Community’s, Communities’, or Communities? A Simplified Guide to Mastering the Difference

Let’s start with a quick scenario: You’re drafting an email to your neighborhood association about an upcoming event. You want to say something about the community’s involvement, but you pause. Should it be community’s, communities’, or just communities? If this has ever tripped you up, you’re not alone. These tiny grammatical distinctions can feel like a minefield, but they’re crucial for clear and professional communication.

Understanding the difference between community’s, communities’, and communities isn’t just about grammar rules—it’s about ensuring your message is precise and polished. Whether you’re writing an email, crafting a report, or posting on social media, getting these details right can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll break down each form, explain when and how to use them, and provide plenty of examples to help you master this common grammar challenge.

Quick Summary: What’s the Difference?

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview:

• Community’s: Singular possessive. Use this when something belongs to one community.
• Communities: Plural form. Use this when referring to more than one community (no ownership).
• Communities’: Plural possessive. Use this when something belongs to multiple communities.

Still unsure? Don’t worry—we’ll explore each of these in depth, with real-world examples and tips to help you avoid common mistakes.

Why the Confusion?

The confusion around community’s, communities’, and communities often stems from their similar spelling and pronunciation. All three forms are based on the same root word (community), but the placement of the apostrophe (or lack thereof) changes the meaning entirely.

For example:

• Community’s (with an apostrophe + s) indicates ownership by one community.
• Communities’ (with an apostrophe after the s) indicates ownership by multiple communities.
• Communities (no apostrophe) is simply the plural form, meaning more than one community.

This subtle difference can trip up even experienced writers, especially when typing quickly or focusing on the broader message. Add to that the fact that apostrophes are often misused in everyday writing (think: it’s vs. its), and it’s no wonder this topic causes headaches.

Detailed Explanation & Correct Usage

Let’s dive deeper into each form, with examples to illustrate their proper usage.

1. Community’s (Singular Possessive)

This form is used when something belongs to one community. The apostrophe + s shows ownership or association.

Examples:

• The community’s park is a hub for local events.
• We’re proud of the community’s efforts to reduce waste.
• The community’s leader shared updates at the town hall.

In each of these examples, the focus is on a single community and something that belongs to or is associated with it.

2. Communities (Plural Form)

This is the simplest form—it’s just the plural of community, meaning more than one group or neighborhood. No ownership is implied.

Examples:

• Urban and rural communities often face different challenges.
• Several communities came together to organize the festival.
• The program aims to support underserved communities.

Here, communities simply refers to multiple groups, with no indication of possession.

3. Communities’ (Plural Possessive)

This form shows that something belongs to multiple communities. The apostrophe comes after the s to indicate plural possession.

Examples:

• The communities’ combined efforts made the fundraiser a success.
• Each of the communities’ leaders attended the summit.
• The communities’ shared resources helped reduce costs.

In these sentences, the focus is on something owned or shared by multiple communities.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Even with a clear understanding of the rules, mistakes can happen. Here are some common errors and how to fix them:

Mistake 1: Using Communities Instead of Community’s

Incorrect: The communities park is closed for renovations.
Correct: The community’s park is closed for renovations.

Why? The first sentence suggests multiple communities, but you’re talking about one specific park owned by a single community.

Mistake 2: Using Community’s for Multiple Communities

Incorrect: The community’s programs were funded by the state.
Correct: The communities’ programs were funded by the state.

Here, multiple communities are involved, so the plural possessive (communities’) is correct.

Mistake 3: Omitting the Apostrophe in Possessive Forms

Incorrect: The communities efforts were recognized.
Correct: The communities’ efforts were recognized.

The apostrophe is essential to show possession.

Synonyms or Alternatives

While community’s, communities’, and communities are specific in their usage, there are times when you might want to rephrase for clarity or variety. Here are some alternatives:

• For community’s: “belonging to the community,” “of the community.”
  Example: Instead of “the community’s park,” you could say “the park belonging to the community.”
• For communities’: “shared by the communities,” “of the communities.”
  Example: Instead of “the communities’ efforts,” you could say “the efforts shared by the communities.”

These alternatives can be useful in formal writing or when you want to avoid repetitive phrasing.

Examples in Sentences

To reinforce your understanding, here are more examples in various contexts:

Formal Contexts:

• The community’s proposal was approved by the council.
• Several communities have expressed interest in the new initiative.
• The communities’ representatives met to discuss regional issues.

Informal Contexts:

• Our community’s garden is looking amazing this year!
• I love how different communities come together during the holidays.
• The communities’ potluck was a huge success.

Professional Contexts:

• The community’s feedback will shape the project’s next phase.
• We’re partnering with multiple communities to expand our reach.
• The communities’ collaboration has set a new standard for teamwork.

Origins & History

The word community comes from the Latin communitas, meaning “fellowship” or “shared participation.” Over time, its meaning expanded to refer to groups of people living in the same area or sharing common interests. The possessive forms (community’s and communities’) evolved as English grammar developed rules for indicating ownership.

Interestingly, the use of apostrophes to show possession dates back to the 16th century. Before that, Old English used different endings to indicate possession. The modern rules we follow today were standardized in the 18th and 19th centuries, thanks to the work of grammarians and style guides.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Mastering the difference between community’s, communities’, and communities is a small but powerful step toward clearer, more effective communication. Whether you’re writing an email, drafting a report, or posting on social media, using the correct form shows attention to detail and professionalism.

To recap:

• Use community’s for something belonging to one community.
• Use communities when referring to more than one community (no ownership).
• Use communities’ for something belonging to multiple communities.