Todays or Today’s may look like a tiny spelling choice, but the apostrophe changes the grammatical role and meaning of the expression. If you are writing “today’s meeting,” “today’s date,” or “today’s news,” the standard form is today’s. By contrast, today is the form you use when you mean on this day or at present. The form todays is generally not the standard spelling for either meaning. Understanding why requires more than memorizing where to put an apostrophe: you need to know how today functions as a noun or adverb and how its possessive/genitive form works.
The confusion becomes more interesting because today’s has two different grammatical jobs. In today’s meeting, it expresses a relationship between today and the meeting—roughly, “the meeting of today.” But in today’s Friday or today’s been hectic, it can be a contraction of today is or today has. That means the apostrophe is not simply a decorative mark or a signal of literal ownership. It can represent a grammatical relationship or omitted letters. Once you recognize those patterns, deciding between today, today’s, todays, and todays’ becomes much easier.
This guide explains when to use today vs. today’s, why todays is normally incorrect, and why todays’ does not work as a regular plural possessive. You’ll also see practical examples involving today’s date, today’s meeting, today’s weather, today’s news, and today’s events, plus a simple substitution test you can use while proofreading. We’ll look at the grammatical categories behind the words, common learner mistakes, British and American English usage, related expressions such as tomorrow’s and yesterday’s, and the situations in which today’s is a contraction rather than a possessive form.
Todays or Today’s: Quick Answer
Today’s is the correct form when you mean “of today,” “associated with today,” “today is,” or “today has.”
Today is correct when you simply mean “on this day” or refer to the present time.
Todays is generally incorrect in standard modern English when used as an ordinary plural or possessive form.
Todays’ is also normally incorrect because today is not ordinarily pluralized as todays before taking a plural possessive apostrophe.
| Form | Standard use | Meaning | Example |
| today | Yes | on this day / at present | I’ll finish it today. |
| today’s | Yes | of or associated with today | Today’s meeting starts at nine. |
| today’s | Yes | Contraction of today is/has | Today’s been busy. |
| todays | Generally no | Not the normal standard form | Todays meeting ❌ |
| todays’ | Generally no | Not the normal plural possessive | Todays’ schedule ❌ |
A useful rule is:
Use “today” for the time itself; use “today’s” when something is connected to today or when “today’s” means “today is” or “today has.”
What Does “Today” Mean?
Today refers primarily to the present day. It can also refer more broadly to the present period or current age.
For example:
- I have an appointment today.
- Today is Monday.
- People communicate differently today.
- Technology is changing rapidly today.
Major dictionaries classify today as both an adverb and a noun, while Merriam-Webster also records an adjective use. The core meaning is “on or for this day,” with another established meaning referring to the present time.
“Today” as an Adverb
When today tells you when an action happens, it functions as an adverb of time.
Examples:
- We are leaving today.
- She called me today.
- I need to submit the application today.
- They announced the results today.
Here, today modifies the verb or the whole clause by identifying the time.
You would not add an apostrophe:
- I’ll call you today. ✅
- I’ll call you today’s. ❌
“Today” as a Noun
Today can also function as a noun referring to the present day or present period.
Examples:
- Today is unusually quiet.
- Today was exhausting.
- We should make the most of today.
- Today is different from yesterday.
Cambridge identifies today as a noun with no ordinary plural form, as well as an adverb.
That detail helps explain why todays is not the normal way to express “more than one today.” English generally uses expressions such as several days, different days, or these days instead.
What Does “Today’s” Mean?
Today’s is the form created when today takes ’s in a possessive/genitive construction, or when it contracts with is or has.
Those are two separate grammatical possibilities.
1. “Today’s” Means “Of Today”
Consider:
Today’s meeting starts at 10 a.m.
This means approximately:
The meeting of today starts at 10 a.m.
The meeting does not literally belong to today. Instead, today’s establishes a time-based relationship between the day and the noun.
The same pattern appears in:
- today’s newspaper
- today’s weather
- today’s lesson
- today’s deadline
- today’s schedule
- today’s events
- today’s results
Cambridge specifically describes the possessive ’s construction with today before a noun, as in today’s family structures.
2. “Today’s” Can Mean “Today Is”
The same spelling can be a contraction:
Today’s the day we’ve been waiting for.
Expand it:
Today is the day we’ve been waiting for.
Here, the apostrophe represents omitted letters in is.
Another example:
Today’s my birthday.
= Today is my birthday.
3. “Today’s” Can Mean “Today Has”
A less obvious use appears with the present perfect:
Today’s been unusually hectic.
Expand it:
Today has been unusually hectic.
So today’s can represent either:
- today is
- today has
Context tells you which one is intended.
Why Is “Today’s” Correct but “Todays” Usually Wrong?
The key is that English does not normally form this construction by simply adding s.
If you write:
Todays meeting starts at nine.
you have removed the punctuation that marks the grammatical relationship between today and meeting.
The standard form is:
Today’s meeting starts at nine.
The apostrophe is part of the established spelling of the genitive/possessive form.
This is similar to:
- Monday’s meeting
- tomorrow’s appointment
- yesterday’s newspaper
- today’s announcement
The important point is that the apostrophe does not mean that today owns the meeting. In grammar, possession can express association, source, relationship, time, or other connections, not merely literal ownership. The British Council notes that possessive constructions can show relationships beyond simple physical ownership.
Why “Todays” Feels Tempting
English learners often associate -s with ordinary plural formation:
- book → books
- lesson → lessons
- meeting → meetings
But today is different. You are not normally creating a plural noun when you write today’s meeting. You are forming a relationship between today and meeting.
That is why:
- today’s meeting ✅
- todays meeting ❌
Today vs. Today’s: The Easiest Way to Choose
Ask what role the word is playing.
Use “Today” When You Mean “On This Day”
Examples:
- I’m working today.
- We need to leave today.
- She arrived today.
- Are you free today?
A useful question is:
When?
If the answer is today, you probably need the form without an apostrophe.
Use “Today’s” When You Mean “Of Today”
Examples:
- Today’s meeting has been postponed.
- Today’s weather is warmer than yesterday’s.
- I read today’s newspaper.
- Please check today’s schedule.
A useful substitution is:
Can you understand it as “of today” or “associated with today”?
If yes, today’s is likely the right form.
Use “Today’s” When You Mean “Today Is” or “Today Has”
Try expanding the contraction:
- Today’s a holiday. → Today is a holiday.
- Today’s the final day. → Today is the final day.
- Today’s been difficult. → Today has been difficult.
If the expanded version makes grammatical sense, today’s may be a contraction.
Expert tip: Don’t assume every apostrophe-s is possessive. English uses ’s for both possession/genitive relationships and contractions.
“Today’s Date” or “Todays Date”?
The correct expression is today’s date.
What is today’s date? ✅
Not:
What is todays date? ❌
And not:
What is todays’ date? ❌
Why?
Because today’s date means approximately “the date of today.”
Compare:
- today’s date
- today’s weather
- today’s news
- today’s schedule
- today’s temperature
The same construction is used in each phrase.
Examples in Real Writing
Question:
What is today’s date?
Instruction:
Enter today’s date in the box.
Statement:
Today’s date is August 3.
Professional context:
Please verify today’s date before submitting the report.
Notice that the apostrophe remains even though date is a singular noun. It is not optional punctuation.
“Today’s Meeting” or “Todays Meeting”?
The standard form is:
Today’s meeting begins at 2 p.m. ✅
The phrase means the meeting associated with today.
Compare:
| Sentence | Correct? | Why? |
| Today’s meeting starts at 10. | ✅ | The meeting is associated with today. |
| Todays meeting starts at 10. | ❌ | Missing apostrophe. |
| Todays’ meeting starts at 10. | ❌ | Incorrect plural possessive formation. |
| The meeting is today. | ✅ | Today identifies when it occurs. |
| The meeting starts today. | ✅ | Today functions as a time adverb. |
This distinction is especially useful in workplace writing.
Compare:
The meeting is today.
with:
Today’s meeting is at 10.
The first sentence tells you when the meeting occurs. The second identifies which meeting—the one associated with today.
Today’s News, Weather, Schedule, and Events
The same pattern applies to hundreds of everyday expressions.
Today’s News
I haven’t read today’s news yet.
This means the news associated with the current day.
Today’s Weather
Today’s weather is expected to remain warm.
Here, today’s identifies the particular day connected with the weather being discussed.
Today’s Schedule
Check today’s schedule before leaving.
This means the schedule for today.
Today’s Events
Several of today’s events were canceled. ❌
This example introduces an important limitation. The possessive construction does not automatically work simply because a noun is related to today.
A more natural sentence would be:
Several of today’s events were canceled. ✅
or:
Today’s events were canceled. ✅
The preposition changes the structure. This is a useful reminder that grammar is about the relationship between the words, not just memorizing spelling.
Can “Today’s” Come Before a Plural Noun?
Yes.
The noun following today’s can be singular or plural:
- today’s meeting
- today’s lesson
- today’s deadline
- today’s events
- today’s headlines
- today’s results
- today’s announcements
The apostrophe does not change to todays’ simply because the following noun is plural.
That is a common misunderstanding.
Compare:
Today’s events were widely reported. ✅
The plural word is events, not todays. Therefore, the fact that events is plural does not turn today’s into todays’.
Why “Todays’ Events” Is Wrong
Some writers reason like this:
events = plural → therefore today must also become plural → todays’ events
But the sentence does not say there are multiple “todays.” It says the events belong to or are associated with one current day.
So:
today’s events ✅
not:
todays’ events ❌
Is “Today’s” Always a Possessive?
No.
This is one of the most important distinctions in the entire topic.
| Example | Meaning of today’s | Grammar |
| Today’s meeting starts at noon. | of/associated with today | Genitive/possessive construction |
| Today’s news is surprising. | of/associated with today | Genitive/possessive construction |
| Today’s Monday. | Today is Monday. | Contraction |
| Today’s the deadline. | Today is the deadline. | Contraction |
| Today’s been exhausting. | Today has been exhausting. | Contraction |
The punctuation looks identical, but the grammatical explanation differs.
The “Is/Has” Test
When you see today’s, try replacing it with:
- today is
- today has
If one produces a grammatical sentence, you are looking at a contraction.
For example:
Today’s been productive.
→ Today has been productive. ✅
But:
Today’s meeting begins at noon.
→ Today is meeting begins at noon. ❌
So in the second sentence, today’s is not a contraction. It expresses a relationship between today and meeting.
Today vs. Today’s: Practical Decision Table
When you are proofreading, this table can settle most cases quickly.
| If you want to say… | Use | Example |
| on this day | today | I’ll call you today. |
| at present | today | People shop differently today. |
| the thing associated with today | today’s | Today’s lesson is short. |
| the date of the current day | today’s | What is today’s date? |
| today is | today’s | Today’s the big day. |
| today has | today’s | Today’s been exhausting. |
| a plural of today | Usually rephrase | several days / these days |
| plural possessive | Usually not applicable | today’s events, not todays’ events |
Common Mistakes With Today’s and Todays
Mistake 1: Dropping the Apostrophe
Todays meeting is canceled.
Correct:
Today’s meeting is canceled.
This is probably the most common written error.
Mistake 2: Adding the Apostrophe After the S
Todays’ meeting is canceled.
Correct:
Today’s meeting is canceled.
The apostrophe does not move to the end merely because the following noun is plural.
Mistake 3: Using “Today’s” Where “Today” Is Required
I’ll finish the report today’s. ❌
Correct:
I’ll finish the report today. ✅
There is no noun for today’s to relate to, and it cannot function as a normal adverb with an apostrophe.
Mistake 4: Treating “Today” Like a Regular Plural Noun
I have had three todays like this. ❓
In ordinary formal writing, that is not the normal way to express the idea. Depending on your meaning, use:
- three difficult days
- several days like this
- several days
- these days
While creative or literary writing can deliberately bend normal usage, standard grammar should be the default in professional, academic, and general-purpose writing.
Mistake 5: Confusing “Today’s” With an Adjective
A phrase such as today’s technology can look as though today’s is simply an adjective.
It is more useful to understand it as a genitive/possessive construction functioning before a noun.
This matters because it explains why the apostrophe is retained.
Cambridge specifically warns that today can occur in a possessive ’s construction before a noun, while it does not function as an ordinary adjective in constructions such as the today’s cars.
Is “Todays” Ever Correct?
For ordinary modern writing, todays should generally be treated as incorrect when you intend either today’s or today.
That does not mean English can never contain unusual historical, dialectal, literary, or specialized uses. Language contains exceptions and creative formations. But those edge cases should not influence everyday grammar.
If you are writing:
- an email
- an essay
- a school assignment
- a business report
- an article
- a formal document
- a social media post
and you mean “of today,” use today’s.
If you mean “on this day,” use today.
That practical rule will cover the overwhelming majority of situations readers encounter.
British English vs. American English: Is the Spelling Different?
No meaningful spelling difference exists here.
Both British English and American English use:
- today
- today’s
The apostrophe is not a British-versus-American spelling choice.
This differs from pairs such as:
- colour/color
- organise/organize
- travelling/traveling
You do not need to choose today’s simply because you are writing for an American audience, nor do British conventions require it.
Cambridge examples from British English use today’s in possessive constructions, while its American dictionary material likewise gives examples such as today’s paper.
What Can Vary?
Style and punctuation preferences can vary between publications and style guides, but the core spelling does not.
If your organization has a house style, follow it for matters such as:
- date formatting
- capitalization
- quotation marks
- formal versus conversational contractions
But do not remove the apostrophe from today’s merely to create an American spelling.
Today, Today’s, Tomorrow’s, and Yesterday’s
Understanding related time words makes the pattern easier to recognize.
| Time expression | Time reference | Possessive/genitive form | Example |
| today | current day | today’s | Today’s meeting |
| tomorrow | following day | tomorrow’s | Tomorrow’s schedule |
| yesterday | previous day | yesterday’s | Yesterday’s news |
| Monday | named day | Monday’s | Monday’s class |
| week | period | week’s | This week’s deadline |
Notice the pattern:
today’s meeting
tomorrow’s meeting
yesterday’s meeting
These expressions use a genitive relationship to identify the time associated with the noun.
Why This Comparison Helps
If you would naturally write:
Tomorrow’s meeting
you already understand the underlying construction.
You would not normally write:
Tomorrows meeting
So the same logic applies to:
Today’s meeting
The fact that today is a compound time word does not remove its ability to participate in the standard’s construction.
Today vs. Today’s vs. “News Today”
Word order can change the structure without changing the basic time reference.
Compare:
Today’s news is concerning.
and:
The news today is concerning.
Both can be correct, but they are structured differently.
“Today’s News”
Today’s identifies the news as the news associated with the current day.
“News Today”
Today functions as a time expression telling us when the news is occurring or being considered.
The same contrast appears with other nouns:
- today’s events
- the events today
- today’s weather
- the weather today
- today’s meeting
- the meeting today
This is why it is risky to memorize a phrase without understanding the underlying grammar.
A Simple Proofreading Method for Today’s
When you are unsure, use this five-step check.
Step 1: Ask “When?”
If the answer is today, use today.
I’m leaving today.
Step 2: Look for a Noun
If today is connected to a noun, consider today’s.
Today’s appointment is at 3 p.m.
Step 3: Try “Of Today”
today’s appointment
the appointment of today
If the meaning works, today’s is probably appropriate.
Step 4: Try “Today Is” or “Today Has”
Today’s been long.
→ Today has been long.
If the expansion works, the apostrophe-s is a contraction.
Step 5: Reject Automatic “Todays”
Do not add s simply because another noun follows.
todays meeting ❌
today’s meeting ✅
The noun after today’s does not make today plural.
A Quick Checklist for Writers
Before publishing or submitting a sentence containing one of these forms, ask:
- Do I mean on this day? → Use today.
- Do I mean of or associated with today? → Use today’s.
- Can today’s be expanded to today is? → It is a contraction.
- Can it be expanded to today has? → It is also a contraction.
- Did I write todays because I thought I was making a plural? → Recheck.
- Did I write todays’ because the following noun is plural? → Recheck.
- Am I writing today’s where today should stand alone? → Remove the apostrophe and s.
One-minute rule: If the word stands alone as a time expression, it is usually today. If it connects today with another noun, today’s is often the correct construction.
Examples: Correct and Incorrect Usage
Correct Examples
Everyday conversation
I’ll see you today.
Workplace writing
Today’s meeting has been moved to 3 p.m.
Academic writing
Today’s students have access to digital resources that were unavailable to earlier generations.
Scheduling
Please review today’s schedule before the meeting.
Weather
Today’s weather is cooler than yesterday’s.
News
Have you seen today’s news?
Contraction
Today’s the day we finally finish the project.
Incorrect Examples
Todays meeting starts at nine. ❌
Today’s meeting starts at nine. ✅
What is todays date? ❌
What is today’s date? ✅
Todays’ events were canceled. ❌
Today’s events were canceled. ✅
I’ll call you today’s. ❌
I’ll call you today. ✅
Todays weather is terrible. ❌
Today’s weather is terrible. ✅
Related Apostrophe Confusions Worth Knowing
The problem with todays or today’s belongs to a larger family of English punctuation mistakes.
Tomorrow vs. Tomorrow’s
I’ll do it tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s meeting starts at noon.
The first answers when. The second links tomorrow to a noun.
Yesterday vs. Yesterday’s
I saw her yesterday.
Yesterday’s announcement surprised everyone.
Again, the apostrophe marks the relationship with the following noun.
Week vs. Week’s vs. Weeks’
This example demonstrates why plural possessives can look different:
This week’s schedule is full.
Here week is singular.
But:
Two weeks’ notice is required.
Here, weeks is plural, so the apostrophe comes after the s.
That distinction does not mean today should become todays’. There is no ordinary plural todays being formed in expressions such as today’s events.
Expert Takeaway: Don’t Learn the Apostrophe as a Decoration
The best way to master this distinction is to stop thinking:
“Today’s needs an apostrophe because that is the rule.”
Instead, ask what the construction is doing.
Today can identify the time:
We finished it today.
- Today’s can connect today with a noun:
- Today’s report is complete.
- Today’s can also compress a clause:
- Today’s been difficult.
= Today has been difficult.
That approach is more reliable because it works when the sentence changes.
You are not memorizing a spelling. You are recognizing a grammatical relationship.
Conclusion
The difference between todays or today’s becomes straightforward once you stop treating the apostrophe as a spelling detail and look at the sentence’s grammar. Use today when you mean on this day or at present: I’ll finish the report today. Use today’s when you mean of or associated with today: Today’s report is ready. The same spelling can also contract today is or today has. In standard modern English, todays and todays’ are not the forms you normally want in these constructions. One final actionable tip: when proofreading, test today’s with “of today,” “today is,” or “today has.” A common mistake to avoid is assuming a plural noun requires todays’. It doesn’t. Learn the relationship, and the apostrophe becomes much easier to place correctly.
FAQs
Q1. Is “todays” ever grammatically correct?
In ordinary modern standard English, todays is not the form you should use for the usual meanings of today. If you mean on this day, write today. If you mean of or associated with today, write today’s. Unusual historical or creative uses do not change the standard rule for everyday writing.
Q2. Is “today’s” a possessive or a contraction?
It can be either, depending on context. In today’s meeting, it is a genitive/possessive construction meaning something like “the meeting of today.” In today’s Friday, it is a contraction of today is, In today’s been busy, it represents today has.
Q3. Why is “today’s date” correct if “today” does not own the date?
Because possessive or genitive constructions can express relationships other than literal ownership. Today’s date means essentially “the date associated with today” or “the date of today.” The apostrophe marks that grammatical relationship; it does not imply that today physically possesses a date.
Q4. Should I write “todays’ events” because “events” is plural?
No. The plural noun events does not make today plural. The standard expression is today’s events. The apostrophe remains before the s because today is the singular form taking the ’s construction. Todays’ would incorrectly treat todays as a plural possessive.
Q5. What is the fastest way to choose between “today” and “today’s”?
Ask whether you mean “on this day” or “of/associated with today.” Use today for the first: I’m working today. Use today’s for the second: Today’s schedule is full. If today’s can expand to today is or today has, it is a contraction.
