other’s

'Other’s' is the singular possessive form of the word 'other.' It is used to show ownership or a relationship between a noun and a single person or entity that is distinct from the one already specified. While 'other' can function as an adjective or a pronoun, 'other’s' functions specifically to denote possession.

This word is most frequently found in the fixed reciprocal phrase 'each other’s.' For example, in the sentence 'They held each other’s hands,' the apostrophe comes before the 's' because 'each other' is treated as a singular unit. It can also be used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the second of two specific things, such as 'One twin was tall, but the other’s height was average.'

You will often encounter 'other’s' in discussions regarding empathy, social interaction, and legal or ethical boundaries. It is common in phrases like 'respecting each other’s privacy' or 'listening to the other’s point of view.' In academic writing, it is used to compare two distinct subjects or theories, specifically when discussing how one subject relates to the attributes of the second one.

The most frequent point of confusion is between 'other’s' (singular possessive) and 'others’' (plural possessive). 'Other’s' refers to something belonging to one person (e.g., 'the other’s bag'), while 'others’' refers to something belonging to a group (e.g., 'the others’ bags'). It is also distinct from 'another’s,' which is more general and refers to any one person in a non-specific group, whereas 'other’s' usually implies a choice between a limited set (often two).