Apostrophes

Overview

An apostrophe (’) is a punctuation mark used to show ownership, make contractions, or sometimes show plural forms of letters, numbers, and symbols. Using it correctly keeps your writing clear and professional.

Showing possession with singular nouns

Add an apostrophe + s (’s) to show that something belongs to one person or thing.

• Example: The dog’s bone (the bone of one dog).

Showing possession with plural nouns

If a word is already plural and ends in s, add only an apostrophe at the end. If it is plural but does not end in s, add an apostrophe + s.

• Example: The teachers’ lounge (lounge of many teachers).

• Example: The children’s playground (playground of the children).

Possession with names ending in s

For names ending in s, you can usually add an apostrophe + s, though sometimes just an apostrophe is acceptable.

• Example: James’s guitar or James’ guitar.

Making contractions

Apostrophes replace missing letters when two words are combined into one.

• Example: don’t (do not), you’re (you are), it’s (it is/it has).

Its vs. it’s

This is one of the most common mistakes. Its (no apostrophe) shows possession. It’s (with an apostrophe) means “it is” or “it has.”

• Example: The cat licked its paw.

• Example: It’s going to be a long day.

Plural forms of letters, numbers, and symbols

Sometimes apostrophes are used to make single letters, numbers, or symbols plural for clarity.

• Example: Mind your p’s and q’s.

• Example: The 1990’s were full of new music styles.

Avoiding apostrophes in regular plurals

Never use an apostrophe just to make a word plural.

• Example: 

        Incorrect: I have two dog’s.

        Correct: I have two dogs.

Apostrophes in informal writing

In casual writing, apostrophes can show shortened speech or dialect, but this should be avoided in formal assignments.

• Example: I’m goin’ to the store.

Summary

Apostrophes are used to show possession, form contractions, and sometimes clarify plurals of letters, numbers, or symbols. They are not used for regular plurals. Remember the tricky difference between its (possession) and it’s (it is/it has). Using apostrophes correctly makes your writing polished and easy to read.