If you have ever typed “todays date” or “today’s date” and stopped to wonder whether the apostrophe belongs there, you are not alone. This tiny punctuation mark causes a surprisingly common English mistake.
The correct form in standard English is “today’s” when you mean something related to, belonging to, or associated with the present day. For example, we write “today’s weather,” “today’s meeting,” “today’s news,” and “today’s date.” The apostrophe is important because it marks the possessive form.
The word “todays” without an apostrophe is extremely rare in normal English. It can appear as a literary plural meaning multiple instances of “today,” but that use is unusual. In everyday writing, seeing “todays” before a noun usually means the writer has accidentally omitted the apostrophe.
This guide explains todays or today’s, including the grammar rule, history, British and American usage, common mistakes, everyday examples, search trends, and professional writing advice.
Todays or Today’s – Quick Answer
Today’s is the correct form in almost every normal sentence when you mean “of today” or “related to today.”
Examples:
- Today’s meeting starts at 10 a.m. ✅
- Today’s weather is beautiful. ✅
- What is today’s date? ✅
- I read today’s newspaper. ✅
These forms use an apostrophe because today’s expresses a relationship with the present day. Merriam-Webster lists today as a noun, adverb, and adjective, and gives examples such as “today’s newspaper.”
What about “todays”?
Todays without an apostrophe is not normally correct when you mean “belonging to today.”
- Todays meeting ❌
- Today’s meeting ✅
- Todays news ❌
- Today’s news ✅
- Todays date ❌
- Today’s date ✅
There is one unusual exception. Todays can be used as a plural noun when someone is talking about several different “todays,” usually in literary or philosophical writing.
For example:
We should appreciate our todays because tomorrow is uncertain.
This is rare. For ordinary writing, today’s is the form you should use.
The Origin of Today’s
The word today has a long history in English. Merriam-Webster records its first known use as an adverb before the 12th century and its noun use from the 16th century.
The word developed from Old English expressions built around the idea of “on this day.” Historical forms included “tō dæġe,” which eventually developed into the modern word today.
The possessive form follows the normal English pattern for singular nouns.
Consider:
- the student’s book
- the company’s website
- the teacher’s desk
- today’s newspaper
In each case, ’s connects the noun with something associated with it.
So:
today + ’s + newspaper = today’s newspaper
The meaning is essentially:
the newspaper of today
or:
the newspaper associated with today
Today’s can also be a contraction
There is another important use of today’s. It can be a contraction of “today is.”
For example:
- Today’s Monday. = Today is Monday.
- Today’s the deadline. = Today is the deadline.
- Today’s a great day. = Today is a great day.
So the apostrophe in today’s can represent either a possessive relationship or the missing letters in the contraction today is.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no British-versus-American spelling difference for this particular word.
Both British English and American English use:
today’s
when the word is possessive or when it is a contraction of today is.
| Meaning | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Belonging to today | today’s | today’s |
| Related to today | today’s | today’s |
| Contraction of “today is” | today’s | today’s |
| Rare plural | todays | todays |
For example:
- British: Today’s meeting starts at nine.
- American: Today’s meeting starts at nine.
The spelling remains identical.
This is different from words such as colour/color, centre/center, or realised/realized, where British and American conventions may differ.
Comparison of common forms
| Form | Correct? | Use |
|---|---|---|
| today | ✅ | Refers to the present day |
| today’s | ✅ | Possessive or “today is” |
| todays | ⚠️ Rare | Literary plural of “today” |
| todays’ | ❌ | Incorrect standard form |
| today ‘s | ❌ | Incorrect spacing |
Which Spelling Should You Use?
For almost all readers and situations, use today’s when the word is possessive.
For American English
Use:
- today’s date
- today’s news
- today’s meeting
- today’s weather
- today’s schedule
For British English
Use exactly the same forms:
- today’s date
- today’s news
- today’s meeting
- today’s weather
- today’s schedule
For international English
Today’s is the safest choice because it follows standard English grammar and is understood globally.
If you are writing an email, school assignment, article, report, business document, or website content, avoid todays when you mean “of today.”
A simple test can help:
Can you replace “today’s” with “of today”?
For example:
Today’s news is important.
becomes:
The news of today is important.
The meaning works, so today’s is appropriate.
Common Mistakes with Todays or Today’s
1. Writing “todays date”
Incorrect:
What is todays date?
Correct:
What is today’s date?
The date is associated with today, so the possessive form requires ’s.
2. Writing “todays meeting”
Incorrect:
Todays meeting begins at noon.
Correct:
Today’s meeting begins at noon.
3. Putting the apostrophe after the S
Incorrect:
Todays’ meeting begins at noon.
Correct:
Today’s meeting begins at noon.
Todays’ would suggest a plural possessive construction, which is not the normal form needed here.
4. Adding a space
Incorrect:
today ‘s news
Correct:
today’s news
The apostrophe should be attached directly to the word.
5. Confusing “today” and “today’s”
Use today when it refers to when something happens:
I will finish the work today.
Use today’s when it modifies a noun:
I will finish today’s work.
This is an important distinction.
6. Writing “today morning”
This is another common learner error.
Instead of:
I will call you today morning. ❌
Use:
I will call you this morning. ✅
Similarly:
- this afternoon
- this evening
Today’s in Everyday Examples
In emails
Correct:
Please review today’s report before the meeting.
I have attached today’s updated schedule.
Today’s meeting will begin at 2 p.m.
In news writing
Today’s headlines focus on the latest economic developments.
Today’s announcement could affect thousands of customers.
Merriam-Webster’s examples include phrases such as “today’s newspaper” and “today’s recipe,” demonstrating how naturally the possessive form appears in published English.
In social media
Today’s workout was harder than expected!
Here’s today’s favorite photo.
Today’s goal: finish the project.
This in formal writing
Today’s findings provide important evidence for the study.
The committee discussed today’s recommendations.
In everyday conversation
Did you see today’s game?
What’s today’s special?
Have you checked today’s weather?
When “today” needs no apostrophe
Remember that today does not need an apostrophe when it stands alone as a noun or adverb:
I am working today.
Today is Monday.
I will call you today.
Here, today is not showing possession.
Todays or Today’s – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search behavior shows why this question continues to appear online: people frequently type phrases such as “todays date,” “todays weather,” and “todays meeting” while trying to determine whether an apostrophe is needed.
Google Trends can compare search interest by keyword, country, region, and time period, but its values represent relative search interest, not the total number of searches.
Available grammar and usage sources consistently identify today’s as the overwhelmingly standard form in edited English, while todays generally appears as a missing-apostrophe error or, much more rarely, as a literary plural.
The searches are often driven by practical phrases:
- todays date → today’s date
- todays weather → today’s weather
- todays news → today’s news
- todays meeting → today’s meeting
- todays schedule → today’s schedule
This means the search intent is usually not about choosing between two equally common spellings. Instead, people are checking whether the apostrophe belongs there.
Usage by country and context
The grammatical rule does not change significantly between major English-speaking regions. British, American, Canadian, Australian, and other standard English varieties use today’s for the possessive form.
The biggest difference is context, not country.
In professional, academic, editorial, and business writing, the apostrophe is expected. In quick texting or informal online writing, people may omit punctuation, but that does not make todays the standard form.
Todays or Today’s: Comparison Table
| Variation | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| today | ✅ | The present day | I am busy today. |
| today’s | ✅ | Belonging or relating to today | Today’s meeting is important. |
| today’s | ✅ | Short for “today is” | Today’s Monday. |
| todays | ⚠️ Rare | Multiple “todays” | We should value our todays. |
| todays’ | ❌ | Incorrect standard form | Todays’ meeting ❌ |
| today ‘s | ❌ | Incorrect spacing | Today ‘s news ❌ |
FAQs About Todays or Today’s
Is “today’s” correct?
Yes. Today’s is the standard possessive form of today and is also used as a contraction of today is.
Is “todays” correct?
Usually, no. Todays without an apostrophe is not the normal form when referring to something related to the present day. It can rarely be used as a plural noun in literary writing.
Is it “today’s date” or “todays date”?
The correct form is today’s date.
Today’s date is September 9.
The apostrophe shows that the date is associated with today.
Is it “today’s meeting” or “todays meeting”?
Use today’s meeting.
Today’s meeting starts at 10 a.m.
Can “today’s” mean “today is”?
Yes.
Today’s Friday.
means:
Today is Friday.
This is a contraction rather than a possessive use.
Is “today’s” the same in British and American English?
Yes. Both British and American English use today’s for the possessive form. There is no regional spelling difference here.
Is “todays’” ever correct?
In normal standard English, todays’ is not the form you need. If you mean something related to the present day, write today’s.
What is an easy way to remember today’s?
Think “of today.”
If you can say:
the news of today
then write:
today’s news.
Should I use “today” or “today’s”?
Use today when talking about when something happens:
I will finish it today.
Use today’s when something is associated with the current day:
I finished today’s assignment.
Conclusion
When choosing between todays or today’s, the answer is simple: today’s is the correct form in almost every everyday situation. Use the apostrophe when you mean something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with the present day. Examples include today’s date, today’s weather, today’s news, today’s meeting, and today’s schedule.
The word today itself does not need an apostrophe when it functions as a noun or adverb, as in “Today is Monday” or “I will finish it today.” The form today’s can also be a contraction of “today is,” as in “Today’s Friday.”
British and American English follow the same rule, so there is no regional spelling issue to remember. Although todays can occasionally appear as a rare plural in literary writing, it should not be used in ordinary professional or academic writing.
When in doubt, use the simple “of today” test. If that meaning works, choose today’s. This small apostrophe will keep your writing clear, polished, and grammatically correct.
