Which is the correct way to write the sentence?

Question

which of these is the correct way? do i use the apostrophe or not?

-I would like to think I have touched many people's lives.

OR

-I would like to think I have touched many peoples lives.

???

Answer 1

The first one. You use an apostrophe to show possession. Simply adding an "S" makes the word plural. "People" can be pluralized.

Reworded: I would like to think I have touched the lives of many people.

Using "of" in front of the word that should have an 's is a way to make sure an apostrophe is appropriate if showing possession of something.

I took my brother's shirt.

I took the shirt of my brother.

Answer 2

"I would like to think I have touched many people's lives,"

is the correct way to write this. Why? Because we are talking about the lives of the people; thus, we need to use a possessive. By placing the apostrophe, you are telling your reader that the lives belong to the people. If you don't do so, you are talking about two different things, something which does not make sense; you'd be saying peoples, and then right after it, lives, which, in your context, makes absolutely no sense. I hope this helps :)  

Answer 3

the second one

Answer 4

First of all, I'm not sure if "that" should be placed in between the words "think" and "I". I'm not certain of its usage.

Second, the word "life" here is possessed by "people(s)". Therefore, you should use "'s".

Third, the term people's and peoples' are a bit different. If you want to say people in general, you say "people's", but you use the latter if you are referring to groups of people.

Hence, you either use the first or with "peoples'".