‎Let $mathcal{A}_p$ be the mod $p$ Steenrod algebra‎, ‎where $p$ is an odd prime‎, ‎and let $mathcal{A}$ be the‎ subalgebra $mathcal{A}$ of $mathcal{A}_p$ generated by the Steenrod $p$th powers‎. ‎We generalize the $X$-basis in $mathcal{A}$ to $mathcal{A}_p$‎.