houses's

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "houses's" is not correct in written English.
The correct form would be "house's" for singular possessive or "houses'" for plural possessive. Example: "The house's roof was damaged in the storm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Unlike many other loss-leading houses's haute couture, Chanel's actually sells.

Independent

Rounds of secret negotiations have been going on since early June between each of the major auction houses's -- Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips -- and the heirs of Nathan and Marion Smooke, Los Angeles collectors who had amassed a notable group of artworks, predominantly early 20th-century French and German paintings and sculptures.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Her house's contents have been dispersed.

The New York Times - Arts

This precipitated the auction house's lawsuit.

The New York Times

The house's third bedroom is upstairs.

The New York Times

The house's four bedrooms are upstairs.

The New York Times

The house's basement is finished.

The New York Times

Upstairs are the house's three bedrooms.

The New York Times

Figure 22 shows the investigated house's energy consumption.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

(The latter is typical of the publishing house's operations).

European Journal of Futures Research

The house's energy consumption is around 149 kWh/m2.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check the number (singular or plural) when using possessive forms with nouns. "House's" is singular possessive, while "houses'" is plural possessive.

Common error

A common mistake is using "houses's" when you mean either the singular possessive "house's" or the plural possessive "houses'". Ensure the noun accurately reflects the quantity you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "houses's" is an incorrect possessive form. It attempts to show possession for the plural noun "houses" but adds an extra 's', violating standard English grammar rules. Ludwig AI confirms that this form is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "houses's" is a grammatically incorrect form that attempts to express possession related to multiple houses. The correct forms are "house's" (singular possessive) or "houses'" (plural possessive). As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is not considered correct in written English and should be avoided in all contexts. When writing, it's essential to distinguish between singular and plural possessives to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. Consider using alternatives such as "of the house" to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

house's

Singular possessive form; corrects the number agreement error.

houses'

Plural possessive form; corrects the number and possessive agreement error.

of the house

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate possession or association; avoids the possessive apostrophe.

belonging to the house

Emphasizes ownership using a more explicit phrase.

the house's property

Specifies a particular aspect or attribute of the house.

the houses' property

Specifies a particular aspect or attribute of the houses.

the features of the house

Focuses on characteristics using a descriptive phrase.

the characteristics of the houses

Focuses on characteristics using a descriptive phrase.

the interior of the house

Specifies a part using a descriptive phrase.

the design of the house

Specifies a part using a descriptive phrase.

FAQs

What is the correct way to show possession for a singular house?

The correct way to show possession for a singular house is to use "house's". For example, "The "house's roof" was damaged in the storm."

What is the correct way to show possession for multiple houses?

The correct way to show possession for multiple houses is to use "houses'". For example, "The "houses' gardens" were well-maintained."

Is "houses's" ever a correct form?

No, "houses's" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's a confusion between singular and plural possessive forms. Use either "house's" or "houses'" depending on whether you're referring to one house or multiple houses.

What are some alternatives to using possessive apostrophes with "house"?

Instead of using "house's" or "houses'", you can use phrases like "of the house" or "belonging to the house" to indicate possession or association. For example, "the roof of the house" instead of "the house's roof".