When writing in English, one common mistake is forgetting where to use apostrophes, particularly with words like today’s and todays. It might seem like a small error, but using the correct form is essential for clarity and precision in your writing. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between todays and today’s, explain the rules for using apostrophes, and provide examples to ensure you know when to use each correctly.
Understanding the Difference: Today’s vs Todays
Before diving into the details, let’s clarify the primary difference between today’s and todays. Simply put, today’s is the possessive form of the word today, used to show that something belongs to the present day. On the other hand, todays without an apostrophe is almost always incorrect unless you’re using it in rare, poetic contexts where you’re referring to multiple days as “todays.”
Let’s break this down step-by-step, starting with the key question: does today’s need an apostrophe?
Does Today’s Have an Apostrophe?
Yes, the word today’s always requires an apostrophe when you’re using it in the possessive form. The rule of thumb is that an apostrophe followed by an “s” indicates ownership or possession. Just as you would write “Sarah’s book” to show that the book belongs to Sarah, you write today’s to show that something belongs to the current day.
For example:
- “What are today’s top news stories?”
- “Don’t forget about today’s meeting at 3 PM.”
Both of these sentences use today’s correctly because the apostrophe indicates that the news stories and the meeting belong to today.
What Does Today’s Mean?
The word today’s refers to something that is connected to or belongs to the present day. This possessive form is commonly used when describing current events, schedules, or activities. Essentially, today’s can be understood as a shorthand for “belonging to the present day.”
Examples:
- “Today’s technology has revolutionized how we work.”
- “We need to finish today’s tasks before moving on to tomorrow’s.”
In both sentences, the apostrophe shows that technology and tasks are related specifically to today, the current day. Without the apostrophe, the sentences would be incorrect.
Todays Date vs Today’s Date: Which One is Correct?
This is a very common question and the correct form is always today’s date. Whether you’re writing an email, filling out a form, or speaking in conversation, the phrase “today’s date” requires an apostrophe because the date belongs to today.
- Incorrect: What is todays date?
- Correct: What is today’s date?
Another example:
- Incorrect: Todays date is November 10th.
- Correct: Today’s date is November 10th.
Remember, if you’re referring to the date of the current day, always use today’s with an apostrophe.
Today’s Meeting vs Todays Meeting
Just like today’s date, today’s meeting must include an apostrophe to be grammatically correct. If you’re talking about an event that belongs to the present day, such as a meeting scheduled for today, you need the possessive form of the word.
- Incorrect: Don’t be late for todays meeting.
- Correct: Don’t be late for today’s meeting.
Another example:
- Incorrect: Bring your laptop to todays meeting.
- Correct: Bring your laptop to today’s meeting.
In both cases, the apostrophe is necessary to show that the meeting is scheduled for today.
Other Examples of Today’s in Sentences
To further understand how today’s works, here are more examples from literature and everyday use:
- “Today’s weather is perfect for a hike.”
- “The CEO will announce today’s agenda during the meeting.”
- “We need to focus on today’s challenges before worrying about tomorrow.”
These examples highlight how today’s is used to refer to something happening in or belonging to the present day.
Todays vs Today’s: When is Todays Correct?
The word todays without an apostrophe is almost always incorrect. The only instance where todays might be used is in very specific, often poetic contexts, where “todays” is treated as a plural form of today. This is rare in modern English. For example, the title of Elan Mastai’s novel All Our Wrong Todays uses the plural form todays, but this is more artistic than standard usage.
In standard writing, todays without an apostrophe is almost never correct.
Key Differences Between Todays and Today’s
Here’s a simple table to help clarify when to use today’s and when todays might appear:
| Word | Correct Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Today’s | Possessive form, indicating something belongs to today | “Today’s agenda is very busy.” |
| Todays | Plural form (rare and poetic) | “All our wrong todays” (poetic usage) |
How to Remember the Difference Between Today’s and Todays
One of the best ways to avoid confusing today’s with todays is to remember the rule of possession. When in doubt, ask yourself if you’re talking about something that belongs to the current day. If the answer is yes, you need an apostrophe.
Some quick tips:
- Use today’s with an apostrophe when you’re referring to something that belongs to today.
- Never use todays in regular, everyday writing. It is almost always grammatically incorrect unless used in a creative, literary way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When should I use today’s?
You should use today’s whenever you’re referring to something that belongs to or relates to the present day, such as “today’s weather” or “today’s meeting.”
2. Is todays ever correct?
Todays without an apostrophe is grammatically incorrect in most cases. It is only used in poetic or creative writing to refer to multiple days as “todays,” but this is extremely rare.
3. What is the correct way to write “todays date”?
The correct way to write it is today’s date, with an apostrophe, because the date belongs to today.
4. Can I use today’s in formal writing?
Yes, using today’s in formal writing is grammatically correct when you’re showing possession, such as “today’s agenda” or “today’s tasks.”
5. How can I avoid confusing todays and today’s?
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to remember that today’s (with an apostrophe) shows possession. If something belongs to today, you need the apostrophe.
Conclusion: Today’s vs Todays
In summary, the correct form to use is today’s when you’re talking about something that belongs to the present day. The apostrophe in today’s shows possession, just like in any other possessive form. Todays, without an apostrophe, is almost always incorrect and should be avoided unless you are using it for poetic or artistic reasons.
Next time you write an email, update a document, or post on social media, remember that the apostrophe in today’s is crucial for clear and correct communication. Use it to show that something belongs to today—whether it’s the weather, the meeting, or the date.