Do you ever find yourself confused about whether to use “yours” or “your’s”? It’s a common mistake that can make your writing look unprofessional. But don’t worry, we’re here to clear things up for you.
The proper word to use is “yours.” “Your’s” is not a word in the English language. “Yours” is a possessive pronoun that indicates something belongs to the person you are addressing. For example, “Is this pen yours?”
On the other hand, “your’s” is an incorrect spelling of “yours.” It is a common mistake that many people make, but it is important to remember that it is not a proper word in the English language.
Now that we’ve established which word is correct, let’s dive deeper into the differences between the two. “Yours” is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership or belonging. It is used to replace a noun or noun phrase that has already been mentioned. For example, “The car is yours.”
On the other hand, “your’s” is not a word and should not be used in any context. It is simply an incorrect spelling of “yours.”
Now that you know the difference between “yours” and “your’s,” you can ensure that your writing is professional and error-free. Remember to always use “yours” when indicating possession or ownership.
Define Yours
Yours is a pronoun that indicates possession. It is used to refer to something that belongs to the person or people being spoken to or addressed. It is often used in place of a noun, and it can be used in many different contexts. For example, “Is this book yours?” or “That car is yours.”
Define Your’s
Your’s is not a word that exists in the English language. It is a common mistake that people make when trying to use the possessive form of “you.” The correct form of the possessive pronoun for “you” is “yours,” without an apostrophe. Using “your’s” is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided.
How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence
When it comes to using the words “yours” and “your’s” in a sentence, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. While they may look similar, they have different meanings and functions in a sentence.
How To Use “Yours” In A Sentence
“Yours” is a possessive pronoun that refers to something that belongs to the person or people you are addressing. It is used to show ownership or possession of an object or idea. Here are a few examples:
- The book on the table is yours.
- Is this car yours?
- I love your dress. Can I borrow yours for the party?
As you can see from these examples, “yours” is used to indicate possession and ownership of something. It is always spelled without an apostrophe.
How To Use “Your’s” In A Sentence
“Your’s” is not a word in the English language. It is incorrect to use an apostrophe to make “your” possessive. The correct way to show possession with “your” is simply to add an “s” at the end. Here are some examples:
- Is this your book?
- I love your shoes. Can I borrow them?
- Your dog is so cute!
Remember, “your’s” is not a word. Always use “your” to show possession.
More Examples Of Yours & Your’s Used In Sentences
Understanding the difference between “yours” and “your’s” is important to avoid grammatical errors in your writing. Here are some examples of how to use each word correctly in a sentence:
Examples Of Using “Yours” In A Sentence:
- The book on the shelf is yours.
- Is this pen yours?
- That car is yours for the weekend.
- Your idea is better than yours.
- I will give you yours when I see you.
- Your family is waiting for you.
- The responsibility is yours.
- I hope you enjoy yours.
- Your dog is so cute.
- Your hair looks great today.
Examples Of Using “Your’s” In A Sentence:
- Incorrect: Your’s is the best idea.
- Incorrect: I love your’s dress.
- Incorrect: Your’s truly, John.
- Incorrect: Your’s sincerely, Sarah.
- Incorrect: Your’s faithfully, Mark.
- Incorrect: Your’s is the biggest.
- Incorrect: Your’s is the most beautiful.
- Incorrect: Your’s is the fastest.
- Incorrect: Your’s is the most delicious.
- Incorrect: Your’s is the most expensive.
Remember, “yours” is a possessive pronoun and does not need an apostrophe. “Your’s” is not a word in the English language and should never be used.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
One of the most common mistakes people make when using English is mixing up the use of “yours” and “your’s.” This confusion stems from the fact that “your” is a possessive pronoun, while “yours” is a possessive pronoun that can stand alone. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
Using “Your’s” As A Possessive Pronoun
The biggest mistake people make is adding an apostrophe to “your” to make it a possessive pronoun. For example, writing “your’s” instead of “yours.” This is incorrect because “your” is already a possessive pronoun, and adding an apostrophe is redundant and grammatically incorrect.
Using “Your” Instead Of “You’re”
Another common mistake is using “your” instead of “you’re.” “Your” is a possessive pronoun, while “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.” For example, writing “Your going to the store” instead of “You’re going to the store.” This mistake is easy to avoid by remembering that “you’re” always means “you are.”
Mixing Up “Your” And “You’re”
Finally, some people mix up “your” and “you’re” in their writing. For example, writing “Your going to the store” instead of “You’re going to the store.” To avoid this mistake, it’s important to remember that “your” is a possessive pronoun, while “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.”
Tips To Avoid These Mistakes
Here are some tips to help you avoid these common mistakes:
- Proofread your writing carefully to catch any errors before submitting or publishing.
- Use grammar and spell-check tools to help you catch mistakes.
- Practice using “your” and “yours” correctly in your writing.
- Read examples of correct usage to help you remember the correct forms.
Context Matters
Choosing between yours and your’s can be a tricky task, as it depends on the context in which they are used. The difference between the two lies in the use of the apostrophe, which can change the meaning of the sentence entirely.
Examples Of Different Contexts
Let’s take a look at some examples to understand how the choice between yours and your’s can change depending on the context:
| Context | Correct Usage | Incorrect Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | That car is yours. | That car is your’s. |
| Contraction | You’re going to the party. | You’re going to the party. (No use of your’s) |
| Plural Possession | The toys are yours. | The toys are your’s. |
| Contrasting Possession | Your opinion is different from mine. | Your’s opinion is different from mine. |
As seen in the table above, using your’s instead of yours can result in incorrect usage and change the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the context in which they are used to make the right choice.
Overall, it is essential to pay attention to the context in which you are using your’s or yours to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning.
Exceptions To The Rules
While the rules for using yours and your’s are generally straightforward, there are a few exceptions where they might not apply. It’s important to understand these exceptions to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings in your writing.
1. Contractions
One common exception to the rules for using yours and your’s is when using contractions. In contractions, the apostrophe is used to indicate where letters have been omitted, such as in the word “can’t” (which is a contraction of “cannot”). Similarly, the word “you’re” is a contraction of “you are,” and the apostrophe is used to indicate the missing “a.”
Example: You’re going to love this new restaurant.
2. Possessive Pronouns
Another exception to the rules for using yours and your’s is when using possessive pronouns. Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession, such as “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “its,” “ours,” and “theirs.” In these cases, the apostrophe is not used.
Example: The book is yours, not mine.
3. Plural Nouns Ending In “S”
When using plural nouns that already end in “s,” the apostrophe is placed after the “s” to indicate possession. In these cases, the apostrophe is not used before the “s.”
Example: The cars’ engines were all running smoothly.
4. Joint Possession
When indicating joint possession, the apostrophe is placed after the final noun in the series. In this case, the apostrophe is not used before the final noun.
Example: The house belonged to John and Mary’s family.
By understanding these exceptions to the rules for using yours and your’s, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.
Practice Exercises
Now that you have learned the difference between yours and your’s, it is time to practice using them in sentences. Here are some exercises that will help you improve your understanding of these two words:
Exercise 1: Fill In The Blank
Choose the correct word, yours or your’s, to fill in the blank in each of the following sentences:
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| The book on the shelf is __________. | yours |
| Is this pen __________ or mine? | your’s |
| I am going to borrow __________ car. | your’s |
| The shoes on the floor are __________. | yours |
| Can I use __________ computer? | your’s |
Answer Key:
- The book on the shelf is yours.
- Is this pen your’s or mine?
- I am going to borrow your’s car.
- The shoes on the floor are yours.
- Can I use your’s computer?
Exercise 2: Rewrite The Sentence
Rewrite the following sentences to correct the use of yours and your’s:
- The phone is your’s, not mine.
- Is that your’s or mine?
- The dog is your’s, take care of it.
Answer Key:
- The phone is yours, not mine.
- Is that yours or mine?
- The dog is yours, take care of it.
By completing these practice exercises, you should now have a better understanding of how to use yours and your’s correctly in sentences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the difference between “yours” and “your’s” may seem small, but it can make a big difference in the clarity and correctness of your writing. Remember that “yours” is a possessive pronoun that does not require an apostrophe, while “your’s” is not a word in the English language.
As with any aspect of grammar and language use, it’s important to continue learning and improving your skills. By paying attention to details like the proper use of possessive pronouns, you can elevate your writing and communication to a higher level.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.