The choice between Thursdays and Thursday’s depends on the sentence.
Use Thursdays when referring to multiple Thursdays or something that happens regularly on that weekday. Use Thursday’s when something is associated with one Thursday. In informal writing, Thursday’s can also shorten Thursday is or Thursday has.
The apostrophe does not simply make the word more formal. It changes its grammatical function.
Quick Answer
- Thursdays means more than one Thursday or every Thursday: “We meet on Thursdays.”
- Thursday’s usually shows a connection with one Thursday: “Thursday’s meeting starts at nine.”
- Thursdays’ is a rare plural possessive: “Those Thursdays’ schedules were unusually busy.”
When the word every comes before the weekday, use the singular form: every Thursday, not every Thursdays.
What Is Correct?
Both Thursdays and Thursday’s are correct, but they are not interchangeable.
Thursdays is normally the plural form of Thursday. It can refer to several separate Thursdays or describe a weekly routine.
“We work from home on Thursdays.”
“There are five Thursdays in October.”
Thursday’s is most often the singular possessive form. It connects a meeting, schedule, event, forecast, or other noun with one Thursday.
“Thursday’s appointment has been moved.”
“Please review Thursday’s agenda.”
The same spelling can also be a contraction.
“Thursday’s the best day for me” means “Thursday is the best day for me.”
“Thursday’s been unusually quiet” means “Thursday has been unusually quiet.”
The Core Grammar Rule
To create the regular plural of Thursday, add s without an apostrophe:
Thursday → Thursdays
To form the singular possessive, add an apostrophe and s:
Thursday → Thursday’s
To form the plural possessive, first make the noun plural and then place an apostrophe after the final s:
Thursday → Thursdays → Thursdays’
An apostrophe may also mark missing letters in a contraction. Therefore, Thursday’s can represent Thursday is or Thursday has when the surrounding words support that reading.
Day names are proper nouns, so capitalize Thursday, Thursdays, Thursday’s, and Thursdays’.
When Each Form Is Correct
| Form or Pattern | Best Use | Why |
| Thursday | One specific day or after every, this, next, or last | These expressions refer to one Thursday at a time |
| Thursdays | Multiple Thursdays or a recurring weekly schedule | The added s creates the regular plural |
| Thursday’s + noun | Something associated with one Thursday | Apostrophe + s forms the singular possessive |
| Thursday’s + complement | A shortened form of Thursday is or Thursday has | The apostrophe replaces missing letters |
| Thursdays’ + noun | Something associated collectively with several Thursdays | The apostrophe follows a plural noun ending in s |
Use Thursday in “every Thursday,” “next Thursday,” and “this Thursday.”
Choose Thursdays in “on Thursdays,” “most Thursdays,” and “three Thursdays.”
Use Thursday’s before a connected noun, as in “Thursday’s class,” or as a contraction, as in “Thursday’s going to be busy.”
When It Is Incorrect or Less Natural
Writing Thursday’s for a simple plural is incorrect.
Incorrect: “I work late on Thursday’s.”
Correct: “I work late on Thursdays.”
The phrase every Thursdays is also incorrect in standard English. Every is followed by a singular countable noun because it considers the members of a group one at a time.
Incorrect: “The store closes early every Thursdays.”
Correct: “The store closes early every Thursday.”
Writing Thursdays meeting is incorrect when referring to a meeting connected with one Thursday.
Incorrect: “Thursdays meeting was canceled.”
Correct: “Thursday’s meeting was canceled.”
Some constructions are technically possible but less natural. For example, Thursday’s morning could be understood as the morning portion of Thursday, but ordinary English strongly prefers Thursday morning.
Likewise, Thursdays’ meetings may be grammatical when several Thursdays are being treated collectively. However, “the meetings held on those Thursdays” is often clearer.
Meaning, Structure, or Emphasis Differences
Every Thursday and on Thursdays can both describe a weekly routine.
“We hold training every Thursday.”
“We hold training on Thursdays.”
The first version highlights each weekly occurrence. The second presents Thursday as the regular day in the schedule. In most situations, the practical meaning is the same.
Thursday’s meeting refers to a meeting associated with one particular Thursday. The apostrophe marks the relationship between the day and the meeting.
By contrast, Thursday meeting can sometimes function as a compressed label, especially in notes or calendar headings. In a complete sentence, however, Thursday’s meeting or the meeting on Thursday is usually clearer.
Thursday morning does not require an apostrophe. Here, Thursday directly identifies which morning is meant.
Finally, context distinguishes a possessive from a contraction:
“Thursday’s schedule is full.”
Here, Thursday’s is possessive.
“Thursday’s going to be hectic.”
Here, Thursday’s means Thursday is.
Real-World Examples
“Our support team works remotely on Thursdays.”
“Three Thursdays this month include staff training.”
“Thursday’s client call begins at 11:00 a.m.”
“I added the final numbers to Thursday’s report.”
“Thursday’s the only day everyone is available.”
“Thursday’s been more productive than Wednesday.”
“The clinic accepts walk-ins every Thursday.”
“We usually order lunch Thursday afternoons.”
“Thursday morning works better than Friday afternoon.”
“The events held on those Thursdays attracted large crowds.”
These examples show that the choice is controlled by meaning and sentence structure, not by whether the sentence is formal or informal.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake: “We have class on Thursday’s.”
Quick fix: Remove the apostrophe because the sentence describes a recurring schedule: “We have class on Thursdays.”
Mistake: “The sale runs every Thursdays.”
Quick fix: Use a singular noun after every: “The sale runs every Thursday.”
Mistake: “Thursdays schedule is attached.”
Quick fix: Add an apostrophe before the s because the schedule is associated with one Thursday: “Thursday’s schedule is attached.”
Mistake: “Thursday’s are usually quiet.”
Quick fix: Use the ordinary plural: “Thursdays are usually quiet.”
Mistake: “Thursday’s morning appointment was canceled.”
Quick fix: Use the standard time expression: “Thursday morning’s appointment was canceled,” or more naturally, “The Thursday morning appointment was canceled.”
Grammar Rule Details
Rule
Add s without an apostrophe to form the ordinary plural Thursdays. Add ’s to form the singular possessive Thursday’s. Place the apostrophe after the plural s to form Thursdays’.
An apostrophe before s can also mark the contractions Thursday is and Thursday has.
Correct Usage
Use Thursdays for several Thursdays, habits, regular business hours, and repeating schedules.
Use Thursday’s before a noun connected with one Thursday: “Thursday’s deadline.”
It is also correct before a complement when it means Thursday is or Thursday has: “Thursday’s been reserved for interviews.”
Incorrect or Less Natural Usage
Do not place an apostrophe in Thursdays merely because the word ends in s.
Avoid every Thursdays, because every requires the singular Thursday.
Although Thursdays’ is grammatically available, it can make a sentence difficult to read. Rewrite it when the plural possession is not immediately clear.
Examples
Plural form: “The office is closed Thursdays.”
For a recurring schedule: “We meet on Thursdays.”
Singular possessive: “Thursday’s workshop is full.”
As a contraction: “Thursday’s our busiest day.”
Plural possessive: “Those Thursdays’ attendance figures were higher than expected.”
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is using an apostrophe to create a plural. Another common problem is omitting the apostrophe before a noun that is clearly associated with one Thursday.
Writers also sometimes combine every with Thursdays, even though the required construction is every Thursday.
Exceptions
No exception permits Thursday’s to serve as the ordinary plural of Thursday.
However, Thursday’s is not always possessive. It may be a contraction of Thursday is or Thursday has.
The plural possessive Thursdays’ is also valid, though uncommon.
Quick Test
Ask what the sentence means.
For more than one Thursday or a weekly routine, use Thursdays.
For something connected with one Thursday, use Thursday’s.
When Thursday’s can be expanded to Thursday is or Thursday has, it is a contraction.
For something connected with several Thursdays, use Thursdays’ or rewrite the phrase.
Usage Notes
In American English, the preposition on may be omitted in schedule statements.
“The museum is closed on Thursdays.”
“The museum is closed Thursdays.”
Both forms are natural. The shorter version is especially common in notices, business hours, and conversational American English.
FAQ
Does Thursdays need an apostrophe?
Not when it is an ordinary plural or refers to a recurring schedule. Write “I work on Thursdays,” not “I work on Thursday’s.”
An apostrophe is needed only when the form is possessive, a contraction, or the uncommon plural possessive.
Is it every Thursday or every Thursdays?
Every Thursday is correct. The determiner every is followed by a singular countable noun.
You can also say on Thursdays when describing the same weekly routine.
Is on Thursdays grammatically correct?
Yes. On Thursdays means regularly on that day of the week.
For example, “The team meets on Thursdays” means the meeting normally occurs each Thursday.
Is Thursday’s meeting correct?
Yes. Thursday’s meeting means the meeting associated with a particular Thursday.
You could also write the meeting on Thursday, especially when you want to emphasize the date rather than possession.
Can Thursday’s mean Thursday is or Thursday has?
Yes. The intended meaning depends on what follows.
“Thursday’s our final day” means “Thursday is our final day.”
“Thursday’s been stressful” means “Thursday has been stressful.”
When is Thursdays’ correct?
Use Thursdays’ when something is associated with multiple Thursdays considered together.
For example, “Those Thursdays’ schedules were identical” refers to the schedules of several Thursdays. Because this form can look awkward, “The schedules for those Thursdays were identical” is often clearer.
Conclusion
Use Thursdays for more than one Thursday or for a recurring schedule: “We meet on Thursdays.”
Use Thursday’s when something is associated with one Thursday: “Thursday’s meeting.” The same form can also shorten Thursday is or Thursday has.
Use the rare Thursdays’ when several Thursdays jointly modify or possess something. Above all, never add an apostrophe merely to make Thursday plural.
