If you are unsure whether the correct spelling is possession or posession, you are not alone. The two spellings look almost identical, but only one is correct in standard English.
The correct spelling is possession, with two s’s before the ending “ion”:
Correct: possession
Incorrect: posession
The word possession is a common English noun used to describe something that someone owns, controls, or has. It can also refer to the state of having control over something or, in some contexts, being controlled by a supernatural force.
The spelling posession is a common misspelling. It is easy to make this mistake because the pronunciation does not clearly reveal that the word contains two consecutive s sounds in the middle.
In this guide, we will explain the difference between possession vs posession, show you how to use the correct spelling, examine common mistakes, and provide simple examples to help you remember the correct form.
Possession vs Posession: The Quick Answer
When comparing possession vs posession, only possession is correct.
- Possession = correct spelling
- Posession = incorrect spelling
Correct example:
She took possession of the new apartment.
Incorrect example:
She took posession of the new apartment.
The most important spelling point is that possession contains a double s in the middle:
pos + sess + ion = possession
A useful way to remember it is to connect possession with the verb possess.
Possess → possession
Since possess already ends in ss, that double s remains when the noun possession is formed.
What Does Possession Mean?
Possession is a noun with several related meanings. Its most common meaning is something that a person owns or has.
For example:
- My phone is one of my most useful possessions.
- She packed all her possessions before moving.
- The painting is now in his possession.
- He lost possession of his keys.
In these examples, possession refers to ownership, something owned, or having something under one’s control.
The word can also refer to control of a situation or object. For example, in sports, a team may have possession of the ball.
The home team had possession for most of the second half.
In another context, possession can describe a state in which a person is believed to be controlled by a supernatural entity.
The movie tells a fictional story about demonic possession.
Although these meanings are different, they all use the same spelling: possession.
Why Is “Posession” Incorrect?
The spelling posession is incorrect because it leaves out one of the two s’s found in the correct word possession.
The correct spelling is:
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
The incorrect spelling is:
P-O-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
The difference may seem small, but spelling one s instead of two changes the word into a nonstandard spelling.
This mistake often happens because English spelling does not always match pronunciation perfectly. When people hear the word possession, they may not think about how the word is constructed.
However, remembering its relationship with possess makes the spelling easier:
possess → possession
The double s is an important part of both words.
Possession: Meaning and Definition
The noun possession generally refers to ownership, control, or something that someone owns.
Here are the main uses.
1. Something Owned
A possession can be an object or item that belongs to someone.
For example:
Her books are among her most valuable possessions.
Here, possessions means things that she owns.
Another example:
Please keep your personal possessions with you.
In this sentence, possessions are personal belongings.
2. Ownership or Control
Possession can also describe the condition of having something in your control.
For example:
The company took possession of the property.
This means the company obtained control or ownership of the property.
Similarly:
The keys are currently in my possession.
This means the speaker currently has the keys.
3. Sports
In sports, possession often means control of the ball or another object used during a game.
For example:
The team maintained possession of the ball.
Another example:
Our team lost possession near the goal.
This use is particularly common in sports such as soccer, basketball, hockey, and football.
4. Supernatural Control
In stories, movies, and discussions of supernatural beliefs, possession can refer to a person being controlled by a supernatural being.
For example:
The horror film focuses on a case of demonic possession.
This is a different meaning from ownership, but the spelling remains the same.
How to Pronounce Possession
The word possession is commonly pronounced approximately like:
puh-ZESH-uhn
The pronunciation can vary slightly depending on accent, but the middle of the word contains the sound associated with “ss.”
Because pronunciation does not make the spelling obvious, it is easy for some writers to accidentally type posession.
When spelling the word, focus on its connection to possess:
possess + ion → possession
This connection provides a useful spelling clue.
Possess vs Possession
One of the easiest ways to remember the correct spelling of possession is to understand the related verb possess.
Possess means to own, have, or control something.
For example:
She possesses excellent communication skills.
When we form the noun possession, the double s remains:
possess → possession
Examples:
He possesses several valuable paintings.
The paintings are among his most valuable possessions.
The connection between these words can help prevent the common spelling mistake posession.
Examples of Possession in a Sentence
Here are several examples showing how to use possession correctly.
- The house contains many of the family’s oldest possessions.
- She kept the documents in her possession.
- He took possession of the vehicle after completing the purchase.
- The police found several stolen possessions.
- My passport is currently in my possession.
- The team regained possession of the ball.
- They packed their possessions before leaving the house.
- The museum has possession of several rare artifacts.
- He lost possession of his wallet while traveling.
- The story involves a mysterious case of possession.
These examples demonstrate that possession can be used in contexts involving ownership, belongings, control, sports, and supernatural stories.
Possession vs Posession in American English
For American English writers, the correct spelling is possession.
There is no standard US-English spelling posession. It is simply a misspelling.
Whether you are writing a school assignment, business email, blog post, article, report, or social media post, use:
possession
rather than:
posession
For professional and academic writing, correct spelling is especially important because repeated spelling errors can make otherwise strong writing appear less polished.
Common Phrases With Possession
The word possession appears in many common English expressions.
In possession of
The phrase in possession of means having or holding something.
The driver was found in possession of the documents.
Take possession of
Take possession of means to obtain control or ownership of something.
The buyer took possession of the property on Monday.
Lose possession of
Lose possession of means to stop having or controlling something.
She lost possession of her phone.
Personal possessions
Personal possessions means items that belong to a person.
Keep your personal possessions secure while traveling.
Possession of property
This phrase refers to having ownership or control of property.
The agreement explains when possession of the property will transfer.
Ball possession
In sports, ball possession refers to control of the ball.
The team had strong ball possession throughout the match.
Learning these phrases can make it easier to recognize and correctly spell possession in everyday writing.
Why People Confuse Possession and Posession
There are several reasons people write posession instead of possession.
The spelling is visually similar
The two forms differ by only one letter. When typing quickly, it is easy to omit one s.
English spelling can be unpredictable
English contains many words whose spellings cannot be perfectly predicted from their pronunciation. This can make words such as possession challenging for learners.
The word is related to possess
People who do not recognize the connection between possess and possession may have difficulty remembering the double s.
Fast typing causes errors
Even fluent English speakers can accidentally type posession when writing quickly. A spell checker may catch it, but remembering the correct spelling is still useful.
A Simple Trick to Remember Possession
The easiest memory trick is:
Possess has double S → possession has double S.
Think:
POSSESS → POSSESSION
The word possess already contains the double s. When you change it into possession, keep those letters.
You can also break the word into a visual pattern:
POS + SESSION
This can help you remember that there are two s’s after po:
possession
Not:
posession
Another useful approach is to write the word several times:
possession
possession
possession
Repeated exposure can make the correct spelling easier to recognize automatically.
Possession as a Singular and Plural Noun
Possession can be singular or plural depending on what you mean.
Singular
When referring to one item or one instance of possession, use possession.
The car is now in his possession.
Plural
When referring to multiple belongings, use possessions.
She packed her possessions into several boxes.
Notice that the spelling remains based on possession.
Singular: possession
Plural: possessions
Do not change the spelling to posessions.
Possession vs Possessions
The difference is simple:
Possession is singular.
This watch is my most valuable possession.
Possessions is plural.
She donated many of her possessions.
Both forms use the same double s structure.
Correct:
- possession
- possessions
Incorrect:
- posession
- posessions
Is Posession Ever Correct?
No. Posession is not the standard spelling of the English word.
If you intend to refer to ownership, belongings, control, or the related concepts described above, use possession.
For example:
Correct: The property is in her possession.
Incorrect: The property is in her posession.
Even though posession may appear in informal online writing, search results, comments, or user-generated content, its appearance does not make it a correct spelling.
Possession in Formal Writing
Correct spelling is especially important when using possession in formal contexts.
You may encounter the word in:
- Academic writing
- Business documents
- Legal writing
- Property agreements
- News articles
- Sports reports
- School assignments
- Personal correspondence
- Professional websites
For example:
The buyer will take possession of the property after the transaction is completed.
Using possession correctly keeps the sentence professional and standard.
Quick Comparison Table
| Word | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| possession | Yes | Ownership, control, or something owned |
| posession | No | Common misspelling of possession |
The key difference is the additional s in the correct spelling.
POSSESSION ✅
POSESSION ❌
Possession vs Posession: Final Verdict
When choosing between possession vs posession, always choose possession.
Possession is the correct standard English spelling. It can mean something owned by a person, ownership or control of something, control of a ball in sports, or supernatural control in certain contexts.
Posession is an incorrect spelling and should be avoided in standard English writing.
The easiest way to remember the correct spelling is to connect it with possess:
possess → possession
Both contain the important double s.
If you remember that one spelling rule, you will be much less likely to write posession by mistake.
Correct:
He kept the documents in his possession.
Incorrect:
He kept the documents in his posession.
So, if you are ever unsure, remember:
Possession is correct. Posession is incorrect.
FAQs
1. Is it possession or posession?
The correct spelling is possession. Posession is a misspelling. The word possession contains two s’s after “po.”
2. What does possession mean?
Possession can mean ownership, control, or something that someone owns. For example, “The keys are in my possession” means that I currently have the keys.
3. Why is possession spelled with two s’s?
The spelling is connected to the verb possess, which contains a double s. The noun form is possession, so the double s remains.
4. Is posession a word?
Posession is not the standard spelling of the English word. The correct form is possession.
5. What is the plural of possession?
The plural is possessions. For example: “She packed all of her possessions before moving.”
6. How can I remember the spelling of possession?
Remember the relationship possess → possession. Since possess contains double s, possession also contains double s.
7. Is possession correct in American English?
Yes. Possession is the standard spelling in American English. Posession is a spelling error.
8. What is an example of possession?
A simple example is: “The laptop is in her possession.” This means she currently has or controls the laptop.
9. Is possession a noun?
Yes. Possession is a noun. It can refer to something owned, the state of owning or controlling something, or control of something such as a ball in sports.
10. What is the difference between possess and possession?
Possess is a verb meaning to own, have, or control something. Possession is a noun referring to ownership, control, or something owned.
Conclusion
The spelling comparison possession vs posession has a clear answer: possession is correct, while posession is incorrect.
Whenever you need this word, remember the double s:
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
Connecting the word to possess is one of the easiest ways to remember it. Whether you are talking about personal belongings, property, sports, control, or another meaning, the correct spelling remains possession.
