Which is Correct: Weeks or Week’s?

The correct usage of weeks or week’s can be confusing, as they are used in different contexts and grammatical forms. Understanding the correct usage is essential for clear communication. Let’s explore when to use each form and understand their different meanings.

Plural Form: Weeks

The plural form weeks is used when referring to more than one week. This form is used in the following cases:

When you want to refer to a specific number of weeks: The job took 6 weeks to complete. In general statements about periods of time: There are 52 weeks in a year.

Example: I have finished a week’s work. Here, the sentence implies that the work is completed within a certain week, but it does not specify which week.

Possessive Form: Week’s

The possessive form week’s is used to indicate something belonging to a week. This form is used in situations where you are showing ownership or possession within a specific week.

Example: The dress cost a week’s wages. In this sentence, the dress is valued against the worker’s wages for a specific week.

Common Misunderstandings

It's becoming increasingly common to see the mistake of using a single apostrophe followed by 's' (week’s) to denote plural weeks. However, this is a misspelling and should be avoided. The correct form for plural weeks is simply to add an 's' without the apostrophe: 6 weeks, 7 weeks, etc.

Time Expressions

When expressing time in relation to weeks, the correct form depends on the specific context. Depending on whether you are referring to a single week or multiple weeks:

If it is within one week, use 'weeks': Within a week’s time If it is within two or more weeks, use 'weeks': Within two weeks

Examples: Correct usage would be:

Within a week’s time, we will check the results Within two weeks, all orders will be shipped

Both "a week’s time" and "two weeks" are correct. However, it is clearer and more concise to use "within two weeks" instead of "within two weeks time."

Conclusion

Remember, whether you need to use weeks or week’s depends on the context of your sentence and whether you are referring to plural weeks or weeks as possession. Using the correct form will help ensure clear communication and avoid any confusion.

Embrace the correct usage in your writing and conversation to avoid common mistakes and effectively convey your message. By understanding the difference between weeks and week’s, you’ll be well on your way to improving your English language proficiency.