‘Yours' or 'Your's': What's the Difference Between the Two?

Are you unsure whether to use 'yours' or 'your's?' You are not alone. Many writers have the same question. 'Yours' is the correct way you use 'your' as a second-person possessive pronoun. 'Your's' is a spelling error. 

Read this guide to learn more about the difference and why 'yours' and 'your's' are so confusing. It gives examples, definitions, and information to help you remember the correct usage of 'yours.'

What's the Difference Between 'Yours' and 'Your's?'

'Yours' is used to tell someone that something is theirs. 'Your's' is a misspelling or grammatical error. 

Definition of 'Yours'

'Yours' is a possessive pronoun that you use in the second person point-of-view. It indicates that something belongs to someone you are speaking to or writing to. For example: 

• The job is yours if you want it. 
• Is yours blue like mine? 

It can also be used as a closing or signoff at the end of a letter or email. For example: 

• Respectfully 'Yours'
• 'Yours' Truly
• Sincerely 'Yours'

Why do 'Yours' or 'Your's' Confuse People?

Many people confuse the words 'yours' and 'your's' because, in the English language, 's indicates possession. The only time you do not use's to suggest possession is when you say that something belongs to you, them, him, her, or it. When showing possession of any other word, you need the's. 

Here are some examples of's used to show possession in a  sentence: 

• The coach's motto was the best defense is a good offense. 
• Do not try to take the dog's food. He could bite you.
• The child's lunch contained delicious healthy food. 
• The boss's job is essential to the entire team. 

You can also create contractions with is and has and a possessive pronoun by adding an apostrophe, 's.' For example: 

• He is - 'He's' bringing the car to the shop today. 
• He has - 'He's' given money to the charity annually.
• She is - 'She's' my best friend. 
• She has - 'She's' been my best friend for the past 30 years. 
• It is - 'It's' the biggest house on the block.
• You are - 'You're' my best friend. 

However, even if you want to say 'yours is,' 'yours's' is not grammatically correct. So, you can't abbreviate it with a contraction. Instead, you would use 'yours is.' For example: 

• 'Yours' is blue and mine is white. 
• 'Yours' is better than mine. 

Usage Examples of 'Yours'

Now that you know that 'yours' indicates that something belongs to someone you are addressing and that 'your's' is a spelling error, look at these additional sample sentences.

• The attorney told us, "the estate is 'yours." 
• Steve told Susie, "my love is 'yours."
• The blue car on the left is 'yours.'
• The deadline for the assignment is next Friday. So, you need to submit 'yours' before then.
• The postcard on the table is yours. 

Final Advice on 'Yours' or 'Your's'

Understanding whether 'yours' or 'your's' is accurate is easy because 'your's' is never correct. You do not need an apostrophe 's' because 'your' already shows possession. 

For help with other confusing words, bookmark writingtips.org. It is an excellent resource for verifying spelling, grammar, writing tips, and verifying the meanings of dozens of idioms.