President’s Day vs. Presidents Day – Which is Correct?
Both President’s Day and Presidents Day are commonly encountered, but Presidents Day (without an apostrophe) is widely adopted by style guides and for general use when referring to the federal holiday honoring multiple U.S. presidents. President’s Day (with a singular possessive apostrophe) is grammatically sound when specifically denoting the birthday of a single president, particularly George Washington.
President’s Day or Presidents Day – Which is Correct?
The distinction between “President’s Day” and “Presidents Day” hinges on the use of the apostrophe, which indicates possession or a descriptive relationship. “President’s Day,” with a singular possessive apostrophe, traditionally refers to the birthday of a single president, specifically George Washington. This form emphasizes the day as belonging to *one* president.
Similarly, mastering apostrophe rules is key for other tricky pairs like ‘individual’s’ vs. ‘individuals’.
Conversely, “Presidents Day,” without an apostrophe, functions as a descriptive plural. In this construction, “Presidents” describes “Day,” much like in “Teachers College” or “Citizens Band Radio.” This form is widely preferred by modern style guides (such as the Associated Press Stylebook) when referring to the federal holiday that honors multiple U.S. presidents (Washington, Lincoln, and sometimes all past presidents). A third variant, “Presidents’ Day” (with a plural possessive apostrophe), is also grammatically correct if the intent is to show possession by multiple presidents, but it is less common in official and journalistic usage than the non-possessive “Presidents Day.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| President’s Day | Proper Noun (singular possessive) | A holiday or day specifically dedicated to one president, historically George Washington. | Many still refer to the observance as President’s Day, honoring Washington. |
| Presidents Day | Proper Noun (descriptive plural/attributive) | The federal holiday honoring multiple U.S. presidents, including Washington and Lincoln. | Schools are closed for Presidents Day every February. |
How to Use President’s Day
“President’s Day,” with its singular possessive apostrophe, is used when the emphasis is on the day belonging to or commemorating a single president. While the federal holiday is officially “Washington’s Birthday,” the colloquial “President’s Day” emerged as a way to acknowledge this specific historical figure. Its usage often carries a traditional or historically precise tone, aligning with the original intent of the holiday, which was to honor George Washington.
Example 1: The historic society hosted a special lecture on George Washington’s legacy for President’s Day.
Example 2: My grandmother always called the holiday President’s Day, specifically thinking of Washington.
Example 3: The local museum offered free admission on President’s Day, featuring exhibits about early American leaders.
What are the different forms of President’s Day?
The term “President’s Day” itself is quite fixed in its form, as it’s a proper noun referring to a specific holiday. The primary variation involves the presence or absence of the apostrophe, which fundamentally changes its grammatical interpretation as discussed. There are no tenses or pluralizations for this specific holiday name; however, one might speak of “President’s Day celebrations” or “President’s Day sales,” where “President’s Day” acts as an adjective describing the noun that follows.
Etymology of the word President’s Day
The federal holiday officially known as “Washington’s Birthday” was established in 1879 to commemorate George Washington’s birth. Over time, as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February, creating a three-day weekend. This change, combined with the proximity of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), led to many states and the public beginning to observe the day as a celebration of both Washington and Lincoln, and eventually all U.S. presidents. The informal term “President’s Day” (singular possessive) gained traction as a popular way to refer to the holiday, reflecting its original focus on Washington.
How to Use Presidents Day
“Presidents Day,” without an apostrophe, is the most common and often preferred form when referring to the federal holiday that honors multiple U.S. presidents. This descriptive plural construction treats “Presidents” as an adjective modifying “Day,” indicating that it is a day *for* presidents rather than a day *belonging to* a president. This usage is favored by many journalistic and academic style guides, including the Associated Press, for its clarity and broad applicability to the collective honor of all presidents. It is the form most likely to be seen in official communications, news articles, and general public discourse.
Example 1: Many businesses offer special discounts during the long Presidents Day weekend.
Example 2: The school calendar marks Presidents Day as a non-instructional day for students.
Example 3: We discussed the history of the holiday and its evolution into Presidents Day.
What are the different forms of Presidents Day?
Like “President’s Day,” “Presidents Day” is a fixed proper noun for a holiday. Its form doesn’t change for tenses or pluralization. It functions as a singular concept for the holiday itself. One might see phrases like “Presidents Day sales event” or “Presidents Day parade,” where “Presidents Day” acts as a compound adjective.
Etymology of the word Presidents Day
The evolution of “Washington’s Birthday” into “Presidents Day” reflects a broader cultural shift. After the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 moved Washington’s Birthday to the third Monday in February, the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12) led to a natural inclination to celebrate both. States began adopting various names, including “Presidents’ Day” (plural possessive) and “Presidents Day” (descriptive plural). The latter form, “Presidents Day,” gained favor due to its simplicity and its ability to encompass the celebration of all U.S. presidents, rather than just one or two, aligning with modern style guide preferences for attributive nouns over possessives in such contexts.
Related Concepts
Understanding the difference between “President’s Day” and “Presidents Day” is fundamentally about grasping the use of apostrophes to denote possession versus their absence in descriptive (attributive) nouns. A possessive apostrophe (e.g., “the student’s book,” “the students’ books”) indicates that something belongs to someone or something. In contrast, an attributive noun (e.g., “a student council,” “a teachers lounge”) acts like an adjective, describing the noun that follows without implying ownership. In “Presidents Day,” “Presidents” describes the “Day” as being associated with presidents in general, rather than specifically belonging to them. This grammatical nuance is crucial for precise and conventionally accepted writing.
Examples from Media and Literature
- “President’s Day sales are a great time to buy a new car.” (Common colloquial usage, often implying a singular possessive, though “Presidents Day” without the apostrophe is more common in advertising.)
- “The White House released a statement commemorating Presidents Day, honoring the leadership of all former U.S. commanders-in-chief.” (Official or journalistic usage, favoring the descriptive plural.)
- “Historians debated whether the holiday should revert to its original name, ‘Washington’s Birthday,’ or continue as Presidents Day.” (Discussion about the holiday’s naming.)
- “On Presidents Day, many federal offices and banks are closed.” (General public information, using the widely accepted descriptive plural.)
- “The editorial argued for a return to calling it President’s Day, to emphasize the unique role of George Washington.” (Opinion piece, using the singular possessive for specific emphasis.)
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
- Many people enjoy a long weekend during _________ to relax or travel.
- The original federal holiday was officially designated as George Washington’s Birthday, sometimes informally referred to as _________.
- Which form is generally preferred by the Associated Press Stylebook when referring to the federal holiday? _________
- Our history class learned about the lives of various leaders on _________.
- The store advertised massive _________ savings on electronics and appliances.
Answer Key
- Presidents Day
- President’s Day
- Presidents Day
- Presidents Day
- Presidents Day
President’s Day Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Washington’s Birthday | The official federal holiday name, commemorating George Washington’s birth. |
| Lincoln’s Birthday | A separate holiday in some states, celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s birth, often associated with the broader holiday. |
| Founders’ Day (contextual) | While not a direct synonym, it refers to a day honoring the founders of an institution or nation, which can overlap conceptually. |
Presidents Day Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Washington’s Birthday | The official federal holiday name, which “Presidents Day” often informally replaces. |
| Washington and Lincoln’s Birthday | A more explicit variant of the holiday’s purpose, honoring both key figures. |
| Federal Holiday in February | A general descriptor for the observed day off. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “Presidents’ Day” (with a plural possessive apostrophe) ever correct?
Yes, “Presidents’ Day” is grammatically correct if your intent is to show a day belonging collectively to multiple presidents. However, for the federal holiday, “Presidents Day” (no apostrophe) is generally preferred by style guides due to its widely accepted use as a descriptive plural.
Question 2: Why do some people prefer “President’s Day” over “Presidents Day”?
Those who prefer “President’s Day” often do so to emphasize the holiday’s original purpose of honoring George Washington, a single president. It maintains a connection to the historical roots of the observance as Washington’s Birthday.
Question 3: Which form should I use in formal writing or journalism?
For formal writing, especially in journalism, academic papers, or official communications, “Presidents Day” (without an apostrophe) is the recommended form. It aligns with the preferences of major style guides like the Associated Press Stylebook, which favor the descriptive plural for this federal holiday.
Conclusion
While both President’s Day and Presidents Day are widely understood, the preferred and increasingly common form for the federal holiday honoring multiple U.S. presidents is Presidents Day (without an apostrophe). This usage reflects a shift towards a descriptive plural, aligning with modern style guide recommendations. President’s Day (singular possessive) remains grammatically valid, particularly when emphasizing the day’s original focus on George Washington.
Pro Tip: When in doubt, especially in professional or journalistic contexts, opt for “Presidents Day” without the apostrophe. Adhering to this convention demonstrates an understanding of contemporary usage and respected style guidelines, enhancing your professional reputation.
