Understanding “Friday’s,” “Fridays’,” and “Fridays”: A Simple Guide

When it comes to writing correctly in English, small details like punctuation can make a huge difference in how your sentence is understood. One of those tricky punctuation marks is the apostrophe, particularly when you’re dealing with the words “Friday’s,” “Fridays’,” and “Fridays.” These three words may look similar, but they each serve a distinct purpose.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore when to use apostrophes with Fridays, the difference between Fridays and Friday’s, and provide examples and scenarios to make everything crystal clear.

What Is the Difference Between “Friday’s,” “Fridays’,” and “Fridays”?

At first glance, these three words might seem interchangeable, but each one serves a different grammatical function. Let’s break down each of these:

1. Friday’s – Possessive Singular Form

The term “Friday’s” refers to something that belongs to Friday or is associated with a single Friday. It’s the possessive form of Friday, which means we’re talking about one Friday and something that belongs to it.

For example:

• Friday’s meeting was rescheduled to next week.
  • In this case, the meeting is associated with Friday—perhaps it takes place on a Friday, or it is scheduled for Friday and now has been moved.

Another example might be:

• I’m looking forward to Friday’s lunch with Jane.
  • Here, Friday’s lunch refers to the lunch that will take place on a particular Friday.

If you’re ever unsure when to use Friday’s, just ask yourself if you’re talking about something belonging to Friday. For instance, “What is Friday’s event?” The answer should reflect something that happens on that Friday.

2. Fridays’ – Possessive Plural Form

Now, let’s talk about “Fridays’.” This form refers to something that belongs to multiple Fridays. It’s the possessive plural, so we use it when we are talking about more than one Friday.

For example:

• The Fridays’ schedule at the office is packed with meetings.
  • Here, we’re talking about schedules for multiple Fridays, so we use the plural possessive form.

Another example:

• They adjusted the Fridays’ hours based on customer feedback.
  • In this sentence, we refer to the hours for more than one Friday, indicating the changes over multiple Fridays.

If you’re unsure whether to use Fridays’, check if you’re referring to more than one Friday and if you need to show possession, like the hours or schedules of those Fridays.

3. Fridays – Plural Form

Finally, we have “Fridays” without an apostrophe. This is simply the plural form of Friday, which refers to multiple Fridays, but not necessarily showing possession.

For example:

• Fridays are my favorite day of the week.
  • Here, we’re simply referring to Fridays in general, not anything that belongs to them.

Another example:

• We meet every Fridays to discuss the project.
  • This sentence uses Fridays in the plural form, meaning that the meeting happens every Friday, but it doesn’t imply possession.

A Quick Recap of the Differences:

• Friday’s = Possessive singular (something belonging to or associated with a single Friday).
• Fridays’ = Possessive plural (something belonging to or associated with multiple Fridays).
• Fridays = Plural form (simply refers to multiple Fridays without showing possession).

Common Scenarios and Examples

Let’s look at some real-world examples in different contexts to help you grasp these concepts better.

Scenario 1: An Email about the Friday Meeting

Imagine you’re writing an email about a meeting on Friday. Here’s how to use these words correctly.

Email Example 1 (Using Friday’s):

Subject: Rescheduling Friday’s Meeting

Dear Sarah,

I wanted to remind you that Friday’s meeting has been rescheduled to next Tuesday at 3:00 PM. Let me know if you have any questions about the new time.

Best regards,
John

In this case, Friday’s meeting refers to a specific meeting scheduled for a particular Friday.

Email Example 2 (Using Fridays’):

Subject: Change in Fridays’ Agenda

Dear Team,

Due to the upcoming holidays, we need to make some adjustments to our Fridays’ agenda. The usual team check-in will be postponed to next Friday, while other items will be moved around.

Best,
Lara

Here, Fridays’ agenda refers to the agendas of multiple Fridays, indicating that the schedule needs to be changed for several future Fridays.

Email Example 3 (Using Fridays):

Subject: Team Outing on Fridays

Hi Jason,

I’ve been thinking that we could organize team outings on Fridays once a month. It would be a great way to end the week!

Let me know what you think.

Best regards,
Tina

In this example, Fridays is used in the plural form, simply referring to multiple Fridays, without indicating possession.

Scenario 2: A Message about TGI Fridays

Imagine you’re trying to organize a night out at TGI Fridays, a popular restaurant chain. Here’s how to use these terms in that context.

Message Example 1 (Using Friday’s):

Hi Paul,
Are you coming to Friday’s special event? They’ve got a great deal for groups.

Cheers,
Mark

This refers to a special event happening on a particular Friday.

Message Example 2 (Using Fridays’):

Hey Lisa,
I think we should visit Fridays’ best location in the city. It has great reviews!

Best,
Charlie

This implies we’re talking about a specific location or property of TGI Fridays (if you want to show possession of the best location).

Message Example 3 (Using Fridays):

Hi Sarah,
Let’s make it a habit to dine at Fridays every month for happy hour.

Cheers,
Emma

Here, Fridays simply refers to the restaurant chain, not any particular event or possession.

A Quick Guide: When Do You Use an Apostrophe with Days of the Week?

It’s common to get confused when working with the possessive form of days of the week, such as Friday, Monday, or Sunday. So, when do you use an apostrophe with days of the week?

Answer: Use the apostrophe when referring to something belonging to or associated with a specific day or multiple days. Here are a few rules:

• Use ‘s to show possession for one day (e.g., Friday’s meeting).
• Use s’ to show possession for multiple days (e.g., Fridays’ schedule).

Remember, when using just the day’s name in a plural sense (e.g., Fridays), no apostrophe is needed.

20 Key Points about Fridays and Friday’s Usage

Here’s a quick summary of key rules to keep in mind:

• Friday’s is the possessive singular form of Friday.
• Fridays’ is the possessive plural form of Fridays.
• Fridays is the plural form, without possession.
• When referring to something that belongs to one Friday, use Friday’s.
• When referring to something that belongs to multiple Fridays, use Fridays’.
• TGI Fridays is the name of a restaurant chain, and no apostrophe is used here.
• Fridays simply refers to multiple Fridays.
• Friday’s meeting means the meeting that occurs on a particular Friday.
• Fridays’ schedule refers to the schedules of several Fridays.
• Fridays doesn’t need an apostrophe when talking about the general plural.
• The possessive form of Monday is Monday’s.
• You can use Fridays for regular events that happen every Friday.
• Fridays or Friday’s plural is incorrect; use Fridays for the plural form.
• To show possession for a Friday’s event, use Friday’s.
• When comparing events across multiple Fridays, use Fridays’.
• Fridays or Friday’s in a sentence needs the correct apostrophe to indicate possession.
• Fridays or Friday’s quiz would be referring to a quiz held on Fridays, not belonging to Friday.
• Is it Fridays or Friday’s? You choose based on whether you’re talking about one or many Fridays.
• Fridays vs Friday’s: The former is plural, the latter is possessive singular.
• When you write Fridays or Friday’s examples, remember to differentiate based on possession or simple plural.
• Always check if you’re talking about Fridays in general or something belonging to Friday.

Conclusion

As you can see, understanding the subtle differences between Friday’s, Fridays’, and Fridays can help you write more clearly and accurately. Always remember the key distinctions between possessive singular, possessive plural, and plural forms. Whether you’re sending an email about Friday’s meeting, discussing Fridays’ plans, or planning a visit to TGI Fridays, the correct usage of apostrophes can make all the difference.