Apostrophes

An apostrophe (’) is a punctuation mark that either shows ownership (Susan’s) or indicates that a letter has been intentionally left out to form a contraction (I’m, that’s, they’re).

APOSTROPHES TO SHOW OWNERSHIP

Add -’s to a singular noun to show ownership even if the noun already ends in -s.

Karens apartment is on the South Side.

If a noun is plural and ends in -s, just add an apostrophe. If it is plural but does not end in -s, add -’s.

The twins father was building them a playhouse.

[more than one twin]

The childrens toys were broken.

The placement of an apostrophe makes a difference in meaning.

My sisters six children are at my house for the weekend.

[one sister who has six children]

My sisters six children are at my house for the weekend.

[two or more sisters who together have six children]

Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun.

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Do not use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. These pronouns already show ownership (possession).

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Possessive Pronouns

my his its their
mine her our theirs
your hers ours whose
yours

The single most common error with apostrophes and pronouns is confusing its (a possessive pronoun) with its (a contraction meaning “it is”). Whenever you write its, test correctness by replacing it with it is and reading the sentence aloud to hear if it makes sense.

APOSTROPHES IN CONTRACTIONS

A contraction is formed by joining two words and leaving out one or more of the letters. When writing a contraction, put an apostrophe where the letter or letters have been left out.

Shes on her way. = She is on her way.

Ill see you there. = I will see you there.

Be sure to put the apostrophe in the correct place.

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Common Contractions

aren’t = are not I’d = I would, I had
can’t = cannot I’ll = I will
couldn’t = could not I’m = I am
didn’t = did not I’ve = I have
don’t = do not isn’t = is not
he’d = he would, he had it’s = it is, it has
he’ll = he will let’s = let us
he’s = he is, he has she’d = she would, she had
she’ll = she will won’t = will not
she’s = she is, she has wouldn’t = would not
there’s = there is you’ll = you will
they’re = they are you’re = you are
who’s = who is, who has you’ve = you have

Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time

Use -’s to make letters and numbers plural. The apostrophe prevents confusion or misreading.

In Scrabble games, there are more es than any other letter.

In women’s shoes, size 8s are more common than size 10s.

Use an apostrophe or -’s in certain expressions in which time nouns are treated as if they possess something.

She took four weeks maternity leave after the baby was born.

This years graduating class is huge.