What is an apostrophe?

                                    What is an apostrophe?

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark that primarily serves to indicate either grammatical possession or the contraction of two words. It can also sometimes be used to pluralize irregular nouns, such as single letters, abbreviations, and single-digit numbers.

(Always remember: An apostrophe looks the same as a single end quotation mark ( ’ ), so care must be used not to confuse the two.)

Putting apostrophes in the wrong place is one of the most common grammar mistakes in the English language. Many people use an apostrophe to form the plural of a word, particularly if the word in question ends in a vowel, which might make the word look strange with an S added to make it plural.

The rules: (Where should we use apostrophe?)Apostrophes indicate possession – something belonging to something or someone else.

To indicate something belonging to one person, the apostrophe goes before the ‘s’.

For instance, “The girl’s bag.”

To indicate something belonging to more than one person, put the apostrophe after the ‘s’.

For example, “The girls’ horse.”

Apostrophes are also used to indicate a contracted word. Use an apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is placed where a letter or letters have been removed.

Examples: doesn’t, it’s, ’tis, can’t, you’d, should’ve, rock ‘n’ roll, etc.

Incorrect: does’nt

“Doesn’t “uses an apostrophe to indicate that the word is missing the “o” from “does not”.

  Correct: doesn’t

Apostrophes are never used to make a word plural, even when a word is in number form, as in a date.

How not to do it:

1.  Jollies watch is black in color.
2. The boys’s mothers are very intelligent. 
3. They donot understand English.
4. In the 1990’s.
5. The bus’s are on the road.

 or   

Car’s for sale.

How to do it properly:

1.  Jolie’s watch is black in color.
2. The boys’ mothers are very intelligent.
3. They don’t understand English.
4. In the 1990s.
5. The buses are on the road.

Or

Cars for sale.

An apostrophe can also be used when a longer word is contracted into a shorter word (generally replacing a consonant between two vowels).

For example:

• ma’am = madam
• ne’er-do-well = never-do-well
• “People’s emotions often get the better of them.”
• “That candy is the children’s, so don’t go eating it yourself.”

Words and names ending in “-s”

There are two ways that we can indicate possession in non-plural words and names that end in “-s”.

Some writers prefer to treat them like plurals and simply add an apostrophe to the end, leaving out the second “-s,” as in:

• “Mr. Jones’ house looks quite nice, doesn’t it?”
• “The boss’ car got towed this morning.”

Other writers choose to add a second “-s” after the apostrophe to create the usual singular possessive form.

For example:

• “I’m going out on Charles’s boat next weekend.”
• “The witness’s impact statement was very moving.”

Both forms are generally accepted, but many writers choose to be guided by pronunciation rather than a single universal rule—that is, they do not add the extra “-s” if it would not be pronounced as an extra syllable in speech:

• “Our class’s field trip was cancelled.” (The extra “-s” is added because it would be pronounced in speech.)
• “Brussels’ bridges may soon need repairs.” (The extra “-s” would not be pronounced, so it is left off.)

However, if a name ends in an “-s” or “-es” because it has become plural, then it is always made possessive with just an apostrophe at the end, as in:

• “We ate at the Smiths’ apartment last night.”
• “I invited the Joneses’ daughter to see the play tonight.”

Compound possession

If two or more nouns (usually people) are shown to have possession of something in a sentence, the placement of the apostrophe changes depending on whether they possess the thing together or separately. This is known as compound possession (also called joint possession.)

If the people share possession of the same thing, then only one apostrophe is used with the last person listed.

For example:

• “John, Jack, and Mitchel’s adventure in Mongolia sounded so exciting!”

If the people possess two separate things, then apostrophes are used for each person in the sentence:

• “Kate’s and the other witness’s testimonies were completely different.”

Plurals of single letters

Apostrophes are often used to make single letters plural because without them the sentence might be confusing to read. This is especially true when the single letter is not capitalized and even more so if it is a vowel, as a vowel + “-s” can look like a unique word.

For example:

• “I got two As and two Bs on my report card.” (correct)
• “I got two A’s and two B’s on my report card.” (Correct, but less standard than the first sentence.)
• “I got two A’s and two Bs on my report card.” (Incorrect—do not mix styles in the same text.)

Plurals of single-digit numbers

An apostrophe is generally accepted as a means of making a single-digit number plural in writing. It is not necessary, though, so the apostrophe is largely up to the discretion and preference of the writer. For example:

• “He received three 7’s and two 6’s on the exam.”
• “OK, all the 2s line up on this side of the room; all the 1s, line up over there!”

Multiple-digit numbers, on the other hand, are generally not given an apostrophe at all:

• “There are a lot of men in their 30s here.”

Apostrophes with decades and years

Apostrophes can also be used when a particular decade is written out numerically, which essentially pluralizes the years within that decade. There are multiple ways that writers use apostrophes in this instance:

• “I grew up in the 90’s.”
• “The fashion of the 1980s was awesome!”
• “I prefer the style of the 1970’s.”
• “No way, the ’60s were the best.”

For professional or formal writing, it is better to observe this rule and only add an apostrophe before the decade if you are abbreviating it to two digits.

Finally, when abbreviating a specific year, replace the first two digits with an apostrophe:

• “I graduated from high school in ’09.” (Abbreviation of 2009)

Apostrophe with Irregular Nouns

English also has many irregular nouns (child, foot, tooth, etc.).

These nouns become plural by changing their spelling, sometimes becoming quite different words.

You may find it helpful to write out the entire irregular plural noun before adding an apostrophe or an apostrophe + s.

Incorrect: Five childrens’ kites.
The plural is children, not childrens.
Correct: Five children’s Kites (children + apostrophe + s)

Incorrect: the teeths’ roots
Correct: the teeth’s roots

Apostrophe with Compound Noun

With a singular compound noun (for example, brother -in-law), show possession with an apostrophe + s at the end of the word.

Example: my brother-in-law’s hat

If the compound noun (e.g., brother-in-law) is to be made plural, form the plural first (brothers-in-law), and then use the apostrophe + s.

Example: my two brothers-in-law’s hats

 If two people possess the same item, put the apostrophe + s after the second name only.

Example: jolly and john’s home is filled with flowers.

Amounts of time or money are sometimes used as possessive adjectives that require apostrophes.

Incorrect: three days leave
Correct: three days’ leave

Incorrect: my two cents worth
Correct: my two cents’ worth

 The personal pronouns hers, ours, yours, theirs, its, whose, and the pronoun oneself never take an apostrophe.

Examples:
Correct: Feed a horse grain. It’s better for its health.

Incorrect: Who’s glasses are these?
Correct: Whose glasses are these?

Incorrect: Talking to one’s self in public is odd.
Correct: Talking to oneself in public is odd.

 Beware of nouns ending in y; do not show possession by changing the y to ies.

Correct: the company’s policy
Incorrect: the companies policy

To show possession when a noun ending in y becomes plural, write ies’. Do not write y’s.

Correct: three companies’ policies
Incorrect: three company’s policies

Exception: Names and other proper nouns ending in y become plural simply by adding an s. They do not form their plurals with an apostrophe, or by changing the y to ies.

THE APOSTROPHE IN CONTRACTIONS     The most common use of apostrophes in English is for contractions, where a noun or pronoun and a verb combine. Remember that the apostrophe is often replacing a letter that has been dropped. It is placed where the missing letter would be in that case.

People, even native English speakers, often mistake its and it’s, you’re and your, who’s and whose, and they’re, their and there. See below for the difference.

EXAMPLES

It’s a nice plant outside. (contraction)

The cat is dirty. Its fur is matted. (possession)

You’re not invited. (contraction)

This is your bag. (possession)

Who’s at the office? (contraction)

Whose cups are these? (possession)

They’re not late yet. (contraction)

Their house is big. (possession)

His car is over there. (location)

Recommended: What are Countable and uncountable nouns?