someone's

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "someone's" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate possession, meaning something belongs to or is associated with a person. Example: "I borrowed someone's book from the library, and I need to return it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Someone's taking your stuff".

The New York Times

"Who sits there thinking, I want to buy someone's old stuff?

The New York Times

He recommended someone's else stuff that was real close.

The New Yorker

But you don't like it when someone's stuffing it into you by the gallon.

Forbes

If someone who's buying your stuff looks suspicious, go to a website called: "www.beenverified.com".

WikiHow

Perhaps try looking in someone else's room for stuff and think about where you look.

WikiHow

"It's not nice, but someone's got to do the hard stuff," he says matter-of-factly.

BBC

When someone's on their own, when someone's tormented about something, all that other stuff".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Someone rifling through your stuff — it's not that kind of violation," he said.

The New York Times

"She's happy to have someone to do boyfriend/girlfriend stuff with now.

Los Angeles Times

I would say that sometimes that happens because someone's overweight but obviously, there are possible health detrimental stuff because…and it might be affecting your health".

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "someone's", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean "someone is" or "someone has" to avoid ambiguity. If clarity is paramount, consider using the full forms.

Common error

Avoid using "someone's" when you actually mean "someones'" (the plural possessive). The latter is rarely needed, and rephrasing to avoid the plural possessive is often clearer.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "someone's" is to indicate possession (e.g., "someone's car") or to function as a contraction for "someone is" or "someone has". Ludwig provides examples that illustrate these different usages effectively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "someone's" serves as either a possessive form or a contraction, indicating "someone is" or "someone has". Ludwig AI clarifies its grammatical correctness and its wide usage across diverse contexts, from formal news articles to informal online discussions. While generally acceptable, careful attention to the intended meaning (possession versus contraction) is crucial for clarity. Also be wary to do not misuse it in place of a plural form. Using alternatives may enhance precision in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

someone is

Expands the contraction to its full form, focusing on the state of being.

someone has

Expands the contraction to its full form, focusing on possession or a completed action.

belonging to someone

Replaces the possessive contraction with a more formal phrasing.

a person's

Substitutes "someone" with "a person", offering a slightly more formal tone.

an individual's

Replaces "someone" with "an individual", increasing the formality.

of a person

A more descriptive way of indicating ownership or association.

that belongs to somebody

Informal way to indicate possession.

someone's property

Emphasizes ownership with the use of the word "property".

in someone's possession

Focuses on the act of possessing something.

held by someone

Emphasizes the action of holding or having something.

FAQs

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

"Someone's" indicates possession or a contraction of "someone is" or "someone has". For example, "That is "someone's car"" (possession) or "Someone's coming to the party" (someone is).

What is the difference between "someone's", "someones'", and "someones"?

"Someone's" is a contraction of "someone is" or "someone has", or the possessive form of "someone". "Someones" is the plural of someone. "Someones'" is the plural possessive of someone, and it is rarely used; rephrasing the sentence is almost always preferable.

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a person's", "an individual's" or "belonging to someone".

Is it ever appropriate to use "someones'"?

The plural possessive "someones'" is grammatically correct but extremely rare and often awkward. It's almost always better to rephrase the sentence to avoid it entirely. For example, instead of "the someones' opinions", use "the opinions of several people".