Plural Possessive of 'Woman': An Anomaly in English Grammar

English grammar can sometimes present peculiarities, especially when it comes to the plural possessive form of certain nouns. The plural possessive of woman is one such anomaly, deviating from the standard rule of adding an apostrophe and 's'. This idiosyncrasy has its roots in the history and evolution of the English language.

Understanding the Anomaly

Unlike most nouns, where the plural possessive form is typically formed by adding an apostrophe and 's' (e.g., boys' toys), the correct plural possessive form of woman is simply women's. This exception does not follow the usual rule and can be perplexing to those learning or teaching English.

Historical Context

The reason for this anomaly can be traced back to the history of the English language. The word woman stems from the Old English word "wifman", which literally means 'female person'. When the language evolved, the plural form took on a different structure, leading to the surprising plural possessive form.

When discussing multiple women, the singular to plural conversion happens first, followed by the addition of the possessive apostrophe. For instance, the correct way to express something that belongs to multiple women is women's. This construction makes sense when broken down but can seem counterintuitive at first glance.

Non-Standard Plural Possessive Forms

It is important to note that while women's is the correct form for a plural possessive, some nouns with non-standard plural forms can also present challenges. For example, the plural of tooth is teeth, but the plural possessive would be teeth's. Similarly, the plural of man is men, and the plural possessive would be men's.

Common Mistakes and Exceptions

A common mistake in English grammar involves using the singular possessive form for plural proper nouns. For instance, the correct form is Thomas's coat, not Thomas' coat. This is because the possessive apostrophe should come after the 's' in a plural word.

Constructing Plural Possessive Nouns

To construct the plural possessive form of any noun ending in 's', simply add an apostrophe after the 's'. For example:

For nouns that do not end in 's', such as teeth, men, or women, add an apostrophe followed by an 's' to form the plural possessive. For example:

The above rules can be summarized in the following image for clarity:

Explanation of apostrophe placement as described in the text can be seen in the image below for reference.

Image is credited to Google.

Understanding these rules is essential for mastering the nuances of English grammar, particularly when it comes to possessive forms. If you have any further questions or need more detailed explanations, feel free to continue reading or consulting additional resources.

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