Fridays vs. Friday’s – Which is Correct?

The choice between fridays and friday’s depends entirely on context. Fridays is the plural form of the noun “Friday,” referring to multiple Fridays, or an adverb meaning “every Friday.” Friday’s is either the possessive form, indicating something belonging to Friday, or a contraction of “Friday is” or “Friday has.” Both are grammatically correct but serve different purposes.

Fridays or Friday’s – Which is Correct?

The distinction between fridays and friday’s lies in their grammatical function: one is a plural noun or an adverb, and the other is a possessive form or a contraction. Understanding the role of the apostrophe is key to using them correctly.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

The easiest way to remember the difference is to focus on the apostrophe. If you see an apostrophe, think possession (“something belonging to Friday”) or contraction (“Friday is” or “Friday has”). If there’s no apostrophe, you’re likely dealing with the plural form of the day of the week or using it as an adverb to describe when something happens regularly.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Fridays	Plural Noun / Adverb	Multiple Fridays; every Friday	We usually go out on Fridays.
Friday’s	Possessive Noun / Contraction	Belonging to Friday; Friday is/has	Friday’s weather looks great.

How to Use Fridays

The term Fridays can function in two primary ways: as a plural noun referring to multiple instances of the day Friday, or as an adverb indicating that an action occurs regularly on that day. When used as a plural noun, it signifies more than one Friday, such as “the last three Fridays.” When used adverbially, it means “every Friday” or “on Fridays,” often in a habitual sense. It is a common and informal way to express weekly occurrences.

Example 1: All the Fridays in December are fully booked for holiday parties.

Example 2: We always have pizza night on Fridays.

Example 3: She works late Fridays to finish her reports.

What are the different forms of Fridays?

The word “Fridays” itself is already the plural form of “Friday.” When used as an adverb (e.g., “I work Fridays”), it maintains this same form. There are no other distinct grammatical forms (like different tenses or degrees of comparison) for “Fridays” as a noun or adverb.

Etymology of the word Fridays

The word “Friday” comes from Old English Frīġedæġ, meaning “day of Frigg.” Frigg was the Norse goddess of marriage, motherhood, and household management, associated with the Roman goddess Venus, for whom the Latin dies Veneris (day of Venus) was named. The plural form “Fridays” simply adds the standard English plural suffix -s to denote multiple instances of this specific day.

How to Use Friday’s

The term Friday’s is used in two main grammatical contexts: as a possessive noun or as a contraction. As a possessive, it indicates something belonging to or associated with Friday. For example, “Friday’s meeting” refers to the meeting scheduled for Friday. As a contraction, it can stand for “Friday is” (e.g., “Friday’s the last day of the week”) or “Friday has” (e.g., “Friday’s been a long day”). The apostrophe is crucial for conveying either possession or a shortened form of “is” or “has.”

Example 1: Friday’s agenda includes a review of quarterly performance.

Example 2: I think Friday’s going to be an early release day.

Example 3: Friday’s weather forecast looks promising for our outdoor event.

What are the different forms of Friday’s?

“Friday’s” is either a possessive form of the noun “Friday” or a contraction. As such, it does not have different forms in the way verbs have tenses or adjectives have degrees of comparison. Its form remains consistent whether indicating possession or serving as a contraction for “Friday is” or “Friday has.”

Etymology of the word Friday’s

The etymology of “Friday’s” is directly tied to the word “Friday.” As mentioned, “Friday” originates from Old English Frīġedæġ, honoring the Norse goddess Frigg. The apostrophe-s (‘s) is a grammatical convention in English that evolved from Old English genitive case endings (e.g., Frīġedæġes) to indicate possession, and later also became common for contractions of “is” and “has.”

Related Concepts

Understanding these broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the correct usage of “fridays” and “friday’s” in various contexts.

• Apostrophes: These punctuation marks serve multiple vital roles in English, primarily indicating possession (e.g., the dog’s bone) or forming contractions (e.g., it’s cold for “it is cold”).
• Plural Nouns: Nouns that represent more than one item, person, or concept. Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es (e.g., cat to cats, box to boxes).
• Adverbs of Time: Words or phrases that indicate when an action occurs. They answer the question “When?” and can describe frequency or specific timing (e.g., daily, soon, on Mondays).

Examples from Media and Literature

Here are some examples illustrating the proper use of “fridays” and “friday’s” in different contexts:

• “I’m so glad it’s Friday’s finally here,” she thought, looking forward to the weekend. (Contraction: Friday is)
• “The office always has a more relaxed atmosphere on Fridays.” (Adverb: every Friday)
• “Friday’s child is loving and giving.” (Possessive: something belonging to Friday, from the nursery rhyme)
• “The restaurant offers a special discount on all Fridays in October.” (Plural Noun: multiple Fridays)
• “Everyone looks forward to Friday’s happy hour.” (Possessive: happy hour belonging to Friday)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. Our team meetings are always held on _____.
2. I heard that _____ weather forecast calls for rain.
3. The last few _____ have been exceptionally busy.
4. She said that _____ been a very productive day.
5. How many _____ are left until the end of the year?

Answer Key

1. Fridays
2. Friday’s
3. Fridays
4. Friday’s
5. Fridays

Fridays Synonyms

Synonym / Related Phrase	Definition
On Fridays	Referring to actions that occur regularly on the day Friday.
Every Friday	Indicates a recurring event or action taking place each Friday.
Weekly on Friday	Similar to “every Friday,” emphasizing the weekly frequency.

Friday’s Synonyms

Synonym / Related Phrase	Definition
Of Friday	Expresses possession or association with Friday.
Belonging to Friday	Clarifies the possessive meaning of “Friday’s.”
Friday is	The expanded form of the contraction “Friday’s.”
Friday has	The expanded form of the contraction “Friday’s.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “Fridays” capitalized?
Yes, “Friday” is a proper noun, so its plural form “Fridays” should always be capitalized, whether used as a noun or an adverb.

Question 2: Can “Friday’s” ever be used without indicating possession or a contraction?
No, the apostrophe in “Friday’s” is specifically used to denote possession (e.g., “Friday’s meeting”) or to form a contraction for “Friday is” or “Friday has” (e.g., “Friday’s here”). It does not have other grammatical functions.

Question 3: How do I know if “Fridays” is a noun or an adverb?
If “Fridays” refers to multiple instances of the day itself (e.g., “All the Fridays in August”), it’s a plural noun. If it describes when an action happens regularly (e.g., “We eat out Fridays”), it’s functioning as an adverb.

Conclusion

Navigating the difference between fridays and friday’s boils down to understanding the critical role of the apostrophe. Use Fridays when referring to multiple instances of the day or when indicating that something happens every Friday. Reserve Friday’s for possessive situations (something belonging to Friday) or as a contraction for “Friday is” or “Friday has.” Mastering this distinction enhances clarity and demonstrates careful attention to detail in your writing.

Pro Tip: In professional communication, correct grammar and punctuation, especially with apostrophes, reflect precision and credibility. A small error can distract your reader and undermine your message, so always double-check your usage.