Thursdays or Thursday’s: Spelling, Meaning and Usage 

Thursdays is correct when you mean more than one Thursday or something that happens regularly on Thursday. Thursday’s is correct only when it shows possession or means “Thursday is.”

People often search Thursdays or Thursday’s because the apostrophe can be confusing. Many writers add an apostrophe when they simply want to make Thursday plural. That is not correct. The plural form is Thursdays, with no apostrophe.

The form Thursday’s has a different job. It can show that something belongs to or relates to one Thursday. For example, “Thursday’s meeting starts at noon” means the meeting is connected to that Thursday. It can also be a contraction of Thursday is, as in “Thursday’s the day we leave.”

This guide explains the difference between Thursdays and Thursday’s. You will learn the spelling rules, common mistakes, regional usage, and practical examples. You will also see when to use Thursdays, Thursday’s, and Thursdays’.


Thursdays or Thursday’s : Quick Answer

Thursdays is the plural form of Thursday. Use it when you mean more than one Thursday or a regular event.

Thursday’s is the singular possessive form. It shows that something belongs to or relates to one Thursday. It can also mean Thursday is.

Examples:

  • I work on Thursdays. ✅
  • Thursday’s meeting starts at 10 a.m. ✅
  • Thursday’s the day we meet. ✅
  • I work on Thursday’s. ❌

A simple rule can help:

No possession? Use Thursdays. Possession? Use Thursday’s.


Definition and Meaning of Thursdays or Thursday’s

The difference between Thursdays and Thursday’s is mainly about number and possession.

What Does Thursdays Mean?

Thursdays is the plural form of Thursday.

Use it when you mean two or more Thursdays.

For example:

We have classes on Thursdays.

This means the classes happen on more than one Thursday.

You can also use Thursdays for regular events.

The shop closes early on Thursdays.

Here, Thursdays means Thursday as a repeated day of the week.

What Does Thursday’s Mean?

Thursday’s has two main uses.

First, it can show possession.

Thursday’s meeting was canceled.

The meeting is connected to one Thursday.

Second, Thursday’s can be a contraction of Thursday is.

Thursday’s the best day for me.

This means:

Thursday is the best day for me.

The context tells you which meaning applies.

What About Thursdays’?

There is another form worth knowing: Thursdays’.

It is the possessive form of the plural Thursdays.

For example:

The Thursdays’ schedules were different.

This means the schedules belonged to several Thursdays.

This form is less common than Thursdays or Thursday’s, but it is grammatically possible when several Thursdays own or relate to something.


The Origin of Thursdays or Thursday’s

The Origin of Thursdays or Thursday’s

The word Thursday comes from Old English Þūnresdæg, meaning “Thor’s day.” It referred to the day associated with Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

The name passed through Middle English forms before developing into the modern spelling Thursday.

The plural form follows a simple English rule. Most nouns form their plural by adding -s.

So:

Thursday → Thursdays

The apostrophe in Thursday’s does not mark a plural. English uses apostrophes mainly for possession and certain contractions.

That is why these forms have different meanings:

  • Thursday = one day
  • Thursdays = more than one Thursday
  • Thursday’s = belonging to one Thursday or “Thursday is”
  • Thursdays’ = belonging to several Thursdays

The spelling difference exists because the forms perform different grammatical jobs.


British English vs American English Spelling

British and American English use the same spellings for these forms.

There is no US or UK spelling difference between Thursdays and Thursday’s.

The grammar rules are also the same. Add -s to make the day plural. Use an apostrophe when you need possession or a contraction.

FormBritish EnglishAmerican EnglishExample
ThursdayCorrectCorrectI will call on Thursday.
ThursdaysCorrectCorrectWe meet on Thursdays.
Thursday’sCorrectCorrectThursday’s meeting was short.
Thursdays’CorrectCorrectThe Thursdays’ events were different.
Thursday’s for pluralIncorrectIncorrectI work on Thursday’s.

Both varieties follow the same basic rule.

For most everyday writing, Thursdays is the form you need when talking about repeated Thursdays.


Which Spelling Should You Use?

Your choice depends on what you mean.

For US Readers

Use Thursdays for the plural.

Our team meets every Thursday.

Our team meets on Thursdays.

Use Thursday’s for possession.

Thursday’s meeting starts at nine.

For UK and Commonwealth Readers

The same rules apply.

Use Thursdays for more than one Thursday.

Use Thursday’s for possession or the contraction Thursday is.

There is no need to change the spelling for British English.

For Global Writing

Thursdays is the safest choice when you mean repeated Thursdays.

For example:

We publish new articles on Thursdays.

Use Thursday’s only when the sentence needs possession or a contraction.

For Academic Writing

Academic writing usually favors clear grammar.

Use:

The study was conducted on Thursdays.

Do not write:

The study was conducted on Thursday’s.

For possession, use:

Thursday’s results were included in the report.

For Business Writing

Use Thursdays for regular schedules.

The weekly meeting takes place on Thursdays.

Use Thursday’s for something connected to one specific Thursday.

Thursday’s meeting has been moved to 3 p.m.


Common Mistakes with Thursdays or Thursday’s

Common Mistakes with Thursdays or Thursday’s

Using Thursday’s as a Plural

Incorrect:

We have meetings on Thursday’s.

Correct:

We have meetings on Thursdays.

The apostrophe is not needed because you mean more than one Thursday.

Memory tip: Plurals usually do not need apostrophes.

Using Thursdays for Possession

Incorrect:

Thursday’s meeting was canceled.

Correct:

Thursday’s meeting was canceled.

The meeting relates to one Thursday. Therefore, use Thursday’s.

Confusing Thursdays’ with Thursday’s

Thursday means one Thursday has something.

Thursday’s schedule is busy.

Thursdays’ means several Thursdays have something.

The Thursdays’ schedules were different.

The position of the apostrophe matters.

Adding an Apostrophe Before the S

Some writers think an apostrophe makes a word plural.

That is not the normal rule.

Thursday → Thursdays

Not:

Thursday → Thursday’s

The apostrophe changes the grammatical meaning.


Thursdays or Thursday’s in Everyday Examples

In Emails

For a regular schedule:

We hold team meetings on Thursdays.

For one specific meeting:

Thursday’s meeting will start at 11 a.m.

Both forms are correct because they have different meanings.

In News Writing

News stories may use Thursdays for repeated events.

The council meets on Thursdays.

They may use Thursday’s for an event connected to one day.

Thursday’s vote changed the debate.

On Social Media

You might see:

Happy Thursdays!

However, Happy Thursday! is more natural when greeting someone on one particular Thursday.

For a repeated event:

Our Thursday posts are back!

In Formal Writing

Formal writing should use the correct form based on meaning.

The survey took place on Thursdays.

For possession:

Thursday’s findings were included in the report.

In Daily Conversation

I usually shop on Thursdays.

Thursday’s my busiest day.

The second sentence uses Thursday’s as a contraction of Thursday is.


Thursdays or Thursday’s : Google Trends & Usage Data

Thursdays or Thursday’s : Google Trends & Usage Data

People search for Thursdays or Thursday’s because apostrophe errors are common in English.

Many users want to know if  the apostrophe belongs in the plural form of a day.

Searches also come from practical writing. People may need the correct form for emails, schedules, websites, schoolwork, social media posts, or business documents.

The word Thursdays is naturally common when people talk about weekly routines.

For example:

We train on Thursdays.

The form Thursday’s appears in different contexts. It is common when a noun follows it.

A meeting scheduled for Thursday starts at noon.

An upcoming event on Thursday will bring local teams together.

The results from Thursday are now available online.

It can also appear as a contraction:

Thursday’s the day.

Search interest can vary by country and by context. Without a specific Google Trends dataset and date range, it would be misleading to give exact country rankings or search percentages.

The key usage pattern is clear: Thursdays is the plural form, while Thursday’s has a possessive or contraction meaning.


Quick Comparison Table

FormMeaningCorrect UseExample
ThursdayOne daySingularI work on Thursday.
ThursdaysMore than one ThursdayPluralI work on Thursdays.
Thursday’sOne Thursday + possessionSingular possessiveThursday’s meeting is important.
Thursday’sThursday isContractionThursday’s my day off.
Thursdays’Several Thursdays + possessionPlural possessiveThe Thursdays’ schedules changed.
Thursday’sPlural ThursdayIncorrectI work on Thursday’s. ❌

FAQs


Q1. Is it Thursdays or Thursday’s?

Both forms can be correct, but they have different meanings. Thursdays is the plural form of Thursday. Use it when you mean more than one Thursday or a regular Thursday event. Thursday’s shows possession or can be a contraction of “Thursday is.”


Q2. Is Thursdays correct?

Yes. Thursdays is the correct plural form of Thursday. Use it when talking about two or more Thursdays. It is also common for regular weekly activities. For example, “We meet on Thursdays” means the meeting happens regularly on that day.


Q3. When should I use Thursday’s?

Use Thursday’s when one Thursday has or relates to something. For example, “Thursday’s meeting starts at noon” shows that the meeting belongs to or is connected with one Thursday. You can also use it as a contraction of “Thursday is,” as in “Thursday’s my day off.”


Q4. Should I write Thursdays with an apostrophe?

No, not when you simply mean more than one Thursday. The correct plural is Thursdays, without an apostrophe. For example, “I exercise on Thursdays” is correct. An apostrophe changes the meaning and is only needed for possession or a contraction.


Q5. What is the plural of Thursday?

The plural of Thursday is Thursdays. Simply add -s to the word. Do not add an apostrophe. For example, “The store is closed on Thursdays” correctly refers to more than one Thursday.


Q6. Is Thursdays’ correct?

Yes, Thursdays’ can be correct when several Thursdays have or relate to something. For example, “The Thursdays’ schedules were different” refers to schedules connected with several Thursdays. This form is less common, but it follows the normal plural possessive rule.


Q7. Is Thursday the same in British and American English?

Yes. British and American English use the same forms: Thursday, Thursdays, Thursday’s, and Thursdays’. The basic rules do not change between the two varieties. Use Thursdays for the plural and Thursday’s for singular possession or a contraction.


Conclusion:

The choice between Thursdays or Thursday’s depends on the meaning of your sentence. Thursdays is the plural form. Use it when you mean more than one Thursday or something that happens regularly on that day.

Thursday’s has a different role. It can show possession, as in “Thursday’s meeting.” It can also be a contraction of “Thursday is,” as in “Thursday’s my day off.”

There is also a third form worth remembering. Thursdays’ shows possession by several Thursdays, although this form is less common.

British and American English follow the same spelling rules. The main mistake to avoid is adding an apostrophe just to make Thursday plural.

Think of the rule this way: Thursdays means more than one Thursday. Thursday’s means one Thursday has something or “Thursday is.” Thursdays’ means several Thursdays have something.

Once you understand this simple difference, choosing the correct form becomes easy.



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