Industry’s or Industries’ or Industries?

“Industry’s” is the singular possessive form of “industry”, indicating ownership or association with a single industry. E.g, “The industry’s growth was fueled by technological advancements.” Furthermore, “industries’” is the plural possessive form, used when multiple industries possess or own something. E.g, “The industries’ representatives convened to discuss regulatory changes.” Additionally, “industries” is the standard plural form of “industry”.

The following chart outlines the different forms of the word “industry”.

Form	Example
Singular	Industry
Plural	Industries
Singular possessive	Industry’s
Plural possessives	Industries’

Here are some examples of the four forms used in context

Singular: The fishing industry supports many coastal communities.

Plural: Various industries contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Singular possessive: The automotive industry’s sales have increased this quarter.

Plural possessive: The industries’ contributions to society are invaluable.

Knowing how to properly use the possessive forms for all nouns is important for  clear communication. Therefore continue reading the rest of this article for more insights.

Industry’s

“Industry’s” is the singular possessive form of “industry”, referring to things associated with a single industry.

You may use the singular possessive to describe different aspects or attributes of an industry:

• The industry’s reliance on fossil fuels necessitated a shift toward renewable energy sources.
• My industry’s competitiveness was threatened by emerging markets and disruptive technologies.
• The industry’s standards and regulations were updated to ensure product safety and consumer protection.

Moreover, you can use the singular possessive to denote characteristics or features specific to an industry:

• Her industry’s commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility earned accolades from environmental advocates.
• Everyone recognized the industry’s role as a driver of innovation and economic growth.

However, as mentioned later, this term can also appear in the plural possessive.

Industries’

“Industries’” is the plural possessive version of “industry”, indicating that multiple industries possess or own something. This form is formed by removing the y from industry and adding -ies’.

You may use use the plural possessive to refer to items or attributes shared among multiple industries:

• The industries’ stakeholders worked together on a joint initiative to address workforce development and skills training.
• The industries’ trade associations lobbied policymakers to advocate for industry-specific interests and priorities.
• A study analyzed the industries’ contributions to GDP and employment across various sectors of the economy.

Furthermore, it’s used to refer to obligations or responsibilities shared among multiple industries:

• The industries’ regulatory compliance requirements varied depending on sector-specific regulations and standards.
• The industries’ supply chains were disrupted by global supply chain shocks and trade tensions.
• A coalition of industries’ representatives formed a task force to address supply chain vulnerabilities and dependencies.

Industries

“Industries” is the plural version of “industry”, used when mentioning multiple industries in non-possessive sentences.

You can use the plural form in two ways:

• To refer to a specific number of industries:

• There were six industries represented at the summit, each advocating for its interests and priorities.
• The government implemented policies to support industries hardest hit by the economic downturn.
• The report identified ten industries poised for growth and investment opportunities in the coming years.
• To refer to all industries in a general sense:

• Industries play a vital role in driving economic development and job creation.
• Many industries are embracing digital transformation to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
• It’s essential to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across industries to tackle common challenges and seize opportunities.