mistress's

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mistress's" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is the possessive form of the word "mistress," which refers to a woman who is in a position of authority or control over someone or something. Here is an example of how to use "mistress's" in a sentence: "The mistress's strict rules made it difficult for the servants to relax in her presence." This sentence shows how the word is used to indicate possession or ownership of something (in this case, rules).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She had explained this to Jewel and Robby in the aftermath of Zachary's mistress's visit.

The New Yorker

But hey, at least he goes home to his loving kids, gets his way at work and pulls strings to help Don's mistress's kid.

The New York Times

Tip #5: You and your mistress can't spend all your time on your mistress's girlfriend's ex-husband's boat.

Huffington Post

Tip #2: Women have a heightened sense of smell, meaning you have to shower every time you leave your mistress's house, or let's be honest, mistress's parents' condo.

Huffington Post

Evelyn hasn't done an especially thorough job of washing her mistress's underwear, so it's time for her to be disciplined.

Vice

The important thing was not to mistake a lobbyist's or governor's wife's favourite song for his mistress's.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's that thought that drives Don back into his mistress's arms -- and so the cycle continues.

Huffington Post

Nor Mistress's.

The New York Times - Books

Alice had the mistress's cardinal virtue: tact.

The New Yorker

Voltaire did it in bed, on his mistress's back.

The New Yorker

The Mistress's Daughter, by A. M. Homes (Viking; $24.95).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mistress's" to clearly indicate possession or ownership by the mistress, especially when the context doesn't explicitly state the relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "mistresses" when you intend to show possession by one mistress. "Mistresses" is the plural of mistress, while "mistress's" indicates ownership by a single mistress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mistress's" functions primarily as a possessive determiner, indicating ownership or association. As Ludwig AI clarifies, this is the standard possessive form of the noun 'mistress'. Examples from the search results include phrases like "mistress's daughter" or "mistress's house".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0.33%

Reference

0.33%

Science

0.33%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mistress's" is a grammatically correct and frequently used possessive form indicating ownership or association. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it follows standard English grammar rules. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While the term "mistress" itself may carry certain connotations, the possessive form is generally neutral in register. When writing, it's important to distinguish between the singular possessive "mistress's" and the plural form "mistresses" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

belonging to the mistress

Replaces the possessive apostrophe with a prepositional phrase.

of the mistress

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate association or belonging.

the mistress' property

Specifies 'property' as what belongs to the mistress.

the mistress' possession

Replaces 'property' with 'possession' to denote ownership.

that which belongs to the mistress

A more formal and verbose way of indicating ownership.

the mistress' items

Specifies 'items' as what belongs to the mistress.

the mistress' effects

Uses 'effects' to refer to the mistress' belongings, suitable for legal contexts.

the mistress' personal belongings

Emphasizes that the items are the mistress' and are personal.

the mistress' assets

Uses 'assets' to refer to items of value belonging to the mistress.

held by the mistress

Indicates that the mistress is in control or possession of something.

FAQs

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

Use "mistress's" to show possession or a relationship. For example, "The mistress's jewels were stunning". It indicates that the jewels belonged to the mistress.

What are some alternatives to using "mistress's"?

Alternatives include phrases like "belonging to the mistress" or "of the mistress", depending on the context and desired level of formality. The phrase "belonging to the mistress" could be suitable.

Is it correct to use "mistress's" in formal writing?

Yes, "mistress's" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing when indicating possession. However, consider the context and audience, as the term itself might carry certain connotations.

What's the difference between "mistress's" and "mistresses"?

"Mistress's" is the possessive form of the singular noun "mistress", indicating something belongs to one mistress. "Mistresses" is the plural form of "mistress", referring to multiple mistresses.