relatives's

USAGE SUMMARY

'relatives' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to refer to family members, generally close ones such as aunt, uncle, parents, siblings, etc. Example sentence: My relatives are visiting this weekend so the whole family will be together.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet Andrea's difference is painful: while her university friends, the children of rich industrialists, smell of "soft perfume," she reeks of "bleach and harsh kitchen soap"; while they drive their own cars and have summer houses on the Costa Brava, Andrea is quite literally starving, reduced to drinking the water in which her relatives's vegetables have been boiled.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Perhaps that's why your relative's actions feel ghoulish.

The New York Times - Magazine

There's nothing like the sound of an elderly relative's gusset hitting the floor to say 'Merry X.mas'.

Vice

Consider your older relative's emotional state.

The New York Times

Spending weeks at a relative's home.

The New York Times

The holiday coincided with a relative's birthday.

The Guardian

I thought exam results perhaps, or a relative's pregnancy.

The Guardian - Tech

Your relative's life could depend on it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Are you looking after a relative's children?

Independent

All the children were taken to a relative's house.

Independent

A relative's opinion of someone's drinking is not the most reliable diagnosis.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the double possessive form "relatives's". Instead, use "relatives'" for plural possessive or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "relatives's" thinking it's the plural possessive. Remember that the correct form is "relatives'" (plural possessive) or "relative's" (singular possessive). Rephrasing the sentence can often provide a clearer alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatives's" attempts to indicate possession by multiple relatives, but it is a grammatically incorrect construction. The correct form for plural possessive is "relatives'", not "relatives's". Ludwig AI provides one example in which it is misused.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatives's" is generally considered a grammatical error when attempting to form the plural possessive; the correct form is "relatives'". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is intended to show ownership by multiple family members, it appears primarily in News & Media and Scientific contexts. It's advisable to avoid this form and instead use alternatives like "of my relatives" or rephrase for clarity. Remember to use "relative's" for singular possessive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My relative's

Uses singular possessive form instead of plural possessive.

Of my relatives

Rephrases the possessive using "of" to indicate belonging.

Belonging to my relatives

Expresses possession using a participial phrase.

My family's

Substitutes "relatives" with the broader term "family".

The property of my relatives

Uses a more formal phrasing to denote ownership.

My kin's

Replaces "relatives" with the less common term "kin".

What belongs to my relatives

Emphasizes the belonging aspect using a relative clause.

The concerns of my relatives

Focuses on the concerns rather than general possession.

My extended family's

Specifies "relatives" as "extended family".

The opinions of my relatives

Highlights opinions held by relatives.

FAQs

Is "relatives's" grammatically correct?

No, "relatives's" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive form for plural "relatives" is "relatives'", while the singular possessive is "relative's".

How do I properly use the possessive form of "relatives"?

For plural possessive, use "relatives'", as in "My "relatives' opinions" matter to me." For singular possessive, use "relative's", as in "My "relative's house" is nearby".

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

Instead of "relatives's", you can use phrases like "of my relatives", "belonging to my relatives", or simply rephrase the sentence to avoid the possessive altogether.

When should I use "relative's" vs. "relatives'"?

"Relative's" is used when referring to something belonging to a single relative (singular possessive). "Relatives'" is used when referring to something belonging to multiple relatives (plural possessive).