Apostrophes (')
Apostrophes are vital for showing possession and forming contractions. Mastering their use is a key step to clear, correct writing.
What Are Apostrophes?
An apostrophe (') is a small but mighty punctuation mark with two main jobs: showing that something belongs to someone (possession) and showing where letters have been left out in a shortened word (contraction).
Rule 1: Showing Possession
Use an apostrophe to show that something belongs to a noun. This is one of the most common uses of the apostrophe, but the rules can be tricky. The main idea is to indicate ownership. For a singular noun, you simply add an apostrophe and an "s" to show that the item belongs to it. For plural nouns that already end in "s," you only need to add an apostrophe after the existing "s" to avoid a clumsy-sounding word. However, for plural nouns that do not end in "s," such as "children" or "men," you follow the same rule as singular nouns by adding an apostrophe and an "s." There is also a special case for singular nouns that end in "s," like "James" or "bus." Style guides differ, but a common approach is to add an apostrophe and an "s" (James's book) unless it sounds awkward, in which case just an apostrophe is acceptable (the bus' wheels).
| Rule | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Nouns | Add an apostrophe + s ('s). | The cat's toy. |
| Plural Nouns ending in -s | Add just an apostrophe ('). | The dogs' leashes. |
| Plural Nouns not ending in -s | Add an apostrophe + s ('s). | The children's games. |
Rule 2: Forming Contractions
An apostrophe shows where letters are missing in a shortened word.
| Original Words | Contraction |
|---|---|
| is not | isn't |
| do not | don't |
| I am | I'm |
| you are | you're |
| it is | it's |
| we will | we'll |
The Most Common Mistake: It's vs. Its
Its is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership. (e.g., "The dog wagged its tail.").
Key Takeaways
- Apostrophes have two main jobs: showing possession and forming contractions.
- For singular possession, add 's (e.g., the dog's bone).
- For plural possession, add an apostrophe after the s (e.g., the dogs' bones).
- Apostrophes in contractions show where letters have been removed (e.g., "it is" becomes "it's").
- Never use an apostrophe to make a noun plural.
Exercises and Worksheets
Ready to practice? Test your knowledge with these resources.