Tries is the correct spelling in standard English, while trys is not normally used as a standard English word. The confusion happens because many English words simply add s to form a plural or third person singular verb, but words ending in a consonant plus y often follow a different spelling pattern.
If you are writing an email, article, school assignment, website, or professional document, use tries when the grammar calls for this form. Understanding when to use try, tries, and tried makes this spelling much easier to remember.
Tries vs Trys at a Glance
| Form | Correct? | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| tries | Yes | Plural noun or third person singular verb |
| trys | No in standard English | Common spelling mistake |
| try | Yes | Base verb or singular noun |
| tried | Yes | Past tense and past participle |
The key rule is simple: when try changes to its third person singular present form, it becomes tries, not trys. Cambridge lists tries as the relevant form of try.
Why Is Tries the Correct Spelling?
The word try ends in a consonant followed by y. When a word with this pattern needs the third person singular -s form, the y changes to ie before the s.
So:
try → tries
For example:
- I try to help.
- You try to help.
- They try to help.
- She tries to help.
- He tries to help.
Cambridge’s grammar guidance explains that the present simple third person singular normally takes an -s ending, while spelling rules determine the appropriate form.
When to Use Tries
Tries as a Verb
Use tries when the subject is he, she, it, or another singular third person subject in the present tense.
Examples:
- She tries to arrive early.
- He tries his best every day.
- The student tries to solve the problem.
- My brother tries new recipes.
- The machine tries to restart automatically.
In each example, tries means that someone or something makes an attempt.
The verb try means to attempt something or make an effort, and it can also mean to test something to see whether it works or is suitable.
Tries as a Plural Noun
Tries can also be the plural of the noun try.
Examples:
- I made three tries before I succeeded.
- She had several tries at the difficult question.
- His first two tries failed.
- We gave it a few tries.
As a noun, try means an attempt, so tries means more than one attempt. Cambridge specifically gives tries as the plural noun form.
When to Use Try Instead
Use try when you need the base form of the verb or the singular noun.
As a Verb
- I try to stay positive.
- They try to arrive on time.
- We should try again.
- Please try this method.
As a Noun
- Give it a try.
- It was worth a try.
- I will have one more try.
The word try can function as both a verb and a noun, depending on the sentence.
Tries vs Tried
Another common source of confusion is tries versus tried.
Use tries for the present tense when the subject is third person singular:
- She tries every morning.
- He tries to understand.
- The program tries to connect.
Use tried for the past tense and past participle:
- She tried yesterday.
- He tried to call me.
- They have tried several methods.
Cambridge identifies tried as the past simple and past participle of try.
Is Trys Ever Correct?
In standard English spelling, trys is not the normal form of try.
If you mean multiple attempts, write tries:
Correct: She made several tries.
If you mean that a person makes an attempt in the present tense, write tries:
Correct: He tries to help.
Therefore, replacing ies with ys is not the standard spelling rule for try.
Is There a British or American Difference?
There is no standard British versus American spelling difference between tries and trys.
Both British and American English use tries for the relevant forms of try. Cambridge’s British and American dictionary entries both give the same underlying spelling and pronunciation for try, while its dictionary material identifies tries as the plural form.
So this is not a case like colour/color or centre/center. Regional English does not normally change tries into trys.
Pronunciation of Tries
Tries is pronounced with a final z sound.
Its pronunciation is represented as /traɪz/.
It sounds like the word try followed by a voiced z sound. The pronunciation of the base word try is given by Cambridge as /traɪ/.
The spelling change does not create a completely different word. It simply marks the grammatical form required by the sentence.
Common Confusion Between Tries and Trys
The most common reason people write trys is that they expect the word to follow a simple pattern such as:
run → runs
play → plays
However, try follows a different spelling pattern because it ends in consonant + y.
Compare:
- try → tries
- cry → cries
- carry → carries
- study → studies
This is why trys looks logical at first glance but is not the standard spelling.
A useful memory trick is:
Consonant + y → change y to ie before adding s.
So:
try → tries
Quick Examples
Here are some examples showing the correct usage:
- She tries to exercise every day.
- He tries to finish his work early.
- The child tries again after making a mistake.
- We made several tries before finding the solution.
- Give it another try.
- I tried it yesterday.
- They try different approaches.
Notice how the form changes according to the grammatical role and tense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tries correct or trys?
Tries is the correct standard English spelling. Trys is not the standard form.
What is the plural of try?
The plural of try is tries.
For example: “She made three tries.”
Is tries a verb?
Yes. Tries is the third person singular present form of the verb try.
For example: “He tries to help.”
Is trys a word?
Trys is not normally accepted as the standard spelling of the English word try in these grammatical forms. In standard writing, use tries.
What is the past tense of try?
The past tense of try is tried.
For example: “She tried to call earlier.”
Conclusion
The correct spelling is tries, not trys, when you need the plural noun or third person singular present form of try.
Use tries in sentences such as “She tries her best” and “He made several tries.” Use try for the base form and tried for the past tense. There is also no standard British or American spelling difference between tries and trys.
The easiest way to remember the rule is that try changes to tries when the consonant plus y spelling pattern requires the third person singular or plural form.
