Why do people say your guys’s?

Answered by Michael Wilson

People say “your guys’s” as a colloquial way to indicate possession by a group of people. The phrase is a combination of the possessive pronouns “your” and “guys’s,” and it is commonly used in informal speech, particularly in certain dialects and regions.

The use of “your guys’s” is primarily seen in situations where a speaker wants to emphasize that a possession belongs to a specific group of people, usually a group that includes the person they are addressing. It is often used when discussing shared items, responsibilities, or decisions within a group.

One reason people might say “your guys’s” is to avoid ambiguity or confusion. In English, the possessive form of “you” is “your,” and when referring to multiple people, “you guys” is a common colloquial phrase. However, using “your guys’s” clarifies that the possession is not just the speaker’s but also belongs to the group of people they are addressing.

For example, imagine a group of friends planning a trip together. One person might say, “Hey, remember to bring your guys’s swimsuits!” In this context, the speaker is emphasizing that everyone in the group should bring their own swimsuits, indicating that it is not just the responsibility of one individual but of the entire group.

Another reason for using “your guys’s” could be to create a sense of inclusivity and camaraderie. By using this phrase, the speaker acknowledges the collective ownership of the possession, reinforcing the idea that everyone in the group is part of a shared experience or responsibility.

It is important to note that the usage of “your guys’s” is considered informal and may not be grammatically correct according to standard English rules. It is more commonly used in spoken language rather than formal writing. In formal writing, it is better to use the standard possessive form “your” followed by “guys'” to indicate possession by a group.

People say “your guys’s” to emphasize group ownership and avoid ambiguity when discussing possessions or responsibilities within a group. It is a colloquial phrase commonly used in informal speech, but it may not adhere to standard grammatical rules.