Determining whether to use “company’s” or “companies” can be a challenge and depends on how the word is being used. To clear up any confusion, let’s delve into when each of these words should be used.
Company’s is the possessive form of the word “company”.
Companies is the plural form of “company.”
Company’s
“Company’s” is used when discussing something that belongs to a company. It is the possessive form of the word “company”, and the apostrophe followed by an “s” indicates ownership. This form of the word is often used to describe a company’s physical assets, such as products, money, equipment, etc.
Examples of the use of company’s:
- Skilled employees play a crucial role in a company’s success and growth.
- We aim to raise the company’s revenue by 15% this year.
- Those are the company’s cars.
Companies
The word “companies” should be used when referring to more than one company. A common mistake is to spell it as “companys,” but since the word “company” ends with a “y,” it follows a different rule for forming its plural. To create the plural form of a word ending in “y,” such as “company,” the “y” is removed and replaced with “ie” before adding an “s.”
Examples of the use of companies:
- My investment portfolio includes stocks in various companies.
- Many companies have struggled to retain employees due to the recession.
- Can you name a few companies you have worked for in the past?
Companies Vs Company’s: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between these two words lies in their usage context. “Companies” is the plural form of company and refers to more than one company, while “Company’s” indicates ownership by a company.
It’s important to note that most possessive words, including “company’s,” are spelled with an apostrophe followed by an “s.” This serves as a quick identifier for determining the correct word in a sentence.
For those who struggle to remember the difference, it may help to keep in mind that possessive words typically include an apostrophe and “s,” while plural words do not unless they are plural possessives. Speaking of which…
What about companies’?
Just to make things more complicated, another form of the word, “companies’,” may also be encountered. This is used to indicate possession by multiple companies. For example, “most companies’ profits declined during the recession.” This shows that multiple companies were affected by decreased profits.
The use of this form of the word is less common than company’s or companies.
Conclusion: Company’s or Companies?
In summary, if you’re discussing something that belongs to a single company, use “company’s.“
If you’re referring to more than one company, use “companies.”
If you’re discussing a shared possession among multiple companies, use “companies’.”
With these guidelines in mind, you’ll never again be uncertain about which word to use.
James has been helping people teach English abroad for over twelve years. He’s traveled to over 30 countries, lived in 3, and taught English in Chile and online.
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