another's

USAGE SUMMARY

"another's" is a correct and usable word in written English
You can use it to refer to something belonging to someone else, usually in the possessive form of the pronoun 'another'. For example: "Another's thoughts on the matter were very helpful in guiding my own opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Acquiescence to another's will?

The New Yorker

One man's dream, another's nightmare.

The Guardian - Opinion

'Bye, one's devoted mother, another's devoted son.

The New Yorker

One country's exports must be another's imports.

The Economist

Many are also about another's psychological states (e.g. another's beliefs).

SEP

Another's insides poured out.

The New York Times

Another's bedroom is tilting.

The Guardian

Another's mouth was agape.

The New York Times

Another's father had recently been deported.

The New York Times

Another's brother died of AIDS.

The New York Times

Now they have to use another's space?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the apostrophe before the 's' because "another" is a singular pronoun.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "anothers'" with the apostrophe after the 's'. This is incorrect because "another" is always singular. If you are referring to the belongings of multiple people, you must use the plural form "<a href="/s/others'" target="_blank" rel="alternative">others'" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "another's" functions as a possessive indefinite pronoun. It identifies ownership or attribution relative to a non-specific singular entity. According to Ludwig, it allows writers to attribute properties, actions or objects to a second party without naming them specifically.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science & Academia

15%

Wiki & General Knowledge

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "another's" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct possessive pronoun that is a staple of professional English writing. As shown by Ludwig, it is perfectly suited for describing the property, emotions or opinions of an unspecified person. It is particularly effective in balanced sentences or idioms where two perspectives are compared. Writers should be careful to maintain its singular nature by placing the apostrophe before the 's' and avoid confusing it with its plural counterpart "<a href="/s/others'" target="_blank" rel="alternative">others'". Whether in a high-brow essay or a news report, using "another's" adds a layer of precision and stylistic maturity to your prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

someone else's

Uses a different indefinite pronoun that is slightly more common in spoken English.

somebody else's

A synonymous alternative to someone else's, often perceived as slightly less formal.

another person's

Adds the noun person to make the subject more explicit.

one another's

A reciprocal pronoun form used when referring to mutual possession among members of a group.

each other's

A reciprocal pronoun similar to one another's but typically used for pairs.

others'

The plural possessive form, used when referring to more than one other person.

one's

A generic possessive pronoun that is more self-referential or universally applicable.

a different person's

Emphasizes the distinction between the current subject and the new possessor.

an additional person's

Implies the presence of more than two people in the context.

a neighbor's

A more specific noun-based possessive that limits the scope to someone nearby.

FAQs

How do I use "another's" in a sentence?

You can use it to show that something belongs to a different person, for example: "It is not wise to rely on "another's" opinion alone." Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard and correct usage.

What is the difference between "another's" and "others'"?

"another's" refers to one other person, while "<a href="/s/others'" target="_blank" rel="alternative">others'" refers to the possessions of multiple people.

Is it "another's" or "anothers"?

The correct possessive form is always "another's" with an apostrophe. Without the apostrophe, "anothers" is not a recognized word in standard English.

What can I say instead of "another's"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/someone+else's" target="_blank" rel="alternative">someone else's", "<a href="/s/another+person's" target="_blank" rel="alternative">another person's" or "<a href="/s/each+other's" target="_blank" rel="alternative">each other's".