s
/ĕs/
noun
- The 19th letter of the modern English alphabet.
- Any of the speech sounds represented by the letter s.
- The 19th in a series.
Both express possession, of course.
We use 's with singular nouns. For example, "my son's toys" will be "the toys that belong to my son".
We use only an apostrophe (') after plural nouns that end in -s: "my sons' toys" means that I have more than one son and these are their toys.
We use 's for possession with the other plural nouns. For example: "my children's toys; women's wishes, etc.
Answer from fluffy on Stack ExchangeMerriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › 's
'S Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
is; was; has… See the full definition
Top answer 1 of 5
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Both express possession, of course.
We use 's with singular nouns. For example, "my son's toys" will be "the toys that belong to my son".
We use only an apostrophe (') after plural nouns that end in -s: "my sons' toys" means that I have more than one son and these are their toys.
We use 's for possession with the other plural nouns. For example: "my children's toys; women's wishes, etc.
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Fluffy's answer is correct about the possessive usages, so I won't repeat those. However, it misses an important point.
Possession isn't the only use for 's; it can also be a contraction for is. For example: it's, how's, he's, she's, that's, etc. In standard English, s' is never a contraction*.
The double meaning of 's leads to one of the most common mistakes in written English: confusing its, which is the possessive form of it, and it's, which is a contraction of it is.
* - When approximating certain dialects or slang in writing, s' may be used, rarely, as an abbreviation or contraction of it is when placed at the front (never the back!) of another word. For example, there's a famous comedy puppetry bit which makes heavy use of s'alright to mean it's alright. However, this is absolutely neither standard nor something you should emulate.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › -'s
-'s Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
-'S meaning: used to form the possessive of singular nouns, of plural nouns not ending in s, of some pronouns, and of word groups that function as nouns or pronouns
grammar - Meaning of (s) in a word - English Language Learners Stack Exchange
I have seen the use of (s) inside the two brackets. For instance Others in a way. Also Other(s) in another way. What does the word including (s) in brackets define? Does other(s) = other or More on ell.stackexchange.com
What does "'s" mean?
What does Can anyone explain to me what’s so funny about the “when will you wear wigs” interview ... ... What does Let's do a recap. mean? More on hinative.com
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What does /s mean?
The slash signals the end of a tag in HTML code. For example, if you write random text on a web page source code, your browser will display "random text" in bold font AND will hide the underlying tag. You can think of it as a command to begin bold and end bold in hypertext language. Whenever you see a slash followed by a qualifier, it is meant to be understood that the preceding statement should be regarded — interpreted — with whatever descriptor is used. There is no need for a begin command because the computer is not the target, the reader is. If I write /rant at the end of a paragraph, it means that I am done bitching. The s tag is just an abbreviation of the qualifier-descriptor sarcasm; by convention, most people understand the whole expression without the need to spell it all out, just like a TL;DR or a PS etc. More on reddit.com
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March 5, 2014What does /j and /s mean?
these are called tone indicators /j stands for joke /s stands for sarcastic More on reddit.com
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December 10, 2020Videos
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Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › s
S Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
November 20, 2025 - S definition: satisfactory. See examples of s used in a sentence.
Homework.Study.com
homework.study.com › explanation › what-does-s-mean-in-grammar.html
What does "s" mean in grammar? | Homework.Study.com
Conjugating a word means to change its form in order to change its grammatical meaning. Conjugating sometimes involves simply adding a letter to the end of a word. Other times, it involves changing several letters. Become a Study.com member to unlock this answer! Create your account View this answer · In English, the letter "s" has three functions.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › apostrophe
APOSTROPHE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
6 days ago - the symbol ’ used in writing to show when a letter or a number has been left out, as in I'm (= I am) or '85 (= 1985), or that is used before or after s to show possession, as in Helen's house or babies' hands: "It's" with an apostrophe means "it is" or "it has".
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › s_1
S definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
33 senses: 1. the 19th letter and 15th consonant of the modern English alphabet 2. a speech sound represented by this letter,.... Click for more definitions.
Stack Exchange
ell.stackexchange.com › questions › 143276 › meaning-of-s-in-a-word
grammar - Meaning of (s) in a word - English Language Learners Stack Exchange
September 27, 2017 - american-english · Share · Improve ... 10311 gold badge11 silver badge33 bronze badges 4 · 2 · '(s)' indicates that there is a possibility of a plural existence....
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-difference-between-s-and-s-in-English
What is the difference between 's and s' in English? - Quora
Answer (1 of 26): In English, the use of -'s is used in two ways: 1) to show that a letter (or letters) has been omitted from a word, (what's up?) or 2) to indicate possession. The use of -s' almost always indicates possession.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › s
S, s | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
1 month ago - S, s meaning: 1. the 19th letter of the English alphabet 2. written abbreviation for South: 3. abbreviation for…. Learn more.
WordReference
wordreference.com › english dictionary › -s
-s - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
-s - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free.
Longman
ldoceonline.com › dictionary › s_2
S | meaning of S in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
S. presidential election.• ... million, the U. S.• At the high point of the sessions, the representative of the U. S.SS2 1 the written abbreviation of south or southern 2 the written abbreviation of small, used on clothes to show the size-s-s /z, s/ suffix 1 XXforms ...
EzAITranslate
ezaitranslate.com › ai-dictionary › word-cw
s in English - Definition | AI Dictionary | EzAITranslate
2 weeks ago - From the Phoenician letter shin, through the Greek sigma (Σ, σ) and the Latin S. The modern English 'S' retains a shape similar to its ancient Semitic, Greek, and Roman ancestors. The letter 'S' is widely used in various symbols and abbreviations; for example, 'S' often denotes 'South' on compasses and maps, and 'S' is famously associated with Superman in popular culture.
TheFreeDictionary.com
thefreedictionary.com › -s
-s - definition of -s by The Free Dictionary
[Middle English (north) -(e)s, Old English (north); orig. ending of 2nd pers. singular; replacing Middle English, Old English -eth -eth1] ... an ending marking nouns as plural (weeks; days; minutes), occurring also on nouns that have no singular ...
Reddit
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What is the meaning of ('s) in the english words and where ...
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Etymonline
etymonline.com › word › 's
's - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
By a process of popular interpretation, the 's was supposed to be a contraction for his, and in some cases the his was actually "restored." [Samuel C. Earle, et al, "Sentences and their Elements," New York: Macmillan, 1911] As a suffix forming some adverbs, it represents the genitive singular ending of Old English masculine and neuter nouns and some adjectives.
Gallaudet University
gallaudet.edu › student-success › tutorial-center › english-center › grammar-and-vocabulary › five-ways-to-use-s-at-the-end-of-a-noun-or-verb
Five Ways to Use "S" at the End of a Noun or Verb - Grammar and Vocabulary | Gallaudet University
November 16, 2022 - How to show Plurality in Count Nouns In English, "-s" is often added to the end of a noun or verb. This page will demonstrate five different situations
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › when to use its vs. it’s | examples, meaning & quiz
When to Use Its vs. It’s | Examples, Meaning & Quiz
October 17, 2023 - Though they’re pronounced the same, there’s a big difference in meaning between its and it’s. Its (without an apostrophe) is the possessive form of it, so
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › when to use apostrophe s (‘s) | guide & examples
When to Use Apostrophe S ('s) | Guide & Examples
November 27, 2023 - An apostrophe followed by an "s" may indicate possession (e.g., "Dave's house") or contraction (e.g., "Dave's here" = "Dave is here").