Is it “Someone Elses” or “Someone Else’s”? Nailing This Grammar Rule

Okay, let’s talk about a grammar headache that’s probably made you scratch your head once or twice. You know that moment when you’re writing an email or a text, and you suddenly freeze, wondering if it’s “someone elses” or “someone else’s”? Yeah, we’ve all been there!

I remember the first time I really thought about this. I was writing a note to my professor explaining why I had someone else’s book instead of mine. Halfway through, I had a mini panic attack. Was I about to embarrass myself with a grammar goof? Spoiler alert: I was!

So, let’s clear this up once and for all, shall we?

The Right Way: It’s Always “Someone Else’s”

Drumroll, please… The correct form is “someone else’s”. Always. Every single time. No exceptions.

I know, I know. It looks a bit weird. But here’s a simple way to think about it:

• “Someone else” is like one unit. It’s a package deal.
• When we want to show that this “package” owns something, we just slap an apostrophe and an s at the end. Simple as that!

Here’s a little table to burn it into your brain:

✅ Right	❌ Wrong
Someone else’s	Someone elses
Anybody else’s	Anybody elses
Nobody else’s	Nobody elses

See the pattern? It’s not rocket science, but it’s definitely a rule worth remembering!

Why Do We Even Use Apostrophes?

Ah, the apostrophe. That little squiggle that causes so much trouble. But why do we use it?

Well, apostrophes in English are like little ownership flags. They’re saying, “Hey, this thing belongs to that thing!” When we’re talking about “someone else’s stuff”, the apostrophe is doing exactly that – showing ownership.

Here’s the basic rundown:

1. For most singular nouns, add ‘s: The dog’s bone (Poor Fido, always losing his bones)
2. For plural nouns ending in s, just add an apostrophe: The dogs’ bones (A whole pack of bone-losing pups)
3. For plural nouns not ending in s, add ‘s: The children’s toys (Because “childrens” just looks plain wrong)

“Someone else” follows rule number 1. It’s singular (we’re talking about one “someone”, not multiple “someones”), so we add ‘s.

Oops! Common Mix-Ups

We’ve all had our moments. Here are some blunders I’ve seen (and, let’s be honest, made):

Whoopsie	Fixed It!	Real-Life Example
Someone elses lunch	Someone else’s lunch	“I accidentally ate someone else’s lunch from the office fridge. Awkward!”
Someones else’s car	Someone else’s car	“Dude, I think you’re trying to unlock someone else’s car. Yours is over there!”
Someone else phone	Someone else’s phone	“Hello? Um, I think this is someone else’s phone. I found it at the coffee shop.”

The takeaway? Keep “someone else” together, and don’t forget that apostrophe!

Using “Someone Else’s” in the Wild

This phrase pops up all over the place:

• Chatting with friends: “Hey, can you believe I found someone else’s wallet on the bus?”
• At work: “The boss wasn’t happy when she realized I’d been using someone else’s login.”
• In books: I love how Terry Pratchett plays with this in “Guards! Guards!” when he writes, “Someone else’s tomorrow is today for someone else.”

It’s a versatile little phrase, isn’t it?

Tricks to Remember

Still feeling iffy? Try these memory joggers:

1. Think: “Someone ELSE’S stuff”. The caps on ELSE might help you remember that sneaky ‘S at the end.
2. Practice makes perfect: Try using it in a sentence every day for a week. “I wonder what’s in someone else’s shopping cart?” (No peeking in actual carts, please!)
3. Make it personal: Imagine someone else using YOUR stuff. That apostrophe-s combo suddenly feels more important, doesn’t it?

A Little Grammar History

Here’s a fun fact to impress your friends at parties (or, you know, bore them to tears): Apostrophes for possession are actually pretty new in English.

Back in the day, like way back in Old English times, they didn’t use apostrophes at all. They had different word endings to show possession. Kind of like how we say “my” or “your” today.

The apostrophe started sneaking into English in the 1500s, but it took a while for everyone to agree on how to use it. Even today, there are some heated debates among grammar nerds about certain uses. But “someone else’s”? That’s one we all agree on.

Wrapping It Up

So there you have it! The mystery of “someone else’s” solved. It’s not the biggest deal in the world, but getting it right can make your writing sharper and save you from those embarrassing “Oops, I can’t believe I wrote that” moments.

Remember: It’s always, always “someone else’s”. With practice, it’ll become second nature. Before you know it, you’ll be the go-to grammar guru in your friend group. (Just try not to be too smug about it, okay?)

Now go forth and apostrophize with confidence! And hey, if you catch someone else’s grammar mistake, maybe cut them some slack. We’re all learning, right?

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