each others’ (other’s)

Writers often mix up each other, each other's, other's, others, and others'. Below are short rules, focused wrong/right pairs, contextual examples (work, school, casual), and copy-ready rewrites so you can fix sentences quickly.

Quick rule

each other = reciprocal action (no apostrophe). each other's = possession belonging to members of a reciprocal pair or group. others = plural noun meaning "other people" (no apostrophe). others' = plural possessive. other's = singular possessive (rare).

each other → They helped each other.
each other's → They read each other's notes.
others → We invited others.
others' → I respect others' opinions.
other's → The other's turn (uncommon)

Core explanation: what each form does

each other is a reciprocal pronoun for two or more people acting toward one another. No apostrophe when it's the object of a verb.

each other's adds possession: something belongs to members of that reciprocal relationship.

others is the plural noun "other people." others' is the plural possessive. other's is the possessive of a single "other" and is uncommon in everyday writing.

Reciprocal? Use each other. Ownership? Use a possessive: each other's, others', or other's depending on number.
Quick check: If you can replace the phrase with "someone else's" or "other people's," you need a possessive form.

Example (reciprocal): They blamed each other.
Example (possessive): They blamed each other's choices.
Example (plural possessive): I value others' feedback.

Apostrophe rules you can follow in 10 seconds

Singular noun → 's. Plural noun ending in s → s'. Pronouns like each other are not possessive unless you add 's to other.

Ask: Am I describing mutual action or ownership? Then ask: singular or plural owner?
If mutual action → each other (no apostrophe).
If ownership by each member → each other's + noun.
If ownership by multiple other people → others' + noun.
If one single other owns it (rare) → other's + noun.

Wrong: She asked for others's input.
Right: She asked for others' input.

Common wrong/right pairs (6 high-frequency mistakes)

These corrections cover the most frequent errors with each other and other(s).

Wrong: They praised each others' work.
Right: They praised each other's work.
Wrong: We should respect other's opinions.
Right: We should respect others' opinions.
Wrong: Each others success inspired them.
Right: Each other's success inspired them.
Wrong: I borrowed other's jacket.
Right: I borrowed someone else's jacket.
Wrong: They looked at each others answers during the test.
Right: They looked at each other's answers during the test.
Wrong: He didn't ask other's permission before posting.
Right: He didn't ask others' permission before posting.

Real usage: concise examples for work, school, and casual writing

Correct forms with short alternative rewrites you can copy.

Work: Each other's feedback improved the draft. (Alt: Feedback from each team member improved the draft.)
Work: Please respect others' schedules when proposing meeting times. (Alt: Please consider other people's schedules.)
Work: She forwarded someone else's résumé to HR. (Alt: She forwarded a colleague's résumé.)
School: Students annotated each other's essays during workshop. (Alt: Students gave feedback on one another's essays.)
School: Don't copy others' answers - cite your sources. (Alt: Don't copy other students' answers.)
School: Each other's lab notes helped them compare results. (Alt: The students compared each other's lab notes.)
Casual: They tagged each other in the photo album. (Alt: They tagged one another.)
Casual: I grabbed someone else's coffee by mistake. (Alt: I took the wrong person's coffee.)
Casual: We traded others' concert tickets at the door. (Alt: We swapped tickets with other people.)

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context. That almost always makes the right form clear.

More examples and quick rewrites (copy-ready fixes)

Each entry shows the wrong sentence, a brief diagnosis, and a polished rewrite.

Wrong: Each others project looked different. Diagnosis: possession by members → needs each other's.
Rewrite: Each other's project looked different.
Wrong: We offended other's feelings. Diagnosis: plural owners → others'.
Rewrite: We offended others' feelings.
Wrong: They gave eachothers notes. Diagnosis: reciprocal object should be two words.
Rewrite: They gave each other notes.
Wrong: I used others notes for reference. Diagnosis: plural possessive needed.
Rewrite: I used others' notes for reference. (Alt: I used other people's notes.)
Wrong: She blamed another's. Diagnosis: incomplete; clarify the noun.
Rewrite: She blamed another's decision. (Or: She blamed someone else.)
Wrong: He checked each-others work. Diagnosis: hyphenation error.
Rewrite: He checked each other's work.

Hyphenation, spacing, and formatting pitfalls

each other is always two words, never hyphenated. The apostrophe attaches directly to other when needed: each other's. Watch for missing spaces, underscores, or stray characters from copy/paste.

Incorrect: each-other, eachunderscores, each_others.
Correct: each other, each other's.
Don't separate the apostrophe from the s: others ' opinions is wrong; others' opinions is correct.

Memory tricks and quick tests to catch errors

Use substitution tests to reveal meaning:

Possessive test: Replace with "someone else's" or "other people's." If one fits, use the corresponding possessive.
Reciprocity test: If you can rewrite with "one another" or "each other" and keep the meaning, don't use an apostrophe.
Apostrophe location: If ownership belongs to the plural group "others," put the apostrophe after the s: others'.

Example test: We should respect other's opinions → Replace with "other people's" → We should respect other people's opinions → Use others'.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Watch for another's vs other's, its vs it's, and plural nouns that don't end in s (children's).

another's = possession by one more (another's chance). other's = singular possessive (rare).
its (possessive) vs it's (it is) - different rules but commonly confused.
Plural nouns not ending in s (children → children's) take 's for the possessive.

Wrong: She took another's seats.
Right: She took another's seat.
Wrong: The company changed it's policy.
Right: The company changed its policy.

FAQ

Is it each others' or each other's?

It's each other's. Add 's to other to make the possessive when ownership belongs to members of the reciprocal relationship.

When should I use others' instead of other's?

Use others' when multiple other people own something (plural possessive). Use other's only when a single "other" owns something, which is uncommon.

Can I use each other as a possessive?

Not by itself. each other is reciprocal and takes no apostrophe. To show possession, use each other's + noun.

Quick fix: my sentence uses "other" but I'm not sure of number. What do I do?

Replace the phrase with "someone else's" (singular) and "other people's" (plural). If one of those reads naturally, use the matching possessive form.

Are style guides strict about one another vs each other?

Most guides treat them as interchangeable in small groups. Apostrophe rules apply the same: make them possessive with 's (one another's, each other's).

Still unsure about a sentence?

Run the three-step check: (1) mutual action or possession? (2) singular or plural owner? (3) substitute "someone else's" or "other people's" to confirm. Paste one sentence here for a fast rewrite you can copy.