guards's

USAGE SUMMARY

"guards's" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it as a possessive form of the noun "guard." For example: "The guard's instructions were clear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A1 Prison Guards's Leaves Longer While a recent audit of the Department of Correctional Services reveals that assaults on New York State correction officers has dropped by half since 1991, the amount of workers' compensation leave taken by correction officers has grown by more than 40percentt.

The New York Times

Learning from another prisoner that they might be locked up forever, the group decides to break out of the prison when the prison guards's eyes are diverted.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a point guard's dream".

The New York Times - Sports

And that's where the guard's business empire began.

BBC

The guard's lip curled with disgust.

The New Yorker

The coast guard's two heavy icebreakers are ageing.

The Economist

The man, Louis Peduto, posed for the guard's camera.

The New York Times

Arnett sat in a security guard's chair.

The New Yorker

Happily, the old guard's views are now in decline.

The New York Times

The guard's name has not been released.

The New York Times

Is she the guard's wife?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to something owned by a single guard, use "guard's". However, if referring to something owned by multiple guards, prefer "guards'" to avoid ambiguity and align with common usage.

Common error

Avoid using "guards's" when you mean "guards'" (plural possessive). "Guards's" is technically correct for the singular possessive of "guards", but it's rarely used and can be confusing. Rephrase or use "guards'" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guards's" functions as a possessive noun, indicating ownership or association. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct, it signifies the possessive form of "guards".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically valid, "guards's" is rarely encountered in contemporary English. As noted by Ludwig AI, it technically represents the singular possessive of the noun "guards", but it often creates ambiguity. The more common alternatives are "guard's" for a single guard or "guards'" for multiple guards. Consider rephrasing for better clarity, such as using "of the guard". When writing, carefully consider the context to avoid confusion. Prefer these clearer alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guard's

Singular possessive form, indicating possession by a single guard.

guards'

Plural possessive form, indicating possession by multiple guards.

of the guard

Prepositional phrase indicating association or belonging to the guard.

belonging to the guards

Emphasizes ownership or belonging with the use of 'belonging'.

held by the guard

Passive voice construction focusing on what the guard possesses or controls.

under the guard's jurisdiction

Indicates authority or control exerted by the guard.

in the custody of the guard

Highlights the guard's role in safeguarding or supervising.

supervised by the guard

Focuses on the guard's supervisory role.

the guard's responsibility

Highlights the guard's duties or obligations.

the duty of the guard

Similar to 'responsibility' but emphasizes the task or assignment.

FAQs

How do I use "guards's" correctly in a sentence?

"Guards's" indicates possession by the noun "guards". However, it is rarely used. More common possessive forms are "guard's" (singular) or "guards'" (plural).

What's the difference between "guard's", "guards'", and "guards's"?

"Guard's" is singular possessive (one guard). "Guards'" is plural possessive (multiple guards). "Guards's" is technically the singular possessive of the noun "guards", but almost never used due to awkwardness. Rephrasing or using "guards'" is preferred.

Is "guards's" grammatically correct?

Yes, "guards's" is grammatically correct, but its use is highly unusual. It represents the possessive of the noun "guards". The more common and clearer options are "guard's" or "guards'".

When should I use "guards's" instead of "guards'"?

You would theoretically use "guards's" if you have a group called "Guards" (plural in name) and want to show possession. In practice, rephrasing or using "guards'" is recommended for better clarity. Consider rephrasing to "of the guards".