Apostrophes

Use apostrophes to show possession and contraction, and proofread for correct use of apostrophes;  apply rules for apostrophe placement in plural and singular nouns of possession.  

The correct use of apostrophes goes a long way in impressing teachers who grade your writing. There are 4 simple rules that you need to memorize in order to master apostrophes.

1. Use an apostrophe to indicate possession.

a.) With nouns (both singular and plural) that do not end with the letter s, add an apostrophe s:

    women's rights            children's hour

    Women's virtue is man's greatest invention. Cornelia Otis Skinner

b.) With plural nouns that end with s, add only an apostrophe:

    the Joneses' dog        the flight attendants' duties

    The Mets' losing streak has reached ten!

c.) With singular nouns that end with s, add either the apostrophe alone or both the apostrophe and s, depending on which authority you chose to go by.

    the witness's testimony        Jesus' robe

d.) If possession is common to two or more individuals, only the last name takes the apostrophe.

    Matthew and Shane's boat.

e.) Avoid using the possessive in the following cases.

    With titles: Catcher in the Rye's ending.

    With inanimate objects: the Tower of London's interior

2. Use an apostrophe in contractions to indicate omission of letters or numbers

    A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. Samuel Goldwyn

3. Use an apostrophe with nouns that are followed by a gerund.

    The plane's leaving on time amazed us all.

4. Use an apostrophe in the following cases:

--To form plurals of abbreviations that have periods.    

    M.D.'s

--With letters where addition of s alone would be confusing. 

    p's and q's

--With words used merely as words without regard to their meaning.

    Don't give me any if's, and's, or but's.

Go to The Guide to Grammar and Writing section on Apostrophes.

Return back to Grammar Rules page.