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.
Darcy’s car is being repaired.
Joan got all the information she needed from the hotel’s Web site.
- If a noun is plural and ends in s, just add an apostrophe to show ownership. If it is plural but does not end in s, add ’s.
Seven boys’ coats were left at the school.
The children’s toys were all broken.
- The placement of an apostrophe makes a difference in meaning.
My neighbor’s twelve cats are howling. [One neighbor who has twelve cats]
My neighbors’ twelve cats are howling. [Two or more neighbors who together have twelve cats]
- Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun.
- Do not use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. These pronouns already show ownership (possession).
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 it’s (a contraction meaning “it is”). Whenever you write it’s, test to see if it’s correct by reading it aloud as it is.
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, not between the two words.
I’ll go when you come back. = I will go when you come back.
Be sure to put the apostrophe in the right place.
Do not use contractions in papers or reports for college or work.
Common Contractions
| aren’t = are not | it’s = it is, it has |
| can’t = cannot | let’s = let us |
| couldn’t = could not | she’d = she would, she had |
| didn’t = did not | she’ll = she will |
| doesn’t = does not | she’s = she is, she has |
| don’t = do not | there’s = there is, there has |
| he’d = he would, he had | they’re = they are |
| he’ll = he will | they’ve = they have |
| he’s = he is, he has | who’s = who is, who has |
| I’d = I would, I had | won’t = will not |
| I’ll = I will | wouldn’t = would not |
| I’m = I am | you’ll = you will |
| I’ve = I have | you’re = you are |
| isn’t = is not | you’ve = you have |
APOSTROPHES WITH LETTERS, NUMBERS, AND TIME
- Use ’s to make letters and numbers plural. The apostrophe prevents confusion or misreading.
Mississippi has four i’s.
In women’s shoes, size 8’s are more common than size 10’s.
- Use an apostrophe or ’s in certain expressions in which time nouns are treated as if they possess something.
I get two weeks’ vacation next year.
Last year’s prices were very good.