dos and don'ts

From dos (“plural of do (“something that can or should be done”)”) + and + don’ts (“plural of don’t (“something that must or should not be done”)”).^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌduːz‿n̩ ˈdəʊnts/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌduz‿n̩ ˈdoʊnts/
• Rhymes: -əʊnts

dos and don'ts pl (plural only)

1. A set of things that one should do or not do in a particular situation; a set of guidelines or rules that one has to or ought to follow.

The plural forms of do and don’t are correctly dos and don’ts respectively; do’s and don’t’s are sometimes used for the sake of legibility, but are considered by some as incorrect.

• do's and don'ts, do's and don't's (often proscribed)