Doughnut or Donut: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-12 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Both doughnut and donut are correct, as the pair consists of a traditional spelling and a shorter American variant. While doughnut is the formal standard, donut appears frequently in informal writing and on packaging. You can use either form without error, though context often dictates the preferred choice for tone and style in your specific sentence.

The Short Answer

Both doughnut and donut are accepted spellings, with doughnut serving as the traditional form and donut acting as a shorter American variant that is more informal.

People often confuse these words because they sound identical and refer to the exact same baked good, leading to uncertainty about which spelling looks more professional in formal documents.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
doughnut	Traditional spelling	formal writing or general usage
donut	Shorter American variant	informal contexts or casual speech
Noun	Part of speech	both forms function as nouns
North America	Primary region	both forms are common here

Correct Example Sentences

The baker sold fresh doughnuts this morning before the crowd arrived.
She reached for a donut from the counter before starting her shift.
My favorite breakfast treat is a glazed doughnut with extra sugar.
We bought a box of donuts to share with the office team.
Please do not eat doughnuts while driving to avoid any accidents.
The shop offers many flavors, from chocolate to jelly donuts.
Grandma always made homemade doughnuts for the holiday gathering.
He ordered six donuts and a large coffee for his lunch break.
The recipe calls for yeast to help the doughnuts rise perfectly.
Donuts are a popular snack in many American households today.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

This is the wrong way to spell the word.: This is the wrong way to spell the word.
I ate a dohnut for breakfast this morning.: I ate a doughnut for breakfast this morning.
The sign says donnut instead of the correct spelling.: The sign says donut instead of the correct spelling.
She prefers doughnuts over bagels for her snack.: She prefers donuts over bagels for her snack.
Please bring two donuts to the meeting.: Please bring two doughnuts to the meeting.
That doughnut looks delicious on the plate.: That donut looks delicious on the plate.

A Quick Test You Can Use

To decide which form to use, consider the level of formality required by your audience; choose doughnut for professional documents and donut for casual conversation or marketing materials where brevity is preferred.

Related Word Pairs

Affect vs effect: Use affect as a verb for actions and effect as a noun for results.
Accept vs except: Use accept to mean agreeing and except to mean excluding.
Your vs you're: Use your for possession and you're as a contraction for you are.
Then vs than: Use then to indicate time order and than for comparisons.
There vs their vs they're: Use there for location, their for possession, and they're for they are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is doughnut better than donut?

Neither is better, as both are accepted spellings. Doughnut is the traditional form used in formal writing, while donut is a shorter American variant often found in informal contexts or on packaging.

Can I use donut in a formal essay?

You can use donut, but doughnut is preferred in formal writing. Traditional spelling rules favor the longer version for academic or professional documents, while the shorter variant suits casual notes or advertisements.

Do dictionaries list both spellings?

Yes, major dictionaries list both doughnut and donut as valid. They recognize the traditional spelling alongside the American shortening, confirming that users have the freedom to choose either form without error.

Where did the word donut come from?

The word donut emerged as a colloquial shortening of doughnut in American English. It gained popularity through advertising and everyday usage, eventually becoming an accepted variant alongside the original traditional spelling.