If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether to use flies or flys, you’re not alone. While the distinction between these two words might seem minor, it’s essential to understand the correct usage to avoid common mistakes in your writing. Whether you’re writing an email, crafting an essay, or posting on social media, choosing the right word can make a big difference.
In this article, we’ll explore the difference between flies and flys, when to use each, and how to avoid mistakes. We’ll also delve into some fun facts about flies and touch on some commonly misspelled words. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use these two words correctly and never make a mistake again.
What’s the Difference Between Flies and Flys?
At first glance, flies and flys might appear to be interchangeable, but there are key differences in their usage.
Flies: The Plural Form of “Fly”
The word flies is the plural form of the noun fly. When you’re referring to more than one insect, you’ll use flies.
- Example 1: The flies in the kitchen are driving me crazy.
- Example 2: I saw several flies buzzing around the garbage can.
In both examples, flies refers to multiple insects. The word fly is a noun that refers to the small, often pesky insect. When you want to talk about more than one fly, simply add an -es to make it plural.
Flys: An Incorrect Form
The word flys is almost always incorrect when referring to the plural form of the insect. English grammar rules dictate that the plural form of nouns ending in a consonant and y should change the y to ies (just like with flies). Therefore, flys is not the correct way to refer to multiple flies.
- Incorrect: I swatted at the flys around my food.
- Correct: I swatted at the flies around my food.
While flys may be seen in casual or incorrect writing, it doesn’t follow standard English grammar rules. So, remember that the correct plural is always flies.
Flys: Other Correct Uses
Despite the fact that flys is often a misspelling in the context of plural insects, it does have other uses in English. Flys can be correct in very specific contexts, particularly when it functions as a verb in the third-person singular present tense, or when referring to something like the “fly” on a pair of jeans.
As a Verb (Third-Person Singular Present Tense)
When you’re using fly as a verb, the third-person singular form (he, she, it) in the present tense can sometimes be written as flys. This is technically correct, but it’s much more common to see the word flies used instead.
- Example: She flys to New York every week for work.
- More Common: She flies to New York every week for work.
Notice the difference: fly is used when referring to one person (he, she, it), and it’s conjugated into flys. However, in everyday usage, flies is more commonly used.
The Fly on Pants (Flys as a Noun)
In the context of clothing, fly refers to the opening on the front of pants or jeans. The word flys can occasionally appear here when talking about more than one. For example, in the context of a pair of jeans:
- Example: The flys on my jeans are broken and need to be repaired.
In this case, flys is technically the correct term when referring to the opening on multiple pairs of jeans. But, even here, flies is the preferred spelling in most style guides and usage.
When to Use Flies
Let’s take a closer look at when you should use flies.
As the Plural of “Fly” (Insects)
As mentioned, flies is the plural form of fly, referring to the small insects that are found all around us. When you’re talking about more than one fly, this is the word you should use.
- Example 1: I watched as the flies swarmed around the kitchen sink.
- Example 2: Flies are important for the ecosystem, helping to break down waste.
In both cases, flies is used to refer to multiple insects. Context is key here, as you’ll need to decide whether you’re talking about insects or other uses of the word fly.
When Describing the Action of Flying (Verb)
In addition to being the plural form of fly (insect), flies is also the third-person singular present tense form of the verb fly. This means when you talk about someone or something flying (he, she, it), you would use flies.
- Example 1: The bird flies across the lake with ease.
- Example 2: She flies home every weekend to visit her family.
In these examples, flies refers to the action of flying. Note that it only works for third-person singular subjects. You wouldn’t say I flies or they flies.
When to Use Flys
While flys is most often a mistake, there are some rare but valid uses.
As the Third-Person Singular of the Verb “Fly”
In very specific contexts, flys is used as the third-person singular form of the verb fly. However, it’s much less common than flies.
- Example: He flys around the world on business trips every month.
This use is grammatically correct but much rarer than the standard flies.
Referring to “Fly” on Clothing
In fashion and clothing terminology, fly refers to the front opening of trousers or jeans. When discussing multiple pairs of pants, you might see flys used, although flies is still preferred in most cases.
- Example: I bought three pairs of jeans, but the flys on all of them were faulty.
Here, flys refers to the zippers or buttons that fasten the pants.
Common Mistakes with Flies and Flys
English is notorious for tricky word usage, and flies and flys are no exception. Here are some common mistakes people often make:
Using flys Instead of flies for Plural Forms
One of the most common errors people make is using flys when they should be using flies to refer to the plural of the insect. This is an incorrect form that doesn’t follow pluralization rules.
- Incorrect: I have a bunch of flys in the garden.
- Correct: I have a bunch of flies in the garden.
Mixing Up Flies (Verb) and Flies (Noun)
Another mistake people make is mixing up the noun flies (insects) and the verb flies (third-person singular of fly). It’s important to identify whether you’re talking about the insect or the action of flying.
- Incorrect: The bird flies over the garden and the flies fly around it.
- Correct: The bird flies over the garden, and the flies buzz around it.
The confusion between the noun and verb can lead to awkward or unclear sentences, so context is key.
How to Remember When to Use Flies or Flys
A simple way to remember when to use flies and when to use flys is to focus on context.
Tips for Flies:
- Flies is used when you’re talking about more than one fly (the insect).
- If you’re talking about the action of flying in the present tense with he, she, it, use flies.
Tips for Flys:
- Use flys when referring to the “fly” on jeans or other clothing (though flies is still preferred in most contexts).
- Flys is used in very rare instances for the third-person singular present tense form of the verb to fly.
Mnemonic: If you’re unsure, remember that flies is the most common and versatile form. Use flys sparingly and only in the specific contexts mentioned above.
Commonly Misspelled Words Like Flies and Flys
The confusion between flies and flys is just one of many common spelling mistakes in English. Here are a few others to watch out for:
- Who vs. Whom: Who is used as the subject of a sentence, while whom is the object.
- Grateful vs. Greatful: The correct spelling is grateful, not greatful.
- Dying vs. Dieing: The correct spelling is dying, not dieing.
Spelling errors like these can be easily avoided by reviewing your writing and checking for common mistakes.
Fun Facts About Flies
Flies aren’t just pesky little insects; they play an important role in our ecosystem. Here are a few fascinating facts:
- Flies’ Wings Beat 200 Times per Second: Flies are incredibly agile flyers, with their wings beating at a rapid pace.
- Flies Have a Short Lifespan: Some species of flies live for only a few days, while others can live longer.
- Flies Are Essential for the Ecosystem: They help break down organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Why Do Flies Get Their Name?
The word fly comes from the Old English word fleogan, meaning “to fly.” It’s related to other Germanic languages with similar words for the insect.
Summary: Key Takeaways
- Flies is the correct plural form of fly, referring to the insect.
- Flys is incorrect in most contexts but can appear when referring to the third-person singular form of the verb fly or the fly on pants.
- Watch out for common mistakes involving these words, and remember that flies is the most versatile form.
- To avoid spelling errors, familiarize yourself with English grammar rules, especially for pluralization and verb conjugation.
By understanding the rules and keeping these tips in mind, you can confidently use flies and flys in your writing without worry.
