The correct form is else’s, not elses, when you want to show possession. For example, “This is someone else’s phone” means the phone belongs to another person. The confusion happens because else does not form a normal plural with -s, and the apostrophe is easy to miss when typing quickly.
Many writers therefore write “someone elses” when they mean “someone else’s.” This guide explains the difference, the history of else, British and American usage, common mistakes, and practical examples. By the end, you will know when to use else, else’s, and why elses is normally incorrect.
Quick Answer
Else’s is the correct form when you need to show possession. Elses is not the standard spelling for this purpose.
Use else’s when something belongs to someone, anyone, everyone, or somebody else.
Examples:
- Correct: “That is someone else’s bag.”
- Incorrect: “That is someone elses bag.”
- Correct: “I read everyone else’s answers.”
- Incorrect: “I read everyone elses answers.”
The apostrophe in else’s shows possession. The phrase before it can be someone else, anyone else, everyone else, somebody else, or nobody else.
Importantly, else itself is also correct without an apostrophe when possession is not involved.
- “What else do you need?”
- “Is there anyone else here?”
- “Let’s go somewhere else.”
Standard grammar references recognize possessive forms such as “somebody else’s” and “everybody else’s.” (Dictionary.com)
The Origin of Elses vs Else’s
The word else has a long history in English. It comes from Old English elles, meaning “otherwise,” “other,” or “in another way.” Dictionary sources trace it through Middle English and connect it with older Germanic words meaning “other” or “different.” (Dictionary.com)
Over time, else developed into a common English word used with pronouns and question words.
Examples include:
- someone else
- somebody else
- anyone else
- everyone else
- what else
- where else
- something else
The possessive form developed in expressions such as someone else’s house and everyone else’s opinion.
The important point is that elses is not simply the plural version of else. English does not normally treat else as a noun that becomes elses. Instead, the apostrophe in else’s marks possession within phrases such as “someone else’s.”
This is why “someone elses car” is incorrect, while “someone else’s car” is correct.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no British-versus-American spelling difference here. Both British English and American English use else’s when possession is intended.
Unlike words such as “colour/color” or “organise/organize,” this is not a regional spelling issue.
| Usage | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Possessive form | else’s | else’s |
| Non-possessive form | else | else |
| “Elses” as possessive | Incorrect | Incorrect |
| Example | someone else’s book | someone else’s book |
So whether you are writing for a British, American, Canadian, Australian, or international audience, the same apostrophe rule applies.
For example:
- British: “It was someone else’s idea.”
- American: “It was someone else’s idea.”
The spelling does not change.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Use else’s when you mean that something belongs to another person or group represented by a phrase such as “someone else.”
Use else when there is no possession.
Use “else”
- “What else can we do?”
- “Does anyone else want coffee?”
- “Where else should we go?”
Use “else’s”
- “This is someone else’s coat.”
- “I prefer everyone else’s suggestion.”
- “That was nobody else’s responsibility.”
For formal writing, always use the standard possessive form else’s.
For emails, school assignments, reports, websites, business documents, and professional communication, avoid “elses” when you mean possession.
The rule is the same for both US English and UK English, so there is no need to change the spelling based on your audience.
Common Mistakes with Elses vs Else’s
The most common mistake is forgetting the apostrophe.
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| someone elses car | someone else’s car | Possession needs an apostrophe |
| everyone elses opinion | everyone else’s opinion | The opinion belongs to everyone else |
| anyone elses problem | anyone else’s problem | The apostrophe marks possession |
| somebody elses idea | somebody else’s idea | Possessive form is required |
| nobody elses fault | nobody else’s fault | “Else’s” shows ownership or association |
| what else’s | depends on context | “Else’s” is not automatically required |
Another mistake is using elses’.
For example:
- Incorrect: “someone elses’ book”
- Correct: “someone else’s book”
Do not add an apostrophe after the s. The standard possessive form is else’s.
A simple proofreading trick is to ask: Does something belong to someone else?
If yes, use else’s.
Elses vs Else’s in Everyday Examples
The difference appears in everyday writing more often than you might expect.
In emails
“Please check someone else’s file before sending the report.”
Here, the file belongs to another person, so else’s is correct.
In news writing
“The company denied responsibility for someone else’s actions.”
The phrase identifies actions associated with another person.
In social media
“I accidentally took someone else’s seat.”
The seat belongs to another person.
In formal writing
“Employees should not use anyone else’s account without permission.”
This uses the possessive form correctly in a professional context.
Without possession
“Is there anything else you need?”
Here, there is no ownership, so the apostrophe is unnecessary.
Elses vs Else’s – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest around elses vs else’s is mainly driven by grammar questions rather than by people using “elses” as a legitimate alternative spelling. Grammar websites and language-learning resources commonly address the confusion because writers often omit the apostrophe in phrases such as “someone else’s.” (grammaredges.com)
There is also no meaningful British English vs American English difference in this case. The correct possessive form remains else’s in both varieties.
Searches can appear in different forms, including:
- elses vs else’s
- someone elses or someone else’s
- everyone elses or everyone else’s
- anyone elses or anyone else’s
- is elses a word
- else’s meaning
- someone else’s grammar
The strongest search intent is usually grammar correction: users want to know whether the apostrophe belongs in the phrase.
Comparison Table: Elses vs Else’s
| Feature | Elses | Else’s |
|---|---|---|
| Standard possessive form | No | Yes |
| Apostrophe | No | Yes |
| Shows possession | No | Yes |
| Used in “someone ___ book” | Incorrect | Correct |
| Used in British English | Incorrect | Correct |
| Used in American English | Incorrect | Correct |
| Example | someone elses book | someone else’s book |
The easiest rule is simple: when something belongs to someone else, write “else’s.”
FAQs:
Is “elses” a correct word?
Elses is not the standard form used to show possession in phrases such as “someone else’s car.” Use else’s instead.
Is “someone elses” correct?
No. The correct phrase is “someone else’s.” The apostrophe shows possession.
Is “everyone elses” correct?
No. Write “everyone else’s.” For example, “Everyone else’s work was finished.”
What is the difference between “else” and “else’s”?
Else means another, additional, or different. Else’s is used to show possession.
Should I write “anyone elses” or “anyone else’s”?
Write “anyone else’s.” For example: “I did not read anyone else’s message.”
Is “elses’” correct?
No. Elses’ is also incorrect for normal possessive use. The standard form is else’s.
Does British English use “else’s”?
Yes. British English uses else’s, just like American English. There is no spelling difference here.
Is “else’s” always possessive?
Usually, else’s is the possessive form in phrases such as “someone else’s car.” However, context matters because apostrophe-s can sometimes represent a contraction in other words. In ordinary “someone else’s” constructions, it marks possession.
Conclusion
The correct form in the elses vs else’s comparison is else’s when you need to show possession. Write “someone else’s car,” “everyone else’s opinion,” and “anyone else’s problem,” not “someone elses car.”
The word else is correct without an apostrophe when you simply mean another, different, or additional, as in “What else?” or “Is anyone else here?” This rule is the same in British and American English.
The practical takeaway is simple: if something belongs to someone else, put the apostrophe before the s and write else’s. For more help with confusing English forms, link naturally to a related post about its vs it’s.
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