not need:
how-to’s
simply because how-to contains multiple words.
Use:
how-tos
How-Tos in Headings
If you use how-to in a heading, your capitalization style should match the style used throughout your website.
For example:
Sentence Case
How-to guides for beginners
Title Case
How-To Guides for Beginners
Both capitalization styles can work. The important thing is to remain consistent.
For SEO content, the wording should also sound natural rather than being created only to repeat a keyword.
Instead of forcing:
How Tos How To’s How-To Meaning How Tos Meaning
you could use a natural heading:
How-Tos: Meaning, Spelling, and Correct Usage
This gives readers useful information without unnecessary repetition.
How to Use “How-Tos” in Sentences
Here are several natural examples.
The website publishes practical how-tos for new users.
I usually watch short how-tos before trying a new recipe.
The magazine contains several how-tos about home improvement.
These how-tos explain each step clearly.
She writes detailed how-tos for small businesses.
Our library has hundreds of how-tos.
The instructor recommended three how-tos for beginners.
I searched for how-tos on photography.
Notice that how-tos works as a plural noun in every sentence.
How to Use “How-To” in Sentences
Now look at singular examples:
I found a useful how-to.
This how-to explains the process.
She published a beginner-friendly how-to.
The magazine included a short how-to.
He created a practical how-to for students.
The word refers to one instructional resource.
How-To in Digital Content
The term how-to is especially common on websites and digital platforms.
You may see phrases such as:
- How-to articles
- How-to tutorials
- How-to videos
- How-to blogs
- How-to instructions
- How-to resources
- How-to content
For example:
Our website specializes in how-to articles.
The channel publishes how-to videos.
I searched for a how-to tutorial.
The phrase has become common because instructional content is one of the main ways websites help readers solve practical problems.
How-To vs. Tutorial
A how-to and a tutorial are closely related, but they are not always identical.
A tutorial usually teaches a skill or process in a structured way.
A how-to can be broader and may be a short explanation of how to accomplish a particular task.
For example:
A photography tutorial may teach camera settings over several lessons.
A how-to might simply explain:
How to adjust your camera’s exposure.
Both can provide instructions, but their scope can differ.
How-To vs. Guide
A guide is a broad term for helpful information about a topic.
A how-to is more specifically focused on explaining how to perform an action.
For example:
Guide:
A Beginner’s Guide to Gardening
This could cover tools, plants, soil, watering, and general advice.
How-to:
How to Plant Tomatoes
This focuses on a specific process.
Therefore, every how-to can be considered a type of guide in many contexts, but not every guide is necessarily a how-to.
How-To vs. How-To’s: Spelling Tip
The simplest spelling rule is:
If you mean more than one how-to, write “how-tos,” not “how-to’s.”
This is because the apostrophe does not normally create a plural.
Think of these examples:
- photo → photos
- video → videos
- guide → guides
- tutorial → tutorials
- how-to → how-tos
The pattern is straightforward.
Easy Memory Trick
Remember:
Plural = S
Possession = Apostrophe
So:
two how-tos
but a possessive construction could theoretically be:
the how-to’s instructions
In the second example, the apostrophe indicates possession or association, not pluralization. However, that construction can often be rewritten more naturally to avoid confusion:
the instructions in the how-to
The distinction is important.
When Can an Apostrophe Appear in “How-To”?
An apostrophe can theoretically appear when how-to is being made possessive.
For example:
The how-to’s instructions are easy to follow.
Here, the apostrophe is intended to show that the instructions belong to or are associated with the how-to.
However, this construction can look awkward because readers may mistake how-to’s for an incorrect plural.
A clearer alternative is often:
The instructions in the how-to are easy to follow.
This avoids ambiguity.
Possessive Plural
If you need to make a plural group possessive, the construction can become even more visually complicated.
For professional writing, rewriting the sentence is often the clearest solution.
Instead of trying to create a complicated possessive form, use:
The instructions in the how-tos are easy to follow.
This is much easier to read.
Is “How-To” Hyphenated?
Yes, how-to is commonly hyphenated when it functions as a compound noun or modifier.
Examples:
- a how-to
- how-to guide
- how-to article
- how-to video
- how-to manual
The hyphens signal that the words work together as a unit.
However, you should not automatically hyphenate every occurrence of how to.
For example:
I know how to swim.
Not:
I know how-to swim.
The second version changes the grammatical structure and is incorrect in ordinary usage.
How-To in American and British English
The basic distinction between how to and how-to is used in both American and British English.
You may see minor differences in house style, dictionary preferences, or editorial conventions. Some publications may prefer how-tos, while others may use how tos.
This is why style consistency matters.
If you are writing for a website, choose one accepted style and use it consistently across headings, articles, menus, and category pages.
For general-purpose English writing, how-to for the compound form and how-tos for its plural are clear choices.
How-Tos in SEO Writing
If you are creating SEO content, spelling and readability matter more than repeatedly inserting an exact phrase.
For example, if your target topic is how to’s or how tos, you can naturally discuss:
- how-tos
- how-to guides
- how-to articles
- how-to meaning
- how-to spelling
- how-to plural
- how to use how-to
- how-tos vs. how to’s
However, avoid repeating the same keyword unnaturally.
A reader should be able to understand the article without feeling that the wording was created for a search engine rather than a person.
Natural SEO Example
Instead of:
Write:
How-tos are practical resources that explain a process step by step. They can appear as articles, videos, tutorials, or downloadable guides. Their main purpose is to help readers complete a specific task.
The second version is more natural and useful.
How-To Titles and Headlines
The expression how-to is also common in article titles.
Examples include:
- How-To Guide for Beginners
- How-To Tips for Better Writing
- A Complete How-To for Home Gardening
- Simple How-To Instructions for New Users
- Beginner How-To Guide for Photography
If you are using how-to before a noun, the hyphenated form is usually clear.
For a plural heading, you can write:
Useful How-Tos for Beginners
or:
The Best How-To Guides for Beginners
Both are easy to understand.
Examples: Correct vs. Incorrect
| Incorrect or less preferred | Better |
| how to’s | how-tos |
| how to guide | how-to guide |
| how-to’s | how-tos |
| How-To’s | How-Tos |
| I know how-to cook | I know how to cook |
| I found three how-to | I found three how-tos |
| This is a how to guide | This is a how-to guide |
The key is to determine whether you are dealing with a grammatical phrase or a compound noun/modifier.
How to Remember the Difference
Here is an easy three-part rule.
Rule 1: Use “How to” Before a Verb
I know how to write.
She learned how to drive.
They explained how to install it.
Rule 2: Use “How-To” for an Instructional Resource
I found a useful how-to.
Read this how-to guide.
Watch our how-to video.
Rule 3: Use “How-Tos” for Multiple Resources
We publish several how-tos.
These how-tos are beginner-friendly.
Following these three rules will prevent most mistakes.
Common Spelling Tips for How-Tos
Keep these tips in mind whenever you use the expression.
Use Hyphens for the Compound
Write:
how-to
when it functions as a compound noun or modifier.
Do Not Use an Apostrophe to Make It Plural
Write:
how-tos
not:
how-to’s
Keep “How to” Open in Verb Constructions
Write:
how to cook
not:
how-to cook
Be Consistent
If your website uses how-tos, keep using that spelling unless your chosen style guide says otherwise.
Consistency helps readers understand your content and keeps your writing professional.
People Also Ask: How To’s or How Tos?
Is “how to’s” grammatically correct?
Usually, no. If you are using the expression as a plural noun meaning multiple instructional guides, how-tos is the preferred form. The apostrophe is unnecessary for a regular plural.
Is it “how tos” or “how-tos”?
How-tos is a clear and commonly preferred spelling when how-to functions as a compound noun. Some style systems may use how tos, so always follow your publication’s style guide when one exists.
What is the plural of “how-to”?
The plural is commonly written how-tos.
Example:
The website offers several how-tos.
Should “how-to” be hyphenated?
Yes, when how-to functions as a compound noun or adjective.
Examples:
But do not hyphenate how to when it introduces a verb:
how to write
Why does “how-to” have a hyphen?
The hyphen connects the words when they function together as a compound expression, especially when how-to is a noun or modifies another noun.
Is “how-to’s” correct?
Not when you are simply forming the plural. Use how-tos instead.
The apostrophe in how-to’s can potentially indicate possession, but using it for a simple plural is not recommended.
Is “how-to” a noun?
Yes. How-to can function as a noun when it means an instructional guide or explanation.
For example:
I found a useful how-to.
Is “how to” a noun?
Not normally. In sentences such as “I know how to cook,” the words how to cook form a grammatical construction rather than a noun called how-to.
Should I write “how-to guide” or “how to guide”?
When you mean an instructional guide, how-to guide is the clearer compound form.
Example:
This how-to guide explains the process step by step.
Can I use “how-tos” in a blog?
Yes. How-tos is suitable for referring to multiple instructional articles, tutorials, or guides.
For example:
Our blog contains practical how-tos for beginners.
Is “how tos” acceptable?
It can be found in usage, and some editorial styles may prefer the open form. However, how-tos clearly identifies the term as a compound noun and is a practical choice for general professional writing.
Which is correct: “how-to’s” or “how-tos”?
For the plural, use how-tos.
The apostrophe in how-to’s is not needed to make the word plural.
Can “how-to” be used as an adjective?
Yes.
Examples include:
- how-to article
- how-to guide
- how-to video
- how-to manual
In these examples, how-to describes the type of content or resource.
Final Answer: How To’s or How Tos?
If you are talking about multiple instructional guides, the clearest standard choice is:
How-tos
If you are talking about one instructional guide, use:
How-to
If you are using the phrase before a noun, use:
How-to guide
If you are describing an action or process, keep the words separate:
how to write
The biggest mistake to avoid is using an apostrophe simply because you want to make how-to plural. In normal English, apostrophes do not form regular plurals.
So, remember this simple pattern:
how to write → grammatical phrase
a how-to → one instructional resource
how-tos → multiple instructional resources
how-to guide → instructional guide
how-to guides → multiple instructional guides
Once you understand the grammatical role of the phrase, the spelling becomes much easier. When in doubt, focus on what you mean: an action uses how to, while an instructional resource uses how-to and, in the plural, how-tos.
Emily Parker is a dedicated writer who enjoys creating clear, useful, and easy-to-understand content. She focuses on language, grammar, word meanings, and everyday expressions to help readers find simple and reliable answers.
