Professors vs. Professor’s – Which is Correct?

The distinction between professors and professor’s hinges on plurality and possession. “Professors” is the simple plural form, referring to multiple academicians. “Professor’s” serves two main functions: it indicates singular possession (something belonging to one professor) or acts as a contraction for “professor is” or “professor has.” The apostrophe is the critical differentiator.

Professors or Professor’s – Which is Correct?

Both “professors” and “professor’s” are grammatically correct in American English, but they serve entirely different purposes. The key to choosing the correct word lies in understanding whether you need a plural noun, a singular possessive noun, or a contraction.

The “Swap Test” can help: If you can replace the word with “multiple professors,” use “professors.” If you can replace it with “belonging to a professor” or “professor is/has,” use “professor’s.”

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
professors	Plural Noun	More than one professor	The professors met to discuss the new curriculum.
professor’s	Possessive Noun / Contraction	Belonging to one professor; or “professor is”/”professor has”	The professor’s lecture was engaging. (Possessive) The professor’s running late. (Contraction)

How to Use Professors

“Professors” is the standard plural form of the noun “professor.” It is used when referring to two or more individuals who hold the academic rank of professor. This form simply denotes quantity without indicating possession or a contraction. It is used in all registers of language, from casual conversation to formal academic writing.

Example 1: Many professors conduct groundbreaking research in their fields.

Example 2: The university hired three new professors for the engineering department.

Example 3: Students often seek advice from their favorite professors during office hours.

What are the different forms of Professors?

“Professors” is already the plural form. The singular form is “professor.” There is also a plural possessive form, “professors’,” which indicates something belonging to multiple professors. For instance, “The professors’ lounge” refers to a lounge used by many professors.

Etymology of the word Professors

The word “professor” comes from the Old French professeur, which itself derives from the Latin professor, meaning “one who declares openly” or “public teacher.” This Latin root is related to profiteri, meaning “to declare publicly, acknowledge, profess.” The term entered English in the late 14th century, initially referring to one who makes an open declaration or avowal, especially of faith. By the 16th century, its meaning evolved to specifically denote a public teacher of the highest rank in a university.

How to Use Professor’s

“Professor’s” serves two distinct grammatical functions, both involving the apostrophe followed by an “s.”

1. Singular Possessive: This is the most common use, indicating that something belongs to a single professor. For example, “the professor’s office” means the office belonging to one professor.
2. Contraction: “Professor’s” can also be a contraction of “professor is” or “professor has.” For example, “The professor’s brilliant” means “The professor is brilliant,” and “The professor’s finished grading” means “The professor has finished grading.”

Understanding the context is crucial to correctly interpreting “professor’s.”

Example 1: The professor’s research was published in a prestigious journal last month. (Possessive)

Example 2: My professor’s always willing to help students after class. (Contraction: professor is)

Example 3: Due to the storm, the professor’s cancelled this evening’s lecture. (Contraction: professor has)

What are the different forms of Professor’s?

“Professor’s” itself is a singular possessive form or a contraction. The base noun is “professor.” For plural possession (something belonging to multiple professors), the form is “professors'” (apostrophe after the “s”).

Etymology of the word Professor’s

The etymology of “professor’s” traces back to the same Latin roots as “professor.” The addition of the apostrophe and “s” (‘s) is a grammatical convention in English. The use of ‘s to indicate possession developed from the Old English genitive case ending, which was often “-es” or “-is.” Over centuries, this evolved into the modern possessive ‘s, becoming standard around the 17th century. Its use as a contraction for “is” or “has” also became prevalent during the same period, reflecting a common phonetic reduction in spoken English.

Related Concepts

To fully grasp the difference between “professors” and “professor’s,” it’s essential to understand the concepts of plural nouns, possessive nouns, and contractions.

• Plural Nouns: These are words that refer to more than one of something. Most English nouns form their plural by adding an “-s” or “-es” (e.g., dog -> dogs, box -> boxes). “Professors” falls into this category, simply indicating multiple individuals.
• Possessive Nouns: These nouns show ownership or a relationship. For singular nouns, possession is typically indicated by adding an apostrophe and “s” (‘s), as in “professor’s.” For plural nouns already ending in “s,” only an apostrophe is added (e.g., “students’ assignments” for multiple students). If a plural noun does not end in “s” (like “children”), then ‘s is added (e.g., “children’s toys”).
• Contractions: These are shortened forms of words or phrases where certain letters are omitted, and an apostrophe replaces the missing letters. In the case of “professor’s,” it often stands for “professor is” or “professor has,” functioning similarly to “it’s” for “it is” or “who’s” for “who is/has.”

Distinguishing these grammatical functions is key to precise and correct writing.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “The young professors often gathered at the campus café to discuss their latest research findings.” (Plural)
• “It was clear from the start that the professor’s expectations for the course were exceptionally high.” (Singular possessive)
• “Hagrid, the gamekeeper, often found himself in trouble with the more conventional professors at Hogwarts.” (Plural)
• “The new professor’s office is located on the third floor, next to the library.” (Singular possessive)
• “After a long day of teaching, the professor’s ready for a quiet evening at home.” (Contraction: professor is)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. All the ______ attended the faculty meeting. (professors / professor’s)
2. The ______ lecture on quantum physics was incredibly complex. (professors / professor’s)
3. My favorite ______ office hours are always busy. (professors / professor’s)
4. The university is renowned for its distinguished ______ in the humanities. (professors / professor’s)
5. I think the ______ going to assign a lot of reading this week. (professors / professor’s)

Answer Key

1. professors
2. professor’s
3. professor’s
4. professors
5. professor’s

Professors Synonyms

As “professors” refers to a specific academic role, direct synonyms are somewhat limited. However, depending on the context, other terms for academic staff or educators can be used.

Synonym	Definition
Academicians	Members of an academy, university, or learned society.
Lecturers	University teachers who deliver lectures.
Educators	People who provide instruction or education.
Faculty members	The teaching staff of a university or college.
Scholars	Learned persons, especially those with advanced academic degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: When do I use “professors'” (plural possessive) instead of “professor’s”?
You use “professors'” (with the apostrophe after the “s”) when you are referring to something that belongs to multiple professors. For example, “The professors’ research collaboration was highly successful” means the collaboration of several professors. “Professor’s” (apostrophe before the “s”) is for a single professor’s possession or a contraction.

Question 2: Can “professor’s” ever be a plural possessive?
No, “professor’s” (apostrophe before the “s”) is strictly singular possessive or a contraction of “professor is” or “professor has.” For plural possessive, you must use “professors'” (apostrophe after the “s”).

Question 3: Is there a rule of thumb for remembering the difference?
Think of the apostrophe as a marker. If it’s before the ‘s’ (professor’s), it usually means “one professor’s X” or “one professor is/has.” If there’s no apostrophe and just an ‘s’ (professors), it means “many professors.” If the apostrophe is after the ‘s’ (professors’), it means “many professors’ X.”

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “professors” and “professor’s” is a fundamental aspect of clear and precise writing. Remember that “professors” indicates a plural quantity, referring to multiple individuals. “Professor’s,” with the apostrophe before the ‘s’, serves either as a singular possessive (belonging to one professor) or a contraction (professor is/has). Paying close attention to whether you intend to convey plurality, singular possession, or a contraction will guide you to the correct choice.

Pro Tip: Misusing apostrophes, especially in academic or professional contexts, can detract from your credibility. Always double-check your writing to ensure the correct form of “professor” is used, reinforcing your attention to detail and command of the English language.