Todays or Today’s has one clear answer: today’s shows that something belongs to or concerns today. Todays is not a standard English word, so do not write it without the apostrophe. Use today’s in phrases such as today’s meeting, today’s date, and today’s lesson. The small mark helps readers see the possessive meaning immediately and clearly.
People mix up these forms because the apostrophe is small, while both forms sound alike. The confusion also comes from treating today like an ordinary adjective instead of a noun. You will learn the exact pattern behind today’s apostrophe and choose each form correctly. You will also see why the final s needs careful placement.
Quick Answer: Todays or Today’s
Today’s is correct when it means “belonging to today” or “today is.” The apostrophe shows possession or missing letters. Todays is not a standard English word, so write today’s meeting, today’s date, or today’s ready, depending on the meaning.
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| today’s meeting | todays meeting |
| today’s date | todays date |
| today’s plan | todays plan |
| today’s ready | todays ready |
What Does Today Mean?
Today is an adverb and noun that refers to the present day. As an adverb, it tells when something happens: “We leave today.” As a noun. It names the current day: “Today is Monday.” The core. Idea is the same: today points to the day happening now.
- We need to finish the report today.
- Today is warmer than yesterday.
- I will call you today after lunch.
- Today feels unusually quiet.
Today does not normally describe a noun directly in standard writing. For that job, use the possessive form today’s. So, write “today’s lesson,” not “today lesson.” The apostrophe connects the day with something linked to it. Such as a meeting, date, news, or weather.
Origin of Today’s and Todays
Today’s comes from the possessive form of today. The word today developed from older English words meaning “on this. Day.” English later used an apostrophe and s to show possession. It also connected the word with something associated with the current day. Modern examples include today’s weather, today’s menu, and today’s appointment. This form appears in calendars, reports, conversations, and everyday writing.
The spelling todays appears when writers drop the apostrophe by mistake. It looks like a simple plural or a regular adjective, but it has no standard meaning in modern English. The modern spelling settled as today’s for both possession and the contraction of “today is” or “today has.”
Today’s in American and British English
American and British English use today’s in the same way. Both varieties write today’s date, today’s news, and today’s meeting with an apostrophe. There is no regional spelling split for this word. Writers use this form in headlines, schedules, emails, and classroom notices. The apostrophe remains unchanged whether the noun follows immediately or appears in a longer phrase.
| Aspect | American English | British English |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred spelling | today’s | today’s |
| Related form | today | today |
| Pronunciation | tuh-DAYZ | tuh-DAYZ |
| Example | Today’s meeting starts at noon. | Today’s meeting starts at noon. |
The Rule for Today’s and Todays
The spelling depends on the job the word performs in the sentence. Use today when you mean the present day or say when an action happens. Use today’s before a noun linked to today. Or when it shortens “today is” or “today has.” The form todays has no standard use. See Merriam-Webster grammar and usage guide for more.
The One Rule for Choosing Today’s
Use today’s when the word answers “whose?” or when it replaces “today is” or “today has.” In “today’s schedule. ” the schedule belongs to today. In “today’s cold,” the phrase means “today is cold.” The apostrophe marks either a possessive relationship or missing letters. Context determines which meaning readers should use. Grammar and surrounding words usually make the intended interpretation clear.
Use plain today when it tells when an action occurs. Say “I am working today. ” not “I am working today’s.” Also use today as the subject in “Today. Is Friday.” A verb following today usually describes an action happening on this day. The unmarked form names the day rather than showing ownership. Never remove the apostrophe from a correct today’s phrase.
Today’s Meeting or Todays Meeting
The correct phrase is today’s meeting. The meeting is connected with, scheduled for, or held on today. The apostrophe before s shows that relationship. Todays meeting drops the mark that makes the phrase grammatical. This spelling works before singular nouns referring to the day. Use the apostrophe in written notices, calendars, and ordinary conversation. See Cambridge Dictionary English grammar guide for more.
- ✓ Today’s meeting begins at ten.
- ✗ Todays meeting begins at ten.
- ✓ Please bring the notes to today’s meeting.
- ✗ Please bring the notes to todays meeting.
Use the same pattern with other nouns linked to the current day. Write today’s agenda, today’s lesson, and today’s deadline. The phrase does not mean that several “todays” exist. It means something belongs to or concerns this day. These examples identify specific plans, activities, or requirements for the current date. The possessive form keeps the meaning clear before each singular noun.
Today’s Date or Todays Date
The correct phrase is today’s date. It means the date belonging to the present day, whether in a note, form, or calendar entry. The apostrophe is needed because today acts like a possessive word before date in this expression. Todays date is a spelling error. This spelling appears in casual messages, schoolwork, formal documents, and calendar headings.
- ✓ What is today’s date?
- ✗ What is todays date?
- ✓ Please write today’s date at the top.
- ✗ Please write todays date at the top.
Questions, forms, emails, and calendars all use the same spelling. The word today remains unchanged, while the apostrophe and s create the possessive form. If you can replace the phrase with “the date of today,” choose today’s date. This rule applies when the phrase identifies the date associated with the current day. Use the same form in a subject line, appointment reminder, or printed notice.
Which Form Should You Use?
Choose today when it works as a time word. It can appear at the start, middle, or end of a sentence. For example, “Today we start training” and “We start training today” are both correct. Neither sentence needs an apostrophe.
Choose today’s before a noun that belongs to or concerns the current day. Common phrases include today’s weather, today’s class, and today’s results. You can often test this choice by saying “of today” instead.
Common Mistakes with Todays and Today’s
Most errors come from ignoring the apostrophe or placing it in the wrong spot. Some writers see today before a noun and treat it like an ordinary adjective. Others confuse a possessive phrase with the adverb today. Careful readers check both the word’s role and the meaning of the sentence.
Dropping the Apostrophe Before a Noun
Writers often type todays before a noun because the phrase sounds like one quick word. But, the apostrophe is part of the spelling. It shows that the noun relates to the present day. Write today’s schedule, today’s story, and today’s homework. This rule also covers appointments, headlines, reminders, and other references to the current day.
- ✗ Todays schedule is packed.
- ✓ Today’s schedule is packed.
- ✗ I finished todays homework early.
- ✓ I finished today’s homework early.
This error can change a polished sentence into a visible spelling mistake. The noun after today’s does not make today plural. It simply names something connected with the current day, so keep the apostrophe before the s. Check the mark carefully when proofreading dates, schedules, and daily announcements. This correction keeps the phrase clear for readers.
Putting the Apostrophe After the S
Todays’ is also incorrect. The apostrophe belongs before the s, because today is a singular word. A plural possessive form would place the apostrophe after a plural ending, but today is not plural. Write today’s plan, never todays’ plan. That placement matches singular possessives in phrases like Monday’s meeting, Friday’s deadline, tomorrow’s forecast, and winter’s schedule notes.
Writing Today Before a Noun Without an Apostrophe
Some writers use today before a noun as though it were an ordinary describing word. Standard English usually needs today’s in that position. Write “today’s announcement,” not “today announcement.” The apostrophe marks the link between the current day and the announcement. This form also appears in headlines, notices, schedules, appointment cards, and other references to the current day.
- ✗ The today announcement surprised everyone.
- ✓ Today’s announcement surprised everyone.
- ✗ I read today news online.
- ✓ I read today’s news online.
Confusing Today with Today’s
Today tells when something happens, while today’s links today with another word or shortens a phrase. Compare “The shop opens today” with “Today’s opening is at nine.” The first sentence gives a time. The second names an opening connected with the current day. A calendar label might say today, while a notice can mention today’s closing time.
- ✗ I will send today’s the file.
- ✓ I will send the file today.
- ✗ Today report is ready.
- ✓ Today’s report is ready.
A quick sentence test can reveal the difference. If the word answers “when?”, use today. If it answers “whose?” or means “today is,” use today’s. This test works for emails, notices, schoolwork, and everyday conversation. For example, “Submit the form today” identifies the deadline, while “Today’s deadline is Friday” describes it. Placement often supplies the answer.
Memory Trick: Today Owns the Apostrophe
Remember this phrase: “Today owns the apostrophe.” When something belongs to or concerns today, write today’s, as in today’s date. When today only tells when, leave it plain, as in “Call me today.” Never use todays or todays’. A calendar entry might read today’s meeting. A phone reminder might say, “Call today.”
Today’s in Everyday Examples
Everyday writing uses today’s before many common nouns. These phrases appear in messages, schedules, reports, lessons, and news stories. The apostrophe remains before the s each time. The meaning is always a connection with the current day. For example, today’s schedule can list appointments, today’s report can summarize results, and today’s lesson can name assigned homework.
- Email: Thanks for the update about today’s meeting.
- Calendar: Today’s appointment begins at three.
- School: Today’s lesson covers sentence structure.
- News: Today’s forecast predicts light rain.
Sometimes today’s contracts “today is” or “today has,” and context makes the meaning clear. In “Today’s a holiday,” it means “Today is a holiday.” In “Today’s been long. ” it means “Today has been long.” Both uses need the apostrophe. Listen for the verb after today’s to decide whether it expresses being or having in the sentence.
- Today’s the final day of the course.
- Today’s been more difficult than expected.
- Today’s going to be warmer than yesterday.
- Today’s not a good day for repairs.
- We received the package today.
- Today, the team starts its new project.
- Please reply today if you can.
Today’s and Today in Everyday Writing
In everyday writing, today’s usually comes before a noun or replaces “today. Is” or “today has.” Plain today usually tells when an action happens. Compare “Today’s report is ready” with “I finished the report today.” The first links a report to today. The second gives the action’s time.
Usage Data for Todays and Today’s
There is no useful standard usage figure for todays and today’s that can prove the spelling. Many online errors come from typing quickly, omitting punctuation, or copying text without editing. Search results may show both forms, but an appearance does not make todays correct. Grammar decides the form, not the number of pages displaying it.
In edited English, today’s is the form used in phrases linked to the current day. The same spelling appears in notices, calendars, emails, and news reports. A writer checking a document should search for todays and todays’. Replace each one after checking whether the sentence needs today or today’s.
Common Phrase Comparison Table
These common phrases show how a small punctuation mark changes a sentence’s structure. The phrases in the left column connect another noun with the current day. The final examples use plain today because they describe when an action happens. Rather than naming something related to the day.
| Feature | Today’s | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting phrase | Today’s meeting is online. | We meet today. |
| Date phrase | Today’s date is printed here. | Check the date today. |
| News phrase | Today’s news is surprising. | The news arrived today. |
| Weather phrase | Today’s weather is mild. | The weather changed today. |
| Time meaning | Today’s a holiday. | The office closes today. |
Notice the position of the two forms in each example. Today’s links the day with a noun or completes a shortened verb phrase. Today acts as a time word. This contrast helps you edit short labels, subject lines, diary entries, and sentences without relying on sound alone.
Mini Quiz: Todays or Today’s
Use the questions below to check your control of this spelling pair. Each item tests a different choice, including punctuation, sentence role, and meaning. Read the whole sentence before answering. Then compare your choice with the brief reason, which points to the grammar clue that matters most.
Fill in the Blank
Fill each blank by choosing the form that fits the sentence. Look first for a noun after the blank, then check whether the sentence describes an action’s time. A phrase such as “the plan connected with today” needs a different form from “the plan changed today.”
- The manager approved ___ schedule. (todays / today’s) Answer: today’s — the schedule is connected with the current day.
- We will deliver the chairs ___. (today / today’s) Answer: today — it tells when delivery will happen.
- ___ been a busy morning. (Todays / Today’s) Answer: Today’s — it means “Today has.”
- Please confirm ___ date. (todays / today’s) Answer: today’s — the date belongs to the current day.
Read each completed sentence aloud after choosing an answer. The sound will not always reveal the spelling, but the sentence structure will. If the blank comes before a noun, test a possessive meaning. If it answers “when?”, use the plain time word. For example, “The meeting is today” uses today after the verb, not before a noun.
Spot the Error
Each sentence below contains one error involving this pair. Find the problem before reading the correction. Check the apostrophe’s position, then ask whether the sentence needs a time expression, a possessive phrase, or a contraction. Examples include a deadline for today, a report belonging to today, and the shortened phrase meaning today is. Use the surrounding words to decide which form fits each example.
- ✗ Todays report includes the final figures.
- ✓ Today’s report includes the final figures.
- ✗ We are leaving today’s after lunch.
- ✓ We are leaving today after lunch.
The first correction changes a missing mark before a noun. The second removes an unnecessary possessive ending from a time expression. This kind of editing works well because it checks the word’s function, not only its appearance. It also catches errors that spell-checkers may overlook.
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the sentence that uses the form correctly in each pair. Pay attention to what follows the word and to the intended meaning. One sentence may look nearly right because the two forms sound alike when spoken quickly. Look for a noun after the possessive form, but expect a verb or time phrase after the other. Check the surrounding words for the intended role.
- Choose the correct sentence: A) I saved todays notes. B) I saved today’s notes. Answer: B — the notes are linked with the current day.
- Choose the correct sentence: A) The parcel arrives today. B) The parcel arrives today’s. Answer: A — today tells when it arrives.
- Choose the correct sentence: A) Today’s ready for collection. B) Todays ready for collection. Answer: A — today’s shortens “today is.”
- Choose the correct sentence: A) Todays’ results are posted. B) Today’s results are posted. Answer: B — the singular word takes the apostrophe before s.
Do not choose by counting letters alone. First identify the relationship between the word and the rest of the sentence. This approach handles longer phrases too. Such as “today’s final customer” and “the customer called today.” It also. Helps when punctuation separates the phrase from the main clause in longer examples. The surrounding words provide the grammar clue.
The One Rule You Need to Know
Use today’s when something belongs to, concerns, or describes today. Use today when it only tells when an event happens. This rule also covers contractions: today’s can stand for “today is” or. “today has.” The unpunctuated form todays does not serve any of these jobs.
Try replacing the phrase in your sentence. If “of today” sounds natural, choose today’s. If “on this day” answers a timing question, choose today. For a contraction, expand the phrase to “today is” or “today. Has.” These simple checks give you three ways to confirm the choice.
Mistake 1: Dropping the apostrophe before a noun
Writing todays before a noun removes the mark that shows the relationship with today. The error often appears in quick notes, headings, and file names. Check phrases such as today’s tasks and today’s message carefully before sending them. Review subject lines, calendar labels, and saved documents before sharing them with colleagues. A missing mark can make a phrase look unfinished or incorrectly formed.
Mistake 2: Placing the apostrophe after the “s” (todays’)
Todays’ treats today as though it were a plural noun. It is not a correct form in standard English. When one current day is involved, place the apostrophe before s: today’s results, today’s work, and today’s reminder.
Mistake 3: Treating “today” like an adjective without an apostrophe
Today is not normally placed directly before a noun as an ordinary adjective. Replace phrases such as “today report” with today’s report. The possessive form makes the connection clear and gives the phrase the standard structure expected in careful writing. This distinction matters in reports, emails, and calendar entries. Use today’s form when the noun refers to the current date.
Mistake 4: Confusing the adverb form with the possessive form
Use today for the time of an action, as in “The driver called today.” Use today’s for a related noun. As in “Today’s call was brief.” The first answers “when?”. Meanwhile, the second identifies a call connected with the current day. This distinction also applies to messages, meetings, reports, appointments, and deadlines, so check the surrounding word before choosing the form.
Is “todays” a real word?
Todays is not a standard English word for this meaning. It looks plausible because many words form plurals by adding s, but today is not being made plural. Writers usually intend today’s or plain today instead.
Why does today’s need an apostrophe?
The apostrophe marks either possession or missing letters. In today’s schedule, it links the schedule with today. In today’s late, it marks the missing letters in “today is.” The same spelling so supports two related grammar jobs.
Is it “today’s date” or “todays date”?
Write today’s date. The phrase names the date associated with the current day, so the possessive form needs an apostrophe before s. Todays date leaves out that mark and is a spelling error in standard English.
Can I use “todays” without an apostrophe in a sentence?
No, not when you mean the usual phrase involving the current day. Replace it with today if it gives the time, or with today’s if it links today with another word. Do not use todays as a regular plural or adjective.
Is “today’s” used the same way in British and American English?
Yes. British and American English both use today’s for the possessive form and the two contractions. Both write phrases such as today’s date and today’s meeting with the apostrophe before s. Neither variety uses todays for this purpose.
What is the difference between “today” and “today’s”?
Today names the present day or tells when something happens. Today’s links another word with that day. Or shortens “today is” or “today has.” Compare “The parcel came today” with “Today’s. Parcel came early.” The grammar and meaning differ even though the forms sound similar.
Is “todays’” (with apostrophe after s) ever correct?
No. Todays’ is not the correct possessive form of today. The word is singular, so the apostrophe comes before s. Write today’s event, not todays’ event. The extra plural-looking s has no grammatical role here.
What does “today’s” mean when used as a contraction?
As a contraction, today’s means either “today is” or “today has.” In “Today’s sunny. ” it means “Today is sunny.” In “Today’s been tiring. ” it means “Today has been tiring.” The words around the contraction show which verb the apostrophe replaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell the possessive form of today?
The possessive form is today’s, with an apostrophe before s. Use it when a noun relates to the current day, as in today’s schedule. The apostrophe does not indicate a plural. It marks the singular possessive form of today.
Can todays ever be a correct word?
No, todays is not correct for the standard meanings discussed here. It usually results from leaving out the apostrophe in today’s. If the sentence needs a time word, write today instead. If it needs a linked noun, write today’s.
Why is there an apostrophe in today’s?
The apostrophe shows a connection or missing letters. It connects a noun with today in phrases like today’s lesson. It also replaces letters in contractions such as today’s for “today is.” The sentence’s structure tells you which meaning applies.
When should I write today’s date?
Write today’s date when asking for or naming the date of the current day. This phrase is suitable for forms, messages, calendars, and spoken questions. For example, “Please enter today’s date” asks someone to record the date shown by the present day.
Is today’s British or American English?
Today’s belongs to both British and American English. The spelling, apostrophe position, and main uses are the same in both varieties. You can use it in formal or informal writing on either side of the Atlantic. There is no separate British spelling for this word.
Can today’s mean today is?
Yes, today’s can mean “today is” when it comes before a complement. “Today’s a holiday” means “Today is a holiday.” The contraction can also mean “today has. ” as in “Today’s been challenging.” The surrounding words reveal which verb has been shortened.
When do I use today instead of today’s?
Use today when it answers a question about time or names the present day. Say “The store opens today” and “Today is Friday.” Use today’s when a noun relates to the day. Or when the form expands to “today is” or “today has.”.
Conclusion
When choosing Todays or Today’s, use today’s when you mean something connected with the current day. The apostrophe shows that today is singular and owns, describes, or joins the next word clearly. Use plain today when it tells when an action happens, including dates, meetings, schedules, messages, and ordinary notes.
Remember the apostrophe as a small hook linking today with something related to it in your mind. Write today’s report when the report belongs to this day, rather than simply noting when events happen. Ask whether you mean connection or timing, and the right form becomes clear each time quickly.
I’m Liam Joseph Miller, a creative writer dedicated to sharing thoughtful ideas, helpful content, and inspiring words that make everyday moments more meaningful and bright.