The correct spelling is tries, not trys. Trys is a common misspelling and it does not appear in any standard dictionary. Whenever you need the third-person singular form of the verb “try,” use tries.
What’s the Correct Spelling?
Many people search for trys or tries because the plural and verb forms of words ending in “y” don’t always follow the same pattern as other English words.
Why “Trys” Is Always Incorrect
“Trys” breaks a basic English spelling rule. When a verb ends in a consonant plus “y,” the “y” changes to “i” before adding “-es.” Since “try” ends in a consonant (“r”) plus “y,” the correct form is tries, not trys.
Why “Tries” Is the Correct Form
Tries follows the same pattern as many other common verbs: cry becomes cries, fly becomes flies, and carry becomes carries.
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How to Use “Tries” in a Sentence
Tries as Third-Person Singular Present Tense
Tries is used when the subject is he, she, it, or any singular noun. It shows that someone is currently attempting something, in the present tense.
Example Sentences With Tries
- She tries her best every single day.
- He tries to finish his homework before dinner.
- The team tries a new strategy in every game.
Try or Tries
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | try | I try |
| Third-person singular | tries | She tries |
| Past tense | tried | He tried |
| Past participle | tried | They have tried |
| Present participle | trying | We are trying |
Why the Spelling Changes From Try to Tries
The spelling shift happens only in specific forms. Try stays the same for “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.”
It only becomes tries for third-person singular subjects like “he,” “she,” or “it.” In the past tense, the same “y to i” rule applies, turning try into tried.
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Common Trys vs Tries Mistakes to Avoid
Why People Misspell Tries as Trys
Most people write trys because they simply add an “s” to try without applying the “y to i” rule, the same mistake people make with words like babys instead of babies. Autocorrect doesn’t always catch this error, which is one reason it keeps spreading online.
Quick Tip to Remember the Right Spelling
A simple trick: if a verb ends in a consonant plus “y,” swap the “y” for “i” before adding “-es.” Test it with try, cry, or fly, and the pattern holds every time. If you remember this one rule, you’ll never write trys again.
FAQs About Trys or Tries
Is “trys” ever correct?
No. Trys is not a recognized word in standard English dictionaries. The correct spelling is always tries.
What is the plural of “try”?
The plural noun form is tries, as in “she gave it three tries.” The verb form follows the same spelling.
How do you spell “tries” correctly?
Spell it t-r-i-e-s. Drop the “y” from try, add “i,” then add “es.”
Is it “he trys” or “he tries”?
It’s always “he tries.” This is standard usage on both sides of the Atlantic — American and British English agree on this spelling rule.
Olivia Smith is the author and admin of GrammarAct, an informational grammar website. She writes clear guides, simple explanations, and helpful lessons to make grammar easy for everyone.