Possession vs. posession is a common spelling confusion in English. The correct spelling is possession, with two s’s after the o. Posession is an incorrect spelling.
The word possession can refer to something that someone owns, the state of having or controlling something, or the act of possessing something. It is commonly used in everyday English, business, law, sports, and formal writing.
Quick Answer: Possession is the correct spelling. Posession is a misspelling and should not be used in standard English.
Possession vs. Posession at a Glance
| Word | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession | ✅ Yes | Ownership, control, or something owned | She lost possession of her phone. |
| Posession | ❌ No | Incorrect spelling of possession | Avoid “posession” in formal writing. |
What Does Possession Mean?
Possession is a noun that generally means ownership, control, or the state of having something.
For example:
The keys are in my possession.
Here, possession means that the speaker has or controls the keys.
The word can also refer to something that belongs to someone:
Her favorite book is one of her most valuable possessions.
Is Possession or Posession Correct?
Possession is correct.
Posession is incorrect.
The correct spelling contains two consecutive s’s after the first o:
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
Incorrect:
P-O-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
The most common mistake is leaving out the first s and writing posession.
Correct:
He took possession of the property.
Incorrect:
He took posession of the property.
7 Clear Differences Between Possession and Posession
1. Possession Is the Correct Spelling
Possession is the standard English spelling.
Example:
The athlete maintained possession of the ball.
2. Possession Is a Noun
Possession functions as a noun.
It can describe ownership, control, or something owned.
Example:
The car is now in her possession.
3. Posession Is a Spelling Error
Posession is simply a misspelling of possession.
If you see this form in an essay, email, report, article, or other formal writing, it should normally be corrected.
4. Possession Contains Double S
One of the easiest ways to remember the spelling is to notice the double s:
possession
Not:
posesion
The correct spelling is:
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
5. Possession Can Mean Ownership
The word often describes something that belongs to someone.
Example:
The house is one of his most valuable possessions.
Here, possessions means things that he owns.
6. Possession Can Mean Control
Possession can also describe having control over something.
Example:
The police found the stolen items in his possession.
In this context, possession refers to having or controlling the items.
7. Possession Is Common in Sports
In sports such as soccer, basketball, football, and hockey, possession can refer to which player or team controls the ball or puck.
Example:
The team had possession for most of the second half.
This is a common use of the word in sports writing and commentary.
Why Do People Spell Possession as Posession?
The spelling mistake usually happens because the pronunciation of possession does not clearly highlight every written letter.
When people hear the word, they may remember it as something like:
po-SESH-un
This can make it easy to forget one of the s’s in the written form.
Another reason is that English contains many words with different patterns of single and double consonants, so spelling posession can look natural even though it is incorrect.
The easiest solution is to memorize:
POSSESSION has double S after PO.
How to Remember the Spelling of Possession
Use this simple spelling pattern:
POS + SESSION = POSSESSION
Although possession is not literally formed from pos + session in this way, this can work as a practical memory trick because session also contains ss.
Another simple reminder:
Possession has two sets of double letters: SS and SS.
PO + SS + E + SS + ION
This helps you remember the correct spelling.
Possession Examples in Sentences
Here are natural examples of possession:
- The house is now in their possession.
- She kept her passport in her possession.
- The police found the missing phone in his possession.
- The team regained possession of the ball.
- He lost possession of his wallet.
- The painting is one of her most valuable possessions.
- The company took possession of the building.
- Please keep your belongings in your possession.
- The player maintained possession under pressure.
- They were excited to take possession of their new home.
Common Uses of Possession
1. Personal Possessions
A possession can be something that a person owns.
Examples:
- personal possessions
- valuable possessions
- private possessions
- treasured possessions
Example:
Please take all your personal possessions with you.
2. Legal Possession
In legal contexts, possession can refer to having physical control or custody of something.
Example:
The document was found in his possession.
The exact legal meaning can depend on the relevant law and circumstances.
3. Sports Possession
In sports, possession often means control of the ball or puck.
Example:
Our team kept possession throughout the final minutes.
4. Property Possession
The phrase take possession is commonly used when someone receives or gains control of property.
Example:
The buyers will take possession of the house next month.
5. Possession in Everyday English
The word is also common in ordinary conversations.
Example:
I left my phone in my sister’s possession while I was away.
Common Phrases With Possession
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in possession of | Having or controlling something |
| take possession of | Gain control or ownership of something |
| lose possession of | No longer have or control something |
| personal possessions | Things owned by a person |
| valuable possessions | Important or expensive things someone owns |
| possession of property | Having control or ownership of property |
| ball possession | Control of the ball in a sport |
Examples
She is in possession of the documents.
They will take possession of the property next week.
He lost possession of the ball.
Possession vs. Ownership
Although possession and ownership can sometimes overlap, they are not always identical.
Ownership generally refers to having legal or recognized rights over something.
Possession can mean physically having or controlling something, even when you do not legally own it.
For example:
I have possession of the car, but the bank owns it.
This distinction can be especially important in legal and financial contexts.
Possession vs. Possessive
These words are related but have different grammatical roles.
Possession is a noun.
The child has possession of the toy.
Possessive can be an adjective or a noun related to showing ownership.
The possessive form of the noun shows ownership.
Do not confuse possession with possessive when writing about grammar.
Common Spelling Mistakes
Here are some incorrect forms that people may accidentally write:
- ❌ posession
- ❌ possesion
- ❌ possesion
- ❌ possesion
The standard spelling is:
- ✅ possession
The safest strategy is to remember that possession contains double s twice:
po + ss + e + ss + ion
Possession in Formal Writing
Use possession when writing:
- school assignments
- college papers
- business emails
- reports
- resumes
- legal documents
- website content
- professional correspondence
For example:
❌ The documents were found in his posession.
✅ The documents were found in his possession.
Correct spelling is especially important when writing formal or professional English.
Quick Spelling Test
Which sentence is correct?
A. She took posession of the property.
B. She took possession of the property.
✅ Answer: B
The correct spelling is possession.
FAQs
1. Is it possession or posession?
Possession is correct. Posession is a misspelling.
2. How do you spell possession?
The correct spelling is:
P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
3. What does possession mean?
Possession can mean ownership, control, or having something in your custody. It can also refer to something that someone owns.
4. Why is posession wrong?
Posession is missing an s. The correct spelling is possession, with two consecutive s’s after po.
5. Is possession a noun?
Yes. Possession is a noun.
Example:
The car is in his possession.
6. What is the plural of possession?
The plural is possessions.
Example:
She packed all of her possessions before moving.
7. What is an easy way to remember possession?
Remember:
POSSESSION = PO + SS + E + SS + ION
The word contains two pairs of consecutive s’s.
Final Takeaway
The correct spelling is possession, not posession.
Possession can mean ownership, control, custody, or something that a person owns. It is widely used in everyday English, business, law, sports, and formal writing.
Correct: Possession ✅
Incorrect: Posession ❌
If you are ever unsure, remember:
Possession has two pairs of S’s: SS + SS.