Question

What is the correct punctuation in this sentence? Day's, days' or days?

1. I embrace the day's reprieve.
2. I embrace the days' reprieve.
3. I embrace the days reprieve.

Answer 1

It depends on how many days the reprieve is, but generally, option 1 would be inferred.

Explanation:

Rewrite the sentence (on paper, or in your head), using "of the (noun)" instead of a possessive.

1. If the sentence means "I embrace the reprieve of the day", then the possessive form is "day's reprieve".
2. If the sentence means "I embrace the reprieve of the days" (note the plural "days"), then the possessive form is "days' reprieve" (because the reprieve "belongs" to many days instead of just one day).

I can't think of a reason why option 3 would be correct.