Tonight or Tonite: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Tonight is the standard spelling for referring to the current evening, and it is the form you should use in formal writing. While tonite exists, it is considered nonstandard and is typically reserved for informal contexts like advertising or casual messaging. Choosing tonight ensures your communication remains clear and follows established English conventions.
The Short Answer
Tonight is the standard spelling; tonite is an informal, nonstandard spelling seen in advertising.
People often confuse the two because they sound identical and the missing letter appears to make the word shorter. However, language standards dictate the full spelling, and omitting the middle letter is not accepted in formal prose.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Tonight | Standard | Formal writing and standard speech |
| Tonite | Nonstandard | Casual text messages or advertising slogans |
| Noun | Evening | Both forms function as nouns |
| Adverb | This evening | Both forms function as adverbs |
Correct Example Sentences
- We are heading out to the movies tonight.
- Please call me tonight after dinner.
- The concert starts tonight at eight o'clock.
- I plan to study hard tonight.
- It is going to rain tonight.
- Did you see the news tonight?
- We will meet again tonight.
- There is a party tonight in the lobby.
- I hope you are rested tonight.
- The store is open late tonight.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- The event starts tonite.
- The event starts tonight.
- I have homework to finish tonite.
- I have homework to finish tonight.
- She is coming over tonite.
- She is coming over tonight.
- Please call me back tonite.
- Please call me back tonight.
- We are going out tonite.
- We are going out tonight.
- The package arrives tonite.
- The package arrives tonight.
A Quick Test You Can Use
If you are writing for school, work, or a publication, always choose the full spelling tonight to maintain professionalism and correctness.
Related Word Pairs
- There vs Their
- There indicates a place, while their shows ownership.
- To vs Too
- To is a preposition indicating direction, while too means also.
- Your vs Youre
- Your indicates possession and never contains an apostrophe.
- Its vs It is
- Its shows possession, whereas it is is a verb and subject.
- Affect vs Effect
- Affect is usually a verb, while effect is usually a noun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tonite ever acceptable in writing?
Tonite is acceptable only in very casual settings like text messages or informal social media posts. In any formal document, school assignment, or professional email, you must use tonight to ensure your writing is considered correct by editors.
Why do some advertisements use tonite?
Advertisers use tonite because it looks quicker to read and fits well in small spaces on signs or flyers. While it saves a tiny amount of space, it is not grammatically correct according to standard English rules.
What is the part of speech for tonight?
Tonight functions as both a noun and an adverb. As a noun, it refers to the current evening, and as an adverb, it tells us when an action happens during the evening.
How do I remember the correct spelling?
You can remember the correct spelling by thinking of the phrase ton night, which clearly separates the words. This mental break helps you recall that the letter n belongs in the middle of the standard word tonight.
