‘Week's' vs 'Weeks': What's the Difference?

Do you need to know the difference between 'week's' vs. 'weeks?' If so, you came to the right place.

Here is the quick answer: 

• 'Week's' is the possessive form of the noun week. 
• 'Weeks' is the plural form of the noun week. 

You can learn much more about these in this guide. It contains definitions, usage tips, examples, and pronunciations for both terms. So, by the time you finish reading this post, you will be an expert on the difference and how to use them.

What's the Difference Between 'Week's' vs. 'Weeks?'

In English, you add an apostrophe s to the end of words that end in any letter other than s to indicate possession. So, 'week's' is the possessive form of the noun week. When you add an s to the end of week or other terms, it makes them plural. So, 'weeks' is the plural form of the noun week.

Another difference is that 'week's' is a singular form of the word, but other than the former term being possessive and the latter being plural, there is no difference in the meaning of the terms. 

When to Use 'Week's' vs. 'Weeks'

Now that you understand the difference between these two forms of week, let's look at when you use each term.

Here are some usage tips:

• Use 'week's' to give the special of the week.

For example, you could say:

This week's special is almost sold out. It is an ultra-plush weighted blanket for 50% off the retail price. At half off, they won't last long. So, get yours before they are gone. 

• Use 'week's' to give the idea or theme of the week.

For example, you might hear someone say:

Celebrate this week's sports theme by wearing your favorite team's jersey. 

• Use 'weeks' to refer to a period of more than one week.

For example, I might use the term to say:

The package finally arrived today. We had been waiting for it for weeks, and it arrived damaged. 

• Use 'weeks' to refer to the period that something will occur.

For example, you could say:

Our annual sale will occur in the last two weeks of the year. However, the best deals are during the first week. 

Definition of 'Week's': What Does 'Week's' Mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of the noun 'week' is:

• A cycle of 7 consecutive days, typically starting on Sunday and ending on Saturday

It can also mean:

• A period of 7 days is reserved for observing a holiday
• A 7-day period or series of business, school, or workdays
• A period of seven days before or after a date or event

However, when you change the ending of the word by adding an apostrophe s, it makes the word possessive. So, when you use 'week's,' you are saying that the event is specific to the week or takes place during a particular week.

Definition of 'Weeks': What Does 'Weeks' Mean?

The definition of 'weeks' is:

• The plural form of the noun week

It can also mean:

• A period of two or more weeks
• A period it takes to complete or receive something that is two or more weeks

So, 'weeks' is always the plural form of week.

Phrases and Terms Containing 'Weeks'

• Weeks ago
• Weeks-long
• Welcome Weeks
• Education weeks 
• Work weeks

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce 'Week's' vs. 'Weeks'

Learn how to pronounce 'week's' vs. 'weeks' with this guide.

• Use this phonetic spelling for 'week's':

wēks or wEEks

• This is the phonetic spelling for 'weeks':

wēks or wEEks

As you can see, both terms are pronounced the same way; they are not homophones, though. They are just two forms of the same word.

Sample Sentences Using 'Week's' vs. 'Weeks'

Here are some sample sentences using 'week's' and 'weeks.' Read them to ensure you know how to use the terms in different contexts.

Week's

• Anthony is this week's star student. He will be our class leader and receive a special surprise at the end of the week.
• Do you have this week's winner, or will we have to wait to find out who it is?
• Where is this week's guest speaker? They were supposed to arrive 45 minutes ago, and the audience is waiting.
• Every Monday, we announce the week's special at 8 a.m. If you want to purchase it, you have to be quick, though. They are incredible discounts, and they always sell out by 12 p.m.
• Are you coming to see this week's performer? It is a local musician who is attracting national attention. So, this is an incredible opportunity to see them before they become a star.

Weeks

• You have been saying you were coming for a visit for weeks, and I am beginning to think you aren't going to make it.
• If you have a few weeks to wait, we can order you a custom dress for the event.
• You can get approved to buy a home and cleared to close in just two weeks with our improved underwriting process.
• If you are going to visit during the weeks of November 18th and December 15th, I will not be able to see you. I will be out of the office from November 3rd to December 21st.
• It has been weeks since I heard from you. I would hate to send our business to your competitor, but the weeks-long delay is costing our organization money and affecting employee morale.

Final Advice on the Difference Between 'Week's' vs. 'Weeks'

We went over a lot of information. So, here is a quick recap of 'week's' vs. 'weeks':

• 'Week's' is a possessive noun used to show that something occurs during a week or is specific to a particular week.
• 'Weeks' is the plural form of week, which refers to two or more weeks.

This lesson is important because it explains the difference between words that end in an s and an apostrophe s. So, if you ever get mixed up on the difference, you can always return to this page for a quick review.

You can also read through the other confusing words guides to learn about other frequently mistaken and misused English terms. Each contains definitions, examples, pronunciations, and usage tips, so they are a great way to increase your vocabulary and become a better writer.