Meaning & use
species' or species's
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Two ways to write the possessive of the noun species, meaning 'belonging to a species'.
Grammar: Use either species' or species's before a noun: the species' habitat / the species's habitat.
Patterns
- species' + noun
- species's + noun
The species' survival depends on clean water.
Scientists studied the species's feeding habits.
The species' range has expanded northward.
phrasefixed phrase
A way to ask or talk about which possessive form of species is correct.
Grammar: Used as a topic or question, often in writing advice: 'species' or species's?'
Patterns
- Is it species' or species's?
In my essay, should I write species' or species's?
The style guide says either species' or species's is fine, but be consistent.
Common combinations
- the species' habitat
- The species' habitat is protected by law.
- the species's population
- The species's population has declined sharply.
- species' or species's
- She asked whether to use species' or species's in her report.
Word family
- species noun
- The base noun; its plural is also species.
Commonly confused: species' or species's or specie?
species' or species's vs specie
Specie means money in the form of coins, not a kind of animal or plant. Do not confuse it with species.
Practice
Which sentence uses the possessive of species correctly according to most style guides?
Choose one answer.
Species' is the most widely accepted possessive form. Species's is also used but less common; 'species diet' lacks a possessive marker, and 'specieses' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “species' or species's”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.