The post it (post-it) note

Quick answer: The 3M product is written Post-it (hyphenated, capital P). The generic item is a sticky note. Use "post it" (two words) only when "post" is a verb and "it" is the object (for example, "post it to the board").

Below: clear rules, short rewrites you can copy, many categorized examples (work, school, casual), a memory trick, and nearby hyphenation traps to watch for.

Quick answer

Use Post-it for the brand (hyphen + capital). Use sticky note for the generic item. Use post it (two words) only when "post" is an action.

Brand: Post-it - keep the hyphen and capitalization (Post-it, Post-its, Post-it notes).
Generic: sticky note - safe and neutral in formal writing.
Verb phrase: post it - no hyphen when you mean "publish" or "attach" (e.g., "post it online").

Core explanation: brand, hyphenation, and grammar

Post-it is a trademarked styling used by 3M; mirror the brand's hyphen and capitalization in formal or brand-specific contexts. When you mean the generic item, say sticky note and avoid trademark issues.

Writers commonly drop the hyphen when referring to the brand or let a verb reading create ambiguity. Treat Post-it as a single branded unit and use sticky note when you want a neutral term.

Brand = match the trademark: Post-it.
Generic = sticky note (no hyphen).
Plural brand forms: Post-its or Post-it notes. Do not write post its for the brand.

Wrong: Can you give me a post it?
Right: Can you give me a Post-it? / Can you give me a sticky note?
Wrong: I left a post it on your desk.
Right: I left a Post-it on your desk. / I left a sticky note on your desk.

Hyphenation & grammar rules (short)

Hyphens join compound words and appear where a brand or a compound adjective requires them. Use no hyphen for plain verb phrases.

If the trademark uses a hyphen, copy it: Post-it.
Compound adjective? Hyphenate (for example, "stick-on label").
Verb phrase? No hyphen: "post it to the forum."

Wrong: Use a post it to mark pages.
Right: Use a Post-it to mark pages. / Use a sticky note to mark pages.
Usage: She will post it tomorrow. (verb phrase - correct without hyphen)

Spacing pitfalls: when "post it" is a verb phrase

When you mean "attach" or "publish," "post it" is two words and correct: "Please post it to the board." When you mean the small square of paper, use Post-it or sticky note.

Short messages and labels increase ambiguity. If readers could plausibly read both meanings, rewrite for clarity.

Ambiguous: Post it on the bulletin board.
Clarified (product): Attach a Post-it to the bulletin board.
Clarified (action): Please post it on the bulletin board by 3pm.

Real usage and tone: pick brand or generic by audience

Choose Post-it when brand identity matters (marketing, product reviews, packaging). Choose sticky note in neutral, formal, or academic contexts to avoid trademark usage.

In informal chat, either Post-it or sticky note works - just avoid unhyphenated post it unless you mean the verb.

Marketing/product copy: Post-it (brand).
Reports, academic work: sticky note (neutral).
Casual chat: either is fine; be consistent.

Marketing: The new Post-it Dispenser keeps your notes tidy.
Formal: Use sticky notes to tag relevant sections.
Casual: Left a Post-it on the fridge.

Work examples (copy-paste corrections)

Three common workplace mistakes with crisp corrections. Use the brand only when the product is specified; otherwise use sticky note for clarity.

Work - Wrong: Please attach a post it with your comments.
Work - Right: Please attach a Post-it with your comments. / Please attach a sticky note with your comments.
Work - Wrong: I used post it notes to mark the draft.
Work - Right: I used Post-it notes to mark the draft. / I used sticky notes to mark the draft.
Work - Wrong: We taped a post it to the report for revisions.
Work - Right: We attached a Post-it to the report for revisions. / We attached a sticky note to the report for revisions.

Try your own sentence:

School examples (handouts, labels, assignments)

Teachers usually avoid brand names in instructions. If the school supplies branded pads, use Post-it; otherwise prefer sticky note.

School - Wrong: Students: grab a post it and write your name on it.
School - Right: Students: grab a Post-it and write your name on it. / Students: grab a sticky note and write your name on it.
School - Wrong: Turn in the project with post its on each page.
School - Right: Turn in the project with Post-its on each page. / Turn in the project with sticky notes on each page.
School - Wrong: Label diagrams with post it notes.
School - Right: Label diagrams with sticky notes. / Label diagrams with Post-it notes (if the brand matters).

Casual examples (texts, labels, quick notes)

In casual messages, prefer one consistent form and reword any sentence that could be read as a verb phrase.

Casual - Wrong: Left you a post it on the fridge.
Casual - Right: Left you a Post-it on the fridge. / Left you a sticky note on the fridge.
Casual - Wrong: Do you have a post it?
Casual - Right: Do you have a sticky note? / Do you have a Post-it?
Casual - Wrong: I'll stick a post it on the mirror.
Casual - Right: I'll put a Post-it on the mirror. / I'll put a sticky note on the mirror.

Fix your sentence: checklist and rewrites

Checklist: (1) Are you naming the 3M product? → use Post-it. (2) Is it generic? → use sticky note. (3) Is "post" an action? → write post it and reword if ambiguous.

Here are common originals with two clean fixes (brand + generic) and an optional rephrasing to remove ambiguity.

Rewrite:
Original: "Can you give me a post it?" → Brand: "Can you give me a Post-it?" / Generic: "Can you give me a sticky note?"
Rewrite:
Original: "Use post it for reminders." → Brand: "Use Post-its for reminders." / Generic: "Use sticky notes for reminders."
Rewrite:
Original: "Post it on the board." (ambiguous) → If action: "Please post it on the board by 3pm." / If product: "Please attach a Post-it to the board."

Memory trick and quick rules to remember

Visual mnemonic: picture a little dash 'sticking' post and it together - if it's the product, the dash stays.

Rule 1 - Brand? Hyphen + capital: Post-it.
Rule 2 - Generic? Use sticky note.
Rule 3 - Verb phrase? Keep as two words (post it); rephrase if unclear.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Apply the same checks to other small compounds: is it a brand, an adjective, or a verb phrase? Follow your style guide for borderline cases.

follow-up (adjective) vs follow up (verb): "a follow-up email" vs "to follow up".
re-sign (sign again) vs resign (quit): "re-sign the contract" vs "resign from the job".
co-worker (hyphenated) vs coworker (increasingly accepted) - be consistent with your guide.

Wrong: I need a follow up meeting next week.
Right: I need a follow-up meeting next week.
Wrong: He will re sign the contract tomorrow.
Right: He will re-sign the contract tomorrow.

FAQ

Is "post it" ever correct?

Yes - only when "post" is a verb and "it" is the object (for example, "post it to the board"). For the product, use Post-it or sticky note.

Should I capitalize post-it?

Use Post-it (capital P) for the trademark. Use sticky note in lower case unless it begins a sentence.

How do I pluralize Post-it?

Use Post-its or Post-it notes. Avoid "post its" without a hyphen when referring to the brand.

Which is safer in formal writing: Post-it or sticky note?

Sticky note is safer in formal or neutral writing because it avoids trademark usage and hyphenation issues. Use Post-it only when brand identity is required.

How can I avoid ambiguous "post it" sentences?

Rephrase: if you mean the action, write "please post it by noon"; if you mean the product, write "attach a Post-it" or "use a sticky note."

Want a second pair of eyes?

If you're unsure about hyphens or trademark spellings, paste the sentence into a grammar checker that highlights trademark styling and hyphenation and explains each suggestion. That kind of feedback helps you learn the rule, not just fix the line.

Small habits - like always picturing the dash - quickly reduce these errors across emails, reports, and labels.