Have you ever paused mid-sentence, unsure whether to write tries or trys? You’re not alone — this is one of those small spelling questions that trips up even confident writers. The good news is the answer is simple, the rule is consistent, and once you learn it, you’ll never mix them up again.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need: the correct spelling, the grammar rule behind it, real-life examples, rugby usage, British vs. American English, and a handy comparison table. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to write with confidence — this is the only guide you need.

Trys or Tries – Quick Answer

Tries is always correct. Trys is always wrong.

Here’s the simple rule: when a verb ends in a consonant + y, you drop the y and add -ies for the third-person singular present tense. Since “try” ends in the consonant r followed by y, it becomes tries — not trys.

✅ He tries his best. ❌ He trys his best.

This applies whether “tries” is used as a verb (she tries) or as a plural noun (two tries at the puzzle). There are no exceptions in standard English.

The Origin of Try or Tries

The word try traces back to Old French — specifically the word trier, meaning “to test” or “to sift.” It entered Middle English as trien and gradually took on the broader meaning of “to make an attempt.”

English spelling rules evolved alongside the language. One of those rules — changing -y to -ies for third-person singular verbs and plural nouns — became firmly established in standard written English. That’s why we write:

• try → tries
• fly → flies
• carry → carries
• study → studies

The -ys ending was never adopted for these verb and noun forms. So “trys” was incorrect from the start, not just a modern mistake.

British English vs. American English Spelling

A common question is whether British and American English handle this differently. The short answer: they don’t.

Both varieties of English follow the exact same rule here. “Tries” is correct in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and every other English-speaking country. This is not one of those spelling debates like colour vs. color or organise vs. organize.

No matter where your audience is, write tries.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Always use tries. In every single context — formal writing, casual texting, academic essays, sports commentary — “tries” is the only accepted form.

Use “tries” when:

• The subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun (third-person singular verb form)
• You’re talking about multiple attempts (plural noun)
• You’re writing about rugby scoring events (plural noun)

Quick tip: If you’re unsure, read the sentence aloud. “He trys” sounds unnatural because it genuinely is unnatural in English phonology. The consonant cluster -ys at the end of a word is almost unheard of in English derivations.

Trys or Tries in Rugby

This is where things get slightly more interesting. In rugby, a try is the primary method of scoring points. A player scores a try by grounding the ball in the opposition’s in-goal area. In rugby union, a try is worth 5 points; in rugby league, it’s worth 4 points.

The term “try” in rugby actually comes from the phrase “try at goal” — because originally, grounding the ball only gave the attacking team the opportunity to attempt a goal kick. Over time, the try became a scoring event in its own right.

Now, what’s the plural? Tries — not trys.

✅ England scored four tries in the match. ❌ England scored four trys in the match.

Even in rugby journalism and official match reports, the correct plural is always tries. You may occasionally see “trys” used informally in fan forums or social media, but it is considered incorrect in any formal or professional context.

Also Read This: Realy or Really: Common Mistake Explained With Examples (2026)

Common Mistakes with Trys or Tries

Here are the most frequent errors writers make — and how to fix them:

• Mistake 1 – Using “trys” as a verb:
• ❌ She trys to stay calm. ✅ She tries to stay calm.
• Mistake 2 – Using “trys” as a plural noun:
• ❌ He made three trys to unlock the door. ✅ He made three tries to unlock the door.
• Mistake 3 – Using “trys” in sports writing:
• ❌ The team scored two trys in the second half. ✅ The team scored two tries in the second half.
• Mistake 4 – Thinking British English uses “trys”:
• This is false. Both British and American English use “tries.”

Why does this mistake happen? Most people are used to simply adding -s to make plurals or conjugate verbs (e.g., runs, walks, plays). With words ending in a vowel + y, you do just add -s (plays → plays, stays → stays). But when it’s a consonant + y, the rule changes to -ies. That’s the part people often forget.

Tries in Everyday Examples

Here are real-life sentences using “tries” correctly across different contexts:

As a verb (third-person singular):

• He tries to finish his work before dinner.
• She tries new recipes every weekend.
• The software tries to connect automatically.
• My son tries hard in every subject at school.

As a plural noun (multiple attempts):

• After three tries, she finally solved the equation.
• It took several tries before he got the door open.
• The team made multiple tries to reach the summit.

In sports (rugby):

• South Africa scored five tries in the opening game.
• Two tries in the final five minutes turned the match around.

In formal writing:

• Numerous tries were made to establish a connection.
• The company’s repeated tries at expansion failed to materialize.

Trys or Tries – Exercises

Test yourself with these quick exercises. Choose the correct word:

1. She _______ to be on time every day. (Answer: tries)

2. The player scored three _______ in the match. (Answer: tries)

3. He _______ different approaches to solve the problem. (Answer: tries)

4. After five _______, they finally broke the code. (Answer: tries)

5. My teacher _______ to make every lesson interesting. (Answer: tries)

6. The team made two _______ before halftime. (Answer: tries)

Bonus rule practice: Apply the same pattern to these words:

• fly → ? (flies)
• cry → ? (cries)
• supply → ? (supplies)
• deny → ? (denies)

Trys / Tries – Google Trends & Usage Data

Search interest data consistently shows that while people search for both spellings out of confusion, “tries” dominates all actual written usage by an overwhelming margin.

According to major grammar databases and corpus analysis tools:

• “Tries” appears billions of times in published English text.
• “Trys” is statistically rare — appearing mostly in typos, social media, or informal digital communication.
• Google’s own autocorrect and search suggestions consistently correct “trys” to “tries.”

This data confirms what grammar rules already tell us: “tries” is the only form used in any serious written context.

Comparison Table: Trys vs. Tries

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “trys” ever correct in any form of English? 

No. “Trys” is incorrect in all standard varieties of English — British, American, Australian, or otherwise.

What is the plural of “try”? 

The plural of “try” is “tries.” Example: She made two tries to reach him.

Why does “tries” end in -ies and not -ys? 

Because “try” ends in a consonant (r) + y, the grammar rule requires changing y to i and adding -es, giving “tries.”

Is “tries” used the same way as a verb and a noun? 

Yes. “Tries” works as both a third-person singular verb (he tries) and a plural noun (three tries).

What about “trying” and “tried” — do these follow the same pattern?

 For “trying,” you just add -ing with no change (trying). For “tried,” the y changes to i before adding -ed (tried, not tryed).

In rugby, is “trys” ever used in official documentation? 

No. All official rugby governing bodies — World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, etc. — use “tries” as the plural of “try” in their official rulebooks and match reports.

How do I remember this rule easily?

 Think: consonant + y = drop y, add -ies. A quick memory trick: “When the y follows a consonant, let the i step in.”

Can I use “tries” in texting or casual writing? 

Yes — and you should. “Tries” is correct in every setting, casual or formal.

Conclusion

The answer is clear and simple: tries is always correct, trys is always wrong. This applies to verb usage (she tries), plural nouns (three tries), and sports contexts (scored two tries in rugby) — without exception in British or American English.

Good writers pay attention to these small details — and getting this right every time is one of the easiest ways to make your writing look polished and professional.

Daniel Brooks

Daniel Brooks  is a passionate writer and digital content creator dedicated to sharing insightful, engaging, and informative articles across multiple niches. With a strong interest in technology, lifestyle, trending topics, and online media, Daniel Brooks focuses on delivering well-researched and reader-friendly content that inspires and informs audiences worldwide.