other’s

The term other’s is the singular possessive form of the indefinite pronoun 'other.' In English grammar, this specific form is used to denote that a particular object, quality, or concept belongs to or is associated with a different individual or entity that has already been mentioned or is implied by the context. It is most frequently encountered in situations where two distinct parties are being compared or are interacting. For instance, when two people are working together, one might refer to the other’s contribution to highlight a specific input that did not come from themselves. The use of the apostrophe before the 's' is critical here, as it signals that we are talking about the possession of a single 'other' person or thing, rather than the plural 'others.'

Grammatical Role

Possessive Indefinite Pronoun (Singular)

One of the most common environments for other’s is within the reciprocal pronoun phrase 'each other’s.' This construction is used when two people perform the same action toward one another or share a mutual relationship involving possession. For example, 'They held each other’s hands' implies a mutual act of holding. It is important to note that even though two people are involved, the standard convention in modern English is to use the singular possessive 'other’s' rather than the plural 'others’' because the relationship is viewed as being between 'each' individual and the 'other' individual.

Beyond reciprocal phrases, other’s is used in contrastive sentences. If you have two items, and you have discussed the first, the second is 'the other.' If that second item owns something, it becomes 'the other’s.' For example, 'One twin preferred blue, while the other’s favorite color was red.' Here, 'the other’s' functions as a shorthand for 'the other twin’s.' This helps avoid repetitive noun usage, making the sentence flow more naturally and efficiently.

Common Context

Legal documents often use 'the other’s' to refer to the second party in a contract without repeating their name.

In literary and philosophical contexts, other’s is frequently used to discuss empathy and the human condition. Philosophers often speak of 'the Other' (capitalized) to represent an individual different from the self. In this realm, understanding the other’s perspective is considered a foundational element of ethics. By using the possessive form, writers can delve into the internal world—the thoughts, feelings, and experiences—that belong to someone outside of the narrator's own consciousness.

The word also appears in various idioms and proverbs. Consider the phrase 'to look at the other’s side of the coin.' While 'the other side of the coin' is more common, using the possessive emphasizes the ownership of that viewpoint by a specific person. It forces the listener to acknowledge that the alternative view isn't just an abstract concept, but something belonging to a living, breathing 'other.'

Syntactic Variation

Can be used as a determiner (other’s book) or as a standalone pronoun (this book is the other’s).

Finally, the distinction between other’s and another’s is subtle but important. 'Another’s' is generally used for an unspecified person ('don't take another’s property'), whereas other’s usually refers to a specific, identified 'other' in a pair or a small group. If you are holding two apples, and one is bruised, you might say 'the other’s skin is perfect.' Using 'another’s' here would feel slightly less precise because the specific 'other' apple is right there in front of you.

Using other’s correctly requires a firm grasp of both possession and the concept of 'the other.' Because it is a possessive pronoun, it almost always precedes a noun (acting as a determiner) or stands in place of a noun phrase where the possession is understood. When used with 'each,' it forms the reciprocal possessive 'each other’s,' which is one of the most frequent uses in English. For example, 'They corrected each other’s mistakes.' In this sentence, 'other’s' tells us that the mistakes belonged to the person who was not the one doing the correcting at that moment.

Pattern 1: Each Other’s + Noun

Used for mutual possession between two people. Example: 'They wore each other’s jackets.'

When you are comparing two specific things, you use 'the other’s.' This is common in descriptive writing. Imagine two cars: 'The first car’s engine was loud, but the other’s was nearly silent.' Here, 'the other’s' is a pronoun that stands for 'the other car’s engine.' This ellipsis (omitting the noun 'engine') is a sophisticated way to avoid repetition while maintaining clarity. It is essential to include the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific second item in a pair.

In formal or academic writing, other’s is often used to discuss theories or viewpoints. 'One researcher’s data contradicted the other’s findings.' This usage is precise and professional. It clearly delineates the ownership of the findings between two specific researchers. If there were more than two researchers, you might use 'others’' (plural possessive), but for a direct comparison of two, the singular possessive is mandatory.

Pattern 2: The Other’s + [Noun]

Used to compare a specific second item's attribute. Example: 'The first house had a red door; the other’s was green.'

A common point of confusion is whether to use 'each other’s' or 'each others’.' Grammatically, 'each other' is treated as a singular unit, so the possessive is formed by adding '’s'. Even if the noun that follows is plural (e.g., 'each other’s lives'), the word 'other' remains singular. This is a rule that even native speakers often get wrong, so mastering it will significantly improve your writing accuracy.

In more complex sentences, other’s can be used to show a lack of something. 'One student had a pen, but the other’s was missing.' This implies that the pen belonging to the second student was gone. The possessive here acts as a bridge between the subject (the second student) and the object (the pen), even though the object isn't explicitly named in the second half of the sentence.

Pattern 3: One... the other’s

A standard comparative structure. Example: 'One cat's fur is black, the other’s is white.'

Finally, consider the use of other’s in negative constructions. 'They didn't want to step on each other’s toes.' This idiomatic expression uses the possessive to describe a situation where one person might interfere with the responsibilities or territory of another. The singular possessive 'other’s' is essential here to maintain the idiom's standard form and meaning.

In everyday spoken English, other’s is ubiquitous, though its pronunciation is often clipped or blended into the following word. You will hear it most frequently in conversations about relationships, teamwork, and comparisons. When friends talk about their mutual experiences, they might say, 'We always finish each other’s sentences.' This is a classic example of the word being used to describe a high level of familiarity and shared understanding between two people.

Daily Conversation

'Do you have my keys?' 'No, I think they're in the other’s bag.'

In the workplace, other’s is a key term for collaboration. Managers often emphasize the importance of 'respecting each other’s time.' This usage highlights the professional boundary and the value of the individual's schedule. During meetings where two options are being weighed, a speaker might say, 'The first proposal is cheaper, but the other’s benefits are more long-term.' This helps the team quickly pivot from one specific idea to its alternative.

You will also find other’s frequently in news reporting and political commentary, especially when two opposing sides are being discussed. Journalists might write about how 'each candidate criticized the other’s economic plan.' In this context, the word serves as a neutral way to refer to the opponent's platform without repeating the opponent's name multiple times, which helps maintain the flow of the article.

Media Usage

Common in debates: 'The senator questioned the other’s voting record.'

In literature, particularly in psychological thrillers or romance novels, other’s is used to build tension or intimacy. An author might describe a character 'watching the other’s every move.' This creates a sense of focused attention on a single other person. The possessive form allows the author to describe the character's internal state through their observation of the 'other' person's physical actions or attributes.

Legal and formal documents are another prime location for other’s. Contracts between two parties (often referred to as 'Party A' and 'Party B') will use 'the other’s' to define obligations. For example, 'Neither party shall disclose the other’s confidential information.' This usage is precise and legally binding, ensuring that the protections apply specifically to the one other party involved in the contract.

Formal Writing

'The success of the merger depends on each company's ability to integrate the other’s culture.'

Finally, in the world of sports, commentators often use other’s when two athletes are in a close race or match. 'One runner is trying to break the other’s rhythm.' This highlights the tactical battle between two individuals. By focusing on 'the other’s rhythm,' the commentator emphasizes how one person's actions are specifically designed to affect the internal state or performance of their direct opponent.

The most frequent mistake involving other’s is the placement of the apostrophe. Many learners (and even native speakers) confuse the singular possessive other’s with the plural possessive others’. The rule is simple but easy to forget: if you are referring to the property of one other person, the apostrophe goes before the 's'. If you are referring to the property of multiple other people, the apostrophe goes after the 's'. For example, 'I took the other’s hat' (one person) versus 'I took the others’ hats' (multiple people).

Mistake 1: Apostrophe Placement

Incorrect: 'They held each others' hands.' Correct: 'They held each other’s hands.'

Another common error is omitting the apostrophe entirely, resulting in 'others.' While 'others' is a valid word (the plural form of 'other'), it is not possessive. Writing 'They respected each others privacy' is grammatically incorrect because 'privacy' is a noun that needs to be possessed by the pronoun. Without the apostrophe, the sentence lacks the necessary grammatical link between the people and their privacy. This is a common typo in fast-paced digital communication but should be avoided in formal writing.

A third mistake is confusing other’s with another’s. While they are often interchangeable, other’s is typically used when there is a specific, known 'other' (usually the second of two). 'Another’s' is more general and refers to 'any other person.' For example, 'Don't covet another’s wife' is a general moral rule. However, if you are talking about two specific men, you would say, 'He didn't want to interfere in the other’s marriage.' Using 'another’s' in the latter case can sound slightly vague or disconnected from the specific context.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Another’s'

Use 'other’s' for a specific person in a pair; use 'another’s' for anyone else in general.

There is also the 'each other' versus 'one another' debate. While 'each other’s' is traditionally used for two people and 'one another’s' for more than two, modern usage often treats them as interchangeable. However, the possessive form remains consistent: it is always 'each other’s' (singular possessive) regardless of how many people are involved in the reciprocal action. Some learners mistakenly try to pluralize it to 'each others’' when talking about a group, but this is non-standard.

Finally, avoid using other’s when you actually mean the adjective 'other.' For example, 'I need the other’s book' means you need the book belonging to the other person. If you simply mean 'the different book,' you should say 'I need the other book.' Adding the possessive 's' changes the meaning from a descriptive adjective to a possessive pronoun. This distinction is vital for clarity, especially in instructional or technical writing where precision is paramount.

Mistake 3: Possessive vs. Adjective

'The other shoe' (adjective) vs. 'The other’s shoe' (possessive pronoun referring to a person's shoe).

When you want to express possession by someone else, other’s is a strong choice, but several alternatives might be more appropriate depending on the level of formality and the specific context. The most direct synonym is another’s. As discussed, 'another’s' is more indefinite. If you are speaking generally about human behavior, 'another’s' often sounds more natural. For example, 'We should not judge another’s choices' feels more like a universal proverb than 'We should not judge the other’s choices.'

other’s vs. another’s

'Other’s' is for a specific second person in a pair. 'Another’s' is for any person other than oneself.

Another alternative is to use a more specific possessive noun or pronoun. Instead of saying 'the other’s car,' you could say 'the second person's car' or 'his car' / 'her car' if the gender is known. This is often clearer in complex narratives where multiple people are involved. Other’s is a 'pro-form,' meaning it stands in for something else. If the 'something else' is far back in the text, using a specific name or noun is better for the reader's comprehension.

In very formal or legal contexts, you might see the phrase the other party’s. This is a common substitute for other’s in contracts and official agreements. It removes any ambiguity about who 'the other' is by explicitly calling them a 'party' to the agreement. Similarly, in academic writing, you might see the latter’s. If you have mentioned two people, 'the latter’s' refers specifically to the second one mentioned. This is a very precise way to handle possession in a comparison.

other’s vs. the latter’s

'Other’s' is more common in speech; 'the latter’s' is strictly for formal writing when two things have been listed.

For the reciprocal 'each other’s,' the only real alternative is one another’s. While some grammarians insist that 'each other’s' is for two and 'one another’s' is for three or more, this distinction is largely ignored in modern English. However, 'one another’s' often sounds slightly more formal or literary. 'They gazed into one another’s eyes' has a more romantic, elevated tone than 'They looked into each other’s eyes.'

Finally, you can use the phrase someone else’s or somebody else’s. These are very common in informal speech. 'I think I'm wearing someone else’s coat' is much more natural than 'I think I'm wearing the other’s coat' unless you are specifically choosing between two coats. 'Someone else’s' is the go-to phrase when the identity of the 'other' is completely unknown or irrelevant.

other’s vs. someone else’s

'Other’s' implies a specific alternative; 'someone else’s' is for any person who isn't you.