How to Correctly Use Our's vs. Ours in a Sentence

First things first: Ours is the correct way to express ownership for "we." No apostrophe, no fuss, just pure possessive goodness. Think of it like "his," "hers," or "theirs," but for the plural version of "our."

We've all been there: fingers poised over the keyboard, crafting that perfect sentence, then BAM! You hit a snag - ours or our's? Fear not, fellow language enthusiasts, for we're here to de-mystify this possessive pronoun puzzle.

How to Correctly Use Our's vs. Ours in a Sentence

How to use ours?

Using "ours" effectively is all about understanding its purpose and placement in sentences. Here's a breakdown of how to use it:

Function:

Possessive pronoun: "Ours" indicates something belonging to both you and one or more other people. It replaces a noun that would have been preceded by "our."

Form:

No apostrophe: Unlike some other possessives, "ours" never takes an apostrophe.

Position:

Subject or object: "Ours" can be the subject or object of a sentence.
After linking verbs: It often comes after linking verbs like "is," "are," "was," and "were."

Examples:

Here are some examples of how to use "ours" correctly:

Subject: Ours is a story of perseverance and hope.
Object: These tickets are ours, not theirs.
After linking verb: The victory is ours.
Possession: Let's compare our plans for the weekend.
Informal: This cozy corner of the cafe is practically ours on weekdays.

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Helpful tips

• Make sure it replaces a noun that would be preceded by "our."
• Use it to emphasize shared ownership or belonging.

Bonus:

In informal British English, "ours" can also stand for "our home." However, this usage is not universal and should be used with caution.

If you look at the graph below, you can see the correct word "ours" has been used more frequently than the incorrect spelling "our's." The use of "ours" had decreased until the 2000s; its use is currently on an upward streak.

How do we pronounce ours?

"Ours" has a single correct pronunciation and it's quite straightforward! Here's how:

One syllable: Pronounce "ours" as one single syllable, not two.
Vowel sounds: The vowel sound is a combination of two:

First part: Similar to the "ou" sound in "hour" or "mouth."
Second part: A quick and faint "r" sound, almost like a whisper.

Stress: The stress is placed on the first part of the vowel, similar to words like "out" or "loud."

Therefore, the entire pronunciation can be described as:

auə (with the "ə" representing the faint "r" sound)
or (with the emphasis on the "au" part)

Remember, there's no need to separate the syllables or add extra sounds (like an "s" at the end).

Check out our other related blogposts:

🖊️ You and I vs. You and Me: A Guide to Proper Pronoun Use
🖊️ Thier or Their: Which Is Correct?

Why is there confusion between our's vs. ours?

The culprit is likely a false analogy. We see apostrophes used to show possession for nouns ("the dog's collar") and contractions ("we're"), so it's tempting to apply the same logic to pronouns. But pronouns have their own built-in possessive forms, and "ours" does the job just fine without any extra punctuation.

Other possessive pronouns

Independent Possessive Pronouns:

Singular: mine, yours, his, hers, its, whose
Plural: ours, theirs

Dependent Possessive Pronouns:

Singular: my, your, his, her, its (note: "one's" can also be used here for a more formal tone)
Plural: our, your, their

Reflexive Pronouns:

Singular: myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself
Plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves

Emphatic Pronouns:

Singular: my own, your own, his own, her own, its own, our own, your own, their own
Special emphasis: your very own

Example sentences of ours

Formal:

The future is unknown, but our dreams and ambitions are shared. This journey is ours to make together.
The responsibility for preserving this fragile ecosystem falls not just on individual nations, but on all of us. It is ours to protect.
The company's success is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every employee. We are grateful to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something that is truly ours.

Informal:

Forget fancy restaurants, let's have pizza and movie night at ours! It'll be way more fun.
The kids made a fort out of blankets in the living room. It's their secret hideaway, a world entirely theirs.
Remember that old treehouse in the woods? That was our kingdom, full of childhood adventures and whispers of future dreams.

Figurative:

In moments of uncertainty, we often turn to the stars, those silent sentinels that whisper stories older than ours.
Time is a fickle river, always flowing forward, carrying us along on its current. We can only hope to make the most of the fleeting moments that are ours.
Love is a language spoken in a thousand different ways, a melody woven from laughter, tears, and silent understanding. It is a language understood only by those who share it, a language that is uniquely ours.

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