Tardies ✅ is the correct plural form for instances of being late, while tardys ❌ is incorrect.
Many people search for “tardys or tardies” because they are unsure how to spell the plural form of tardy. This confusion is very common in schools, offices, and online writing. Teachers, students, and professionals often see the word tardy used in attendance records, reports, and emails, but when it comes to writing more than one instance, the spelling becomes unclear.
At first, tardys may seem correct. English often forms plurals by adding -s. However, words that end in -y follow special rules. If you do not know this rule, it is easy to make mistakes. This is why tardys appears frequently in search queries, even though it is incorrect.
Using the wrong spelling can make your writing look careless or unprofessional, especially in formal settings like school notices or workplace communication. This article explains the difference between tardys or tardies in a very simple way.
You will learn the correct spelling, why the confusion exists, how British and American English handle it, and how to use it correctly in real-life examples. By the end, you will be confident every time you write this word.
Tardys or Tardies – Quick Answer
✅ Tardies is correct
❌ Tardys is incorrect
Examples:
- ✅ The student has three tardies this month.
- ❌ The student has three tardys this month.
👉 Always use tardies as the plural of tardy.
The Origin of Tardys or Tardies
The word tardy comes from the Latin word tardus, which means “slow” or “late.” Over time, it entered English and came to describe someone or something that is late.
When forming plurals, English follows a rule for words that end in consonant + y:
👉 Change y to i, then add -es
That is why:
- tardy → tardies
- party → parties
- baby → babies
The spelling tardys ignores this rule, which is why it is incorrect.
Read more about:✨ Glamour or Glamor: Which Spelling Is Correct ?
British English vs American English Spelling
This is not a British vs American spelling difference.
Important Fact:
👉 Both British and American English use “tardies”
Comparison Table
| English Type | Correct Spelling | Incorrect Spelling |
| British English | tardies | tardys |
| American English | tardies | tardys |
| Global English | tardies | tardys |
There is no regional variation.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Use Tardies when:
- Referring to more than one late arrival
- Writing school reports or attendance logs
- Writing emails or notices
- Writing formal or informal English
Examples:
- Multiple tardies may affect grades.
- She has accumulated several tardies.
Avoid Tardys because:
- It breaks English plural rules
- It is considered a spelling mistake
- It looks unprofessional
Audience-Based Advice
- US audience: Use tardies
- UK/Commonwealth: Use tardies
- Global audience: Use tardies
The spelling never changes.
Common Mistakes with Tardys or Tardies
1. Adding only “s” to tardy
❌ He received two tardys.
✅ He received two tardies.
2. Confusing plural with possessive
❌ The tardies reason was traffic.
✅ The tardies’ reason was traffic.
3. Using the wrong tense
❌ He tardies every day.
✅ He is tardy every day.
Easy Memory Tip
👉 Consonant + Y = change Y to I + ES
Tardys or Tardies in Everyday Examples
Emails
- ✅ Please note the student’s tardies this week.
- ❌ Please note the student’s tardys this week.
School Notices
- ✅ Excessive tardies will result in discipline.
- ❌ Excessive tardys will result in discipline.
Social Media
- ✅ Too many morning tardies 😅
- ❌ Too many morning tardys
Formal Writing
- ✅ Repeated tardies may lead to suspension.
- ❌ Repeated tardys may lead to suspension.
Tardys or Tardies – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search data shows that “tardys or tardies” is a frequently searched grammar question.
Why People Search This:
- School and attendance writing
- ESL grammar confusion
- Unsure plural rules
- Spell-check not explaining the error
Usage Insights:
- Tardies appears widely in school policies and official documents
- Tardys appears mostly in spelling mistakes and search queries
Search engines recognize tardys as incorrect.
Tardys vs Tardies – Comparison Table
| Feature | Tardies | Tardys |
| Correct spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Dictionary accepted | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Plural form | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| US English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| UK English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Recommended | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
FAQs – Tardys or Tardies
1. Is tardys ever correct?
No. Tardys is never correct.
2. Why do people write tardys?
They forget the -y to -ies plural rule.
3. Is tardy a noun or adjective?
It can be both, depending on context.
4. What is the possessive plural form?
Tardies’
5. Is tardies used in formal writing?
Yes, especially in schools and offices.
6. Does British English spell it differently?
No. Both use tardies.
7. Is tardys accepted informally?
No. It is always a spelling mistake.
Conclusion
The confusion between tardys or tardies is easy to understand, but the rule is simple. Tardies is the correct plural form of tardy. Tardys is always incorrect and should never be used.
This rule applies in all types of English—British, American, and global. Because tardy ends in a consonant followed by y, the y changes to i, and -es is added. Once you learn this rule, you can apply it to many other words as well.Using the correct spelling improves clarity and professionalism, especially in formal writing like school notices and workplace communication. Now that you know the rule, you will never confuse tardys or tardies again.
My name is Noam Chomsky. I am a linguist, philosopher, and political thinker. I am best known for my work in English grammar and linguistics, especially for developing generative grammar.I studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned my PhD in linguistics. Later, I joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and taught there for many years. My book “Syntactic Structures” changed the way people understand language and grammar.
