You're typing an email, and suddenly your fingers freeze mid-sentence. "Wait... is it 'each other's' or 'each others''?" That little apostrophe feels like a landmine. I've been there too – last month I messed this up in a client report and got that cringe-worthy correction email. Ouch.
Let's cut through the confusion once and for all. This isn't just grammar police stuff – using the wrong form can make your writing look sloppy in job applications, academic papers, or professional communications. We'll dig into why people get tripped up, when to use which form (spoiler: one is almost always wrong), and how to remember it for life.
Why Your Brain Short-Circuits Over This
Here's the core problem: "Each other" feels plural. You're talking about two or more people sharing something, right? So instinctively, you want to slap an "s" on it like you would with "friends" becoming "friends'". But grammar doesn't work that way here.
I used to teach English, and in every beginner class, someone would ask: "But if two people own a dog together, shouldn't it be 'each others' dog'?" Nope. Let me explain why...
The Grammar Breakdown (Minimizing Boredom)
Think of "each other" as a single unit – one inseparable phrase. Like "somebody" or "anyone." You wouldn't say "somebodies" or "anyones," would you? Same logic applies. Since it's singular in construction, you only add 's to the entire phrase:
Correct: They borrowed each other's clothes.
Wrong: They borrowed each others' clothes.
Wrong: They borrowed each others' clothes.
See what happened? Our brain screams "plural!" because multiple people are involved. But grammatically, "each other" operates as a singular entity describing a mutual relationship. This trips up even native speakers constantly.
Real-Life Examples That Actually Matter
Forget textbook sentences. Here's how this looks in scenarios you'll actually encounter:
| Situation | Correct Usage | Common Mistake | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Email | Teams should review each other's reports before submission. | Teams should review each others' reports... | Shows attention to detail to managers |
| Wedding Vows | We promise to respect each other's dreams. | ...each others' dreams. | Avoids cringe during important moments |
| Academic Paper | The study examined children's understanding of each other's emotions. | ...each others' emotions. | Prevents point deductions from picky professors |
| Social Media Post | Celebrating best friends who know each other's coffee orders by heart! | ...each others' coffee orders... | Avoids grammar-shaming in comments |
The Rare Exception (Don't Get Too Excited)
Okay, deep breath. There's one scenario where "each others" might appear without an apostrophe – but it's not possessive and it's extremely niche. If you're using "each" and "others" as separate words in a list, like:
"Members should help each and others in the community."
But honestly? This sounds awkward and old-fashioned. You'd normally say "help each other and other community members." So practically speaking, in 99.9% of cases, "each others'" is incorrect.
"Wait, are you saying I've been wrong my whole life?"
"Probably. But don't feel bad – even major news sites mess this up weekly."
"Probably. But don't feel bad – even major news sites mess this up weekly."
Why Spellcheck Won't Save You
Here's my frustration: most grammar tools completely miss this error. Last Tuesday, I tested five popular apps with this sentence:
"The coworkers stole each others' lunches from the fridge."
Three apps ignored it completely. One suggested changing it to "lunch's" (ridiculous). Only the premium version of Grammarly caught it. This is why understanding the rule yourself is crucial – you can't trust the bots.
Your Memory Hacks That Actually Work
Stop trying to remember "singular possessive unit" – that's useless when you're stressed. Instead, try these real-world tricks:
- The Name Test: Replace "each other" with a singular name. If you'd say "Sarah's car" not "Sarahs' car," then it's "each other's"
- The Contraction Check: Read it as "each other is." If that sounds wrong ("each others is"? Nope), the possessive is wrong too
- The Rhyme Rule: "When possession's unclear, add 's to the rear" (of the whole phrase)
My students have the best results with the Name Test. Try it now: imagine "They know Sarah's secrets" becomes "They know each other's secrets." See how "each others' secrets" feels as wrong as "Sarahs' secrets"?
How This Compares to Similar Grammar Headaches
People often confuse this with other possessive puzzles. Here's how they differ:
| Phrase | Correct Possessive | Why People Mix It Up |
|---|---|---|
| Someone else | Someone else's (e.g., "That's someone else's problem") | Same unit rule as "each other's" |
| One another | One another's (e.g., "Respect one another's boundaries") | Follows identical pattern to each other's |
| Friends | Friends' (e.g., "My friends' opinions matter") | Actual plural noun, so apostrophe after "s" |
Your FAQ Section (Actual Human Questions)
Q: I swear I've seen "each others'" in published books! Am I crazy?
Not crazy – just spotting errors. Even famous authors slip up. But major style guides (APA, Chicago, MLA) all confirm: each other's is the only correct possessive form. If editors miss it, that's on them.
Q: Does this rule change for things vs. people?
Great question! Robots might say "The computers shared data with each other." But for possession: "The computers shared each other's processing power." Still singular possessive, whether talking about people, animals, or even abstract concepts.
Q: What about "each others" without any apostrophe?
Still wrong for possession. The only possible use is when "others" is separate: "They helped each and others in need." But as discussed earlier, this sounds unnatural to modern ears. Stick with "each other's" for ownership scenarios.
Q: My boss keeps using "each others'" in emails. Should I correct them?
Oh boy. Unless you're their editor, probably not. Pick your battles. But now you'll know internally that your own "each other's" usage is technically superior!
Why This Isn't Just Grammar Snobbery
Beyond correctness, there's a clarity issue. Consider these two sentences:
A: The partners reviewed each other's contracts. (Clear: each reviewed the other's contract)
B: The partners reviewed each others' contracts. (Ambiguous: contracts belonging to multiple "others"?)
B: The partners reviewed each others' contracts. (Ambiguous: contracts belonging to multiple "others"?)
Sentence B creates unnecessary confusion. In legal or technical writing, that ambiguity could cause real problems. Precision matters when ownership is involved.
Pro Tip: When proofreading, search your document for "each others". If the apostrophe comes after the s, it's likely wrong. My last novel draft had three of these errors – and I teach this stuff!
The Final Verdict
After years of teaching, writing, and yes, making this mistake myself, here's the uncompromising truth: Each other's is the only correct possessive form in modern English. "Each others'" is always incorrect. Full stop.
Remember that "each other" acts like a single unit – treat it like you would "someone." Add 's to the entire phrase. Those three minutes you spend double-checking this in important documents? Totally worth avoiding that hot-faced moment when someone spots the error.
Now go wield that apostrophe with confidence. And if you see a menu that says "Try each others' desserts!"? Maybe just order coffee.
Leave a Comments