English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Apostrophes
Chapter 10 Punctuation
Part 4 A Writers Tools

Chapter 10 Punctuation

You should read this chapter if you need to review or learn about

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Using the correct punctuation helps you convey your ideas exactly as you intend them. In this chapter, you’ll review the basic rules of punctuation. This will help you express yourself clearly in writing. The punctuation marks are arranged in alphabetical order for ease of use.

Apostrophes

The apostrophe (’) is used in three ways:

1. To show possession (ownership)

2. To show plural forms

3. To show where a letter or number has been omitted Let’s examine each guideline in depth.

1. Use an apostrophe to show possession.

• With singular nouns or pronouns not ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

a rocket    a rocket’s red glare

a flag    a flag’s stripes

someone    someone’s wish

anyone    anyone’s game

• With singular nouns ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

James    James’s car

waitress    waitress’s suggestion

• If the new word is hard to say, leave off the s.

James’ car   waitresses’ suggestion

• With plural nouns not ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

men     men’s shoes

people    people’s feelings

• With plural nouns ending in s, add an apostrophe after the s.

several computers  several computers’ hard drives

three teachers  three teachers’ lesson plans

If you are having difficulty deciding where to put the apostrophe and whether to add an s, try following these two steps:

• To figure out if ownership is involved, ask yourself: “To whom does it belong?”

• If the answer is a singular noun or pronoun, follow that rule. If it’s a plural noun, follow that rule.

You have the phrase “my friends party.” Ask: To whom does the party belong?

Answer: It belongs to my friend. Friend is singular. Therefore, the phrase reads: “My friend’s party.”

2. Use an apostrophe to show plural forms.

• Use an apostrophe and s to show the plural of a number, symbol, or letter, or words used to name themselves.

three 7’s

two ?’s

your u’s look like w’s

There are too many distracting like’s and um’s in her speech.

3. Use an apostrophe to show where a letter or number has been omitted.

• Use an apostrophe to show where letters have been left out of contractions. Recall that contractions are two words combined. When you contract words, add an apostrophe in the space where the letters have been taken out.

can not can’t

I will I’ll

• Use an apostrophe to show numbers have been left out of a date.

the ’70s the ’90s

Quick Tip

Don’t confuse contractions with possessive pronouns. Study the following chart: