Many English learners and even native speakers pause when typing this small word, unsure whether an apostrophe belongs before the “s.” This confusion is common with Today’s vs Todays because the word can act as a possessive, a contraction, and occasionally a rare plural, all with slightly different rules attached to each form.
This guide breaks down the correct usage with clear examples, a quick reference table, and answers to the most searched questions on this topic, so you can write with confidence in emails, articles, homework, and everyday conversation.
What Is the Correct Form: Today’s or Todays
The correct and widely accepted form in standard English is today’s, written with an apostrophe before the final “s.” This spelling is used whenever you are describing something that belongs to, relates to, or is associated with the present day.
The version without an apostrophe, todays, is considered a spelling mistake in almost every everyday context. It only has a narrow, valid use as an uncommon plural noun in literary or reflective writing, which is explained further below.
Why Today’s Takes an Apostrophe?
English uses an apostrophe plus “s” to show possession or association, similar to phrases like “the company’s policy” or “the world’s population.” Since “today” behaves like a noun referring to the present day, adding an apostrophe turns it into a descriptive tag for whatever follows.
A simple test many editors and grammar coaches recommend is to swap the phrase with “of today.” If the sentence still reads naturally, the apostrophe version is the right choice.
- Today’s homework = the homework of today
- Today’s traffic = the traffic of today
- Today’s headlines = the headlines of today
If the substitution sounds awkward or nonsensical, you likely need the plain word “today” instead, without any apostrophe attached.
Today’s as a Possessive Word
The most frequent use of this term is possessive, meaning it shows ownership, connection, or timing tied to the current day. This pattern applies across countless everyday phrases people search, write, and speak daily.
Common possessive examples include:
- Today’s date
- Today’s weather
- Today’s schedule
- Today’s episode
- Today’s lesson
- Today’s forecast
Each phrase links a noun back to the present day, and the apostrophe signals that relationship clearly to the reader.
Today’s as a Short Form of “Today Is”
Beyond possession, this word sometimes functions as a contraction, merging “today” and “is” into one shorter unit. This use appears frequently in casual writing, spoken English, headlines, and social captions.
- Today’s Friday, so the office closes early.
- Today’s the deadline for submissions.
- Today’s your lucky day.
In each case, replacing “today’s” with “today is” keeps the sentence grammatically sound, confirming the contraction reading rather than a possessive one.
Is Todays Ever a Real Word
Although rare, todays does appear in select writing styles as a plural noun referring to multiple present moments, days, or instances of “now.” This use leans poetic or philosophical and shows up occasionally in essays, novels, or motivational writing.
Examples of this uncommon plural form include phrases such as reflecting on how many todays remain in a lifetime, or how yesterdays shape the todays people currently live in. Outside of this reflective style, dictionaries and style guides do not recognize “todays” as standard for everyday communication, reports, emails, or academic work.
Today vs Today’s: Choosing the Right One
Deciding between these two forms becomes simple once you focus on what role the word plays in your sentence.
- Use today when referring directly to the present day as a standalone time reference, such as “I am traveling today” or “Today is sunny.”
- Use today’s when the word modifies or connects to another noun, showing possession or timing, such as “today’s flight” or “today’s update.”
This distinction mirrors similar time-based possessives in English, including yesterday’s and tomorrow’s, which follow the identical apostrophe rule.
| Word | Role in Sentence | Example |
| Today | Standalone time reference | She left early today. |
| Today’s | Modifies a following noun | She reviewed today’s report. |
| Yesterday’s | Modifies a following noun | He finished yesterday’s task. |
| Tomorrow’s | Modifies a following noun | We planned tomorrow’s agenda. |
Common Errors People Make With This Word
Writers frequently slip up in a handful of predictable ways, and recognizing these patterns helps prevent repeat mistakes.
- Dropping the apostrophe entirely, writing “todays meeting” instead of “today’s meeting”
- Adding an apostrophe where none belongs, such as writing “today’s” when simply meaning the day itself, as in “I will call today’s” instead of “I will call today”
- Mixing up the plural literary use with everyday writing, producing sentences that feel unnatural or grammatically off
- Confusing this word with similar time-based possessives, forgetting that yesterday’s and tomorrow’s follow the same rule
Proofreading against these patterns before publishing or submitting written work catches most errors quickly.
Today’s Date, Meeting, and Weather in Real Usage
Certain phrases involving this term rank among the most frequently typed and searched online, largely because people check dates, meetings, and forecasts daily. Each of these follows the standard possessive rule without exception.
- Correct: What is today’s date?
- Correct: Today’s meeting has been rescheduled.
- Correct: Today’s weather forecast predicts rain.
- Incorrect: What is todays date?
- Incorrect: Todays meeting has been rescheduled.
- Incorrect: Todays weather forecast predicts rain.
Search engines and grammar checkers consistently flag the apostrophe-free versions as errors, reinforcing that the possessive spelling remains the accepted standard across formal and informal writing alike.
Is This Rule the Same in American and British English
Yes, both American and British English apply identical possessive rules to this word. Whether writing a news headline in London, a business memo in New York, or a school assignment anywhere else in the English-speaking world, the apostrophe placement does not change based on regional spelling conventions.
This consistency makes the rule easier to remember, since unlike words such as “color” versus “colour,” there is no regional variant to track separately.
Quick Memory Trick to Never Get It Wrong Again
Whenever uncertain, mentally replace the word with “of today.” If your sentence still makes sense, the apostrophe belongs there. If the substitution feels forced or the sentence breaks down, drop the apostrophe and use plain “today” instead.
This one habit resolves nearly every instance of confusion between these two spellings, whether writing quickly in a text message or carefully drafting a formal report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it today’s or todays?
Today’s is correct for everyday writing, including possessive phrases and the contraction of “today is.”
Is todays a real word?
It appears rarely as a literary plural noun, but standard writing always uses today’s instead.
Why does today’s need an apostrophe?
The apostrophe marks possession or association, showing something belongs to or relates to the present day.
Is today’s date or todays date correct?
Today’s date is the only correct form in standard English writing.
Can today’s mean “today is”?
Yes, it often works as a contraction, as in “today’s Monday” meaning “today is Monday.”
Does this rule change in British English?
No, both American and British English follow the same apostrophe rule for this word.
What is a simple test to check the spelling?
Replace the word with “of today”; if the sentence still makes sense, use today’s.
Conclusion
Choosing between today’s and todays comes down to one reliable habit: testing whether “of today” fits naturally into your sentence. Today’s remains the correct choice for nearly every situation, whether showing possession, timing, or the contraction of “today is,” while todays stays limited to rare literary use.
Keeping this simple substitution trick in mind will help you write correctly and confidently across emails, articles, assignments, and everyday conversation.
