Uses of the Apostrophe '

Possessives | Contractions and Omissions | Plurals | Quick Reference

What to do, what to do... when is an apostrophe needed, or not needed, and where should it be?


POSSESSIVES

Possessives usually indicate ownership or possession of one thing by another.

Singular Nouns Add an apostrophe and the letter s to most singular nouns to form a possessive : my lover's heart.
 

Singular Nouns Ending in -s
Add an apostrophe and the letter s as per usual.
Exceptions: With nouns or proper names where pronunciation would be awkward (especially words ending with an ees sound like Sophocles), you may add only the apostrophe. Either use is acceptable: the bass's fins, Pardes' students, Pardes's students.

 Plural Nouns Not Ending in -s
Add an apostrophe and the letter s to form a possessive: Women's writing.

 Plural Nouns Ending in -s
Add only an apostrophe: these girl scouts' cookie sales.

 Compound Nouns
Following the rules above, make the last word in the group possessive: my sister-in-law's job, the chief justices' meeting.


Two or More Nouns Together
If two or more owners have individual possession(s), make each one possessive.
If two or more owners have joint possession, make only the last noun possessive.
E.g., Mark's and Susan's vehicles both needed their oil changed. Mark and Susan's mechanic did both jobs.

Possessive pronouns
Be careful here: possessive pronouns do not take apostrophes. THIS INCLUDES ITS, as well as my, your, her, his, our, their.
Do not confuse its (a thing belonging to it) with it's (a contraction of it is or it has). See below.

CONTRACTIONS AND OMISSIONS

In a contraction -- a shortened form where a letter or letters are omitted -- an apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter(s).
I do not -> I don't

good old Fred -> good ol' Fred

you will -> you'll

 the winter of 1997 -> the winter of '97

 it is clear -> it's clear

Again, do not confuse its (a thing belonging to it) with it's (a contraction of it is or it has). Contractions are far more common in speech than in writing. Unless quoting, keep contractions to a minimum in writing.

PLURALS OF NUMBERS, LETTERS, SYMBOLS, & ABBREVIATIONS


Use the apostrophe and the letter s to make plural numbers, letters, symbols, words used as terms, and abbreviations.
For words used as terms, italicize the term but not the possessive ending:

  • She got two 4.0's on her last report
  • The airline's DC-3's were mothballed
  • There are two l's in that word.
Exceptions: Years in a decade are often marked with an s only: the 1930s, the '70s.
The Modern Language Association also recommends omitting the apostrophe with abbreviations: 4.0s, DC-3s .
Where there is a choice of acceptable styles, choose one and be consistent
 

QUICK REFERENCE: EDITING FOR APOSTROPHES

  • Check all nouns that end in -s with an apostrophe. Make sure each one shows ownership or possession.

    • Then check that each one ends with an apostrophe in the right place: an apostrophe and -s for most singular nouns, including those that end in -s; an apostrophe and -s for plural nouns not ending in -s; and an apostrophe only for plural nouns ending in -s. 
     
  • Check indefinite pronouns such as someone, nobody, and everything. Any that end in -s should have an apostrophe before the -s.
  • Check all contractions to make sure the apostrophe is used correctly.
  • Check plural forms of numbers, letters and symbols to ensure the apostrophe is used correctly.

 

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