City’s / Cities: The Tiny Detail You’re Getting Wrong

City’s and cities are not interchangeable: city’s shows possession, while cities is the plural form of city.
This confusion is extremely common because both words sound the same, and many writers mistakenly add an apostrophe where it is not needed. The apostrophe (’s) is often misunderstood, leading people to write city’s when they actually mean cities. This small punctuation error can change the meaning of a sentence and cause mistakes in grammar exams, essays, professional writing, and online content.

City’s is used to show ownership or belonging.
Example: “The city’s population is growing.”

Cities is used when referring to more than one city.
Example: “Many cities are expanding rapidly.”

In this article, you will learn the simple grammar rule behind apostrophes, clear correct and incorrect examples, common exam-style mistakes, and easy tips to remember the difference, so you can confidently use city’s vs cities without hesitation.

City’s or Cities meaning

The quick answer is that “cities” is the plural of city (meaning more than one), and “city’s” is the possessive form (meaning something belongs to a city).

• Cities (plural): “I love visiting European cities like Paris and Rome.” Here, you are talking about multiple cities.
• City’s (possessive): “The city’s mayor gave a speech.” This means the mayor belongs to or is associated with the city.

The confusion happens because we add an ‘s’ in both cases, but the apostrophe makes a huge difference. Remember: no apostrophe for simple plurals. This rule solves most user searches about “what is the plural of city” instantly.

The Origin of “City” and Its Plural

The word “city” comes from the Old French cité, which itself originated from the Latin civitas, meaning “citizenship” or “community of citizens.” The concept has always been about a large, permanent human settlement.

The spelling shift to make it plural—from city to cities—follows a standard English rule. For nouns ending in a consonant plus -y, you replace the -y with -ies to form the plural (e.g., baby/babies, party/parties). This is why “city” becomes “cities,” not “citys.”

The possessive form ‘s (apostrophe s) has a different origin, used in English since the Old English period to show genitive case, or possession. So, “city’s” is simply applying this ancient possessive rule to the noun “city.” The spelling differences exist not between regions for this word, but between grammatical function: plural versus possessive.

British English vs American English Spelling

For the words “city’s” and “cities,” there is no difference between British and American English spelling. The rule is the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

Both follow the identical grammar:

• Plural: city → cities
• Possessive: city → city’s (singular possessive)

The confusion often arises with other words or with plural possessives. For example, for a plural possessive (when something belongs to multiple cities), both dialects use cities’ (with the apostrophe after the -s).

• “The cities’ shared infrastructure was upgraded.” (Belonging to many cities).

Here is a quick comparison table for clarity:

Form	American English	British English	Example
Singular	city	city	A major city
Plural	cities	cities	Populous cities
Singular Possessive	city’s	city’s	The city’s park
Plural Possessive	cities’	cities’	The cities’ budgets

The spelling is consistent globally. This makes mastering city’s vs cities much simpler.

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Which Spelling Should You Use?

Your choice depends entirely on what you want to say, not on your location.

1. For a US, UK, or Global Audience: The rule is universal. Use “cities” when discussing more than one city. Use “city’s” when describing something that belongs to or is a characteristic of one specific city.
2. In Academic or Formal Writing: Precision is key. Using the wrong form can confuse your reader. Always double-check:
   • Are you listing several urban areas? Use cities.
   • Are you describing the mayor, history, or policy of a particular place? Use city’s.
3. In Business & Marketing: Clarity builds trust. A brochure saying “Explore our city’s attractions” (possessive) sounds welcoming and specific. A report stating “Our network spans 50 cities” (plural) is clear and professional.
4. For ESL Learners: This is a core grammar rule. Practicing with examples like “city’s map” vs. “neighboring cities” will help solidify the concept naturally.

Common Mistakes with “City’s” and “Cities”

Here are the most frequent errors and how to correct them:

1. Using “city’s” as a plural.
   • Incorrect: “I have visited many city’s in Pakistan.”
   • Correct: “I have visited many cities in Pakistan.”
2. Using “cities” as a possessive.
   • Incorrect: “The cities skyline is beautiful.” (If talking about one city).
   • Correct: “The city’s skyline is beautiful.”
3. Missing the apostrophe in the singular possessive.
   • Incorrect: “We admire the citys rich history.”
   • Correct: “We admire the city’s rich history.”
4. Confusing the plural possessive “cities'”.
   • Incorrect: “The city’s councils met.” (If multiple cities are involved).
   • Correct: “The cities’ councils met.” (The councils of various cities).

Pro Tip: Use the “of the” test. If you can say “the park of the city,” use city’s (the city’s park). If you mean “many of the city,” use cities.

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City’s and Cities in Everyday Examples

Let’s see how this works in real-world writing.

• In an Email: “The city’s new policy affects all downtown businesses. We will present this to other cities in our network next month.”
• In a News Headline: “City’s Population Booms, Ranking It Among Fastest-Growing Cities.”
• On Social Media: “Loving the vibe in this city’s old town! What are your favorite cities to explore?”
• In a Formal Report: “The study compared the public transit systems of ten major cities. Each city’s efficiency was measured against its population density.”
• Examples in Pakistan: “Karachi is one of the largest cities in the world. Lahore’s (city’s) food scene is legendary. The cities’ cultural histories are deeply interconnected.”

City’s & Cities – Google Trends & Usage Data

Analysis of search data shows that “cities” is searched far more frequently globally than “city’s.” This makes sense, as people often search for lists, comparisons, and information about multiple urban areas (e.g., “largest cities,” “smart cities,” “cities in Pakistan”).

Searches for “city’s” often spike alongside specific events or proper nouns, like a “city’s budget” or “city’s name,” indicating its use in news and localized information. The keyword “city’s cities” itself is a clear sign of user confusion, blending the possessive and plural forms. This search intent is purely grammatical, aiming to solve a writing dilemma.

Regionally, variations like “city’s cities in Pakistan” or “city’s cities list” show users are seeking plural information but using the incorrect possessive form in their query—highlighting exactly why this guide is needed.

Keyword Variations Table

Correct Form	Incorrect Form	Grammatical Function
cities	city’s, citys	Standard plural (more than one city)
city’s	cities	Singular possessive (belongs to the city)
cities’	city’s, cities’s	Plural possessive (belongs to many cities)

Faqs

1. What is the plural of city?
The plural of city is cities. You change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.

2. How do you make “city” plural?
You make “city” plural by dropping the ‘-y’ and adding ‘-ies,’ resulting in cities. Example: one city, three cities.

3. What is an example of “city’s” and “cities”?

• City’s: “The city’s museum is free.” (The museum of the city).
• Cities: “Major cities include London and Tokyo.” (More than one city).

4. What does “city’s” mean?
“City’s” is the possessive form, showing ownership or association. It means “of the city” or “belonging to the city.”

5. Is it “city’s” or “cities” for more than one?
For more than one city, always use “cities” without an apostrophe. “City’s” with an apostrophe never indicates the plural.

6. What is the plural possessive of city?
The plural possessive is cities’ (apostrophe after the -s). It shows something belongs to multiple cities. Example: “The cities’ joint proposal.”

7. Which are the top 10 cities in the world by population?
Lists vary, but typically include cities like Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, São Paulo, and Mexico City. (Note: Here, “cities” is correctly used as the plural).

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between city’s and cities is a small grammar rule with a big impact on clear communication. The key takeaway is straightforward: use cities when you mean more than one urban area, and use city’s when you need to show that something belongs to a single city. This rule applies consistently across all forms of English, from American to British to global business English.

Remember the simple test: try replacing the word with “of the.” If it fits, use the possessive city’s. If you are simply counting or listing, use the plural cities. Avoid the common mistake of using an apostrophe to make a word plural—apostrophes show possession, not quantity.

By mastering this distinction, you will write more professionally in emails, reports, and content. You will naturally use the correct form when discussing cities in Pakistan or a specific city’s culture. Clear writing builds credibility, and getting these fundamental details right is the foundation. Keep this guide handy, practice with the examples, and you will never hesitate between city’s and cities again.