Word Usage

Mary W. Ng

June 26, 2009

people’s, peoples’

People is a plural noun used to refer to persons in general. The possessive of people is people’s. People is also a group noun meaning “all the men, women and children who live in a particular country”; the plural of people is peoples; the possessive of peoples is peoples’.

Incorrect:She is always concerned about other peoples’ feelings.
Correct:She is always concerned about other people’s feelings.