Apostrophes are handy English tools; they help show possession, omission, and clarity in many instances of writing. They often hold the key to the meaning of sentences. For that reason, understanding the use of the apostrophe is essential for both formal and informal writers. However, the apostrophe is also a source of confusion, making your writing less clear and professional.
Whether you write an email or compose an essay, knowing the rules of apostrophes will save you from common mistakes and miscommunication of your intention. The following post explains various usages of apostrophes, especially about possessives, plurals, contractions, and common mistakes.
Possessives: Rules for Singular and Plural Possessives
Singular Possessives
Apostrophes indicate ownership or possession. The key rule on singular possessives is pretty simple: the general rule states that, for all singular nouns, you use an apostrophe and add an “s” (‘s) to make them possessive. All common and proper nouns do this in the following ways :
- The mouse’s cheese (The cheese that belongs to the mouse)
- Anthony’s guitar (The guitar that Anthony owns)
- The town’s market (The market of the small settlement, or town)
The general rule is to add’s, even if the noun ends in “s.” For Example:
- The dress’s hem (The hem of the dress)
- Marcus’s hat (The hat that Marcus owns)
However, some style books, especially those used by journalists and in legal writing, prefer adding just an apostrophe after the “s” in such instances because it is simpler in pronunciation and doesn’t sound awkward. Of course, this depends on which style book one uses, but in general, it is correct, as seen.
Plural Possessives
Plural possessives are a bit more complicated, but the rules are digestible once you learn to recognize the patterns. If you’re dealing with a plural noun that ends in “s,” you add an apostrophe after the “s” to indicate possession:
- The dogs’ collars: The collars that belong to multiple dogs
- The teachers’ lounge: The lounge space set aside for educators
To form the possessive of plural nouns not ending in “s,” you treat them like singular nouns, adding the apostrophe after’s:
- The children’s playground: The playground or area that’s set aside for children
- The women’s restroom: The toilet that only female patrons are allowed to use
Many nouns happen to be identical in both their singular and plural forms, such as “sheep” or “series.” Here too you apply the same rule:
- The sheep’s wool: Regardless of whether they are singular or plural, the wool belongs to the sheep
Understanding these rules is crucial for writing clearly, especially when dealing with complex sentences or technical writing. Misplacing apostrophes in possessives can lead to confusion and ambiguity, so applying these rules carefully is essential.
Plurals: When Not to Use Apostrophes
One of the most common mistakes in writing is making plurals with an apostrophe. This mistake has even been dubbed the “greengrocer’s apostrophe.” Although it often appears in posters and advertisements, it should not appear in more formal writing. A great rule of thumb is never to use an apostrophe when making a noun plural, even with common nouns, numbers, and abbreviations.
Here are some examples of correct pluralization, without apostrophes:
- Right: Apples (Indicating the presence of more than one apple)
- Wrong: Apple’s
- Right: 1980s (Referring to the decade)
- Wrong: 1980’s
- Right: VIPs (Indicating there’s more than one VIP)
- Wrong: VIP’s
In all these cases, using an apostrophe to form plurals is always wrong and can make your writing look unprofessional. One important exception exists, though: the pluralizing of lowercase letters, to avoid confusion. Example:
- Mind your p’s and q’s.
- Dot your i’s and cross your t’s.
Such an apostrophe separates the letter from the rest of the word and gives a readability to the sentence. But no apostrophe is required in the cases of capital letters, numbers, and abbreviations.
Contractions: Whereby Apostrophes Replace Missed Letters
Apostrophes are also needed in contractions, which show letters that have been omitted. Contractions combine two words into one shorter form, making language speedy and conversational. They’re common in everyday speech and writing, particularly in informal contexts.
Here are some examples:
- Don’t (Do not)
- You’re (You are)
- It’s (It is or It has)
- I’m (I am)
In such contractions, the apostrophe replaces the missing letters, thereby making the words’ pronunciation easier and their spelling more straightforward. However, learning when and where you should use contractions is essential. For instance, in formal writing, like composing academic papers and professional letters, it is often better to avoid using contractions and instead use the complete forms.
Probably the most widespread area of confusion with contractions is the distinction between “it’s” and “its.” “It’s” with an apostrophe always means “it is” or “it has”:
- It’s raining outside
- It’s been a long day
On the other hand, “its” without an apostrophe is a possessive pronoun, meaning “belonging to it”:
- The dog wagged its tail
- The company increased its profits
Another common confusion arises with “you’re” versus “your”:
- You’re going to love this movie: You are going to love this movie.
- Your coat is on the chair: The coat belonging to you
It isn’t easy to write valid and appropriate English without knowing the differences. Misplacing an apostrophe in a contraction will completely alter the meaning of a sentence.
Common Mistakes: Examples of Misuse and How to Correct Them
One thing even experienced writers need to do better is using the apostrophes correctly. Knowing how to identify and correct those mistakes is important in order to improve your writing.
Misplacing Apostrophes in Words That Are Possessive
One of the most common errors is the misuse of the apostrophe in possessives. It occurs in both singular and plural nouns:
- Right: The dog’s are barking.
- Wrong: The dogs are barking.
- Right: The cat’s toys are in the box.
- Wrong: The cats’ toys are in the box. (It’s right if there’re multiple cats, by the way!)
Using Apostrophes with Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns such as yours, hers, its, ours, theirs and whose end in an s and don’t use an apostrophe. The most common mistake is adding an apostrophe to these pronouns:
- Incorrect: The book is her’s.
- Correct: The book is hers.
- Incorrect: The house is our’s.
- Correct: The house is ours.
Confusing Its and It’s
Lots of people confuse “its” with “it’s.” Remember that “it’s” always stands for “it is” or “it has,” whereas “its” is possessive:
Check out these examples of correct uses:
The cat cleaned its fur.
It’s a beautiful day.
One way of avoiding this mistake is to test “it is” or “it has” in the sentence. If the sentence makes sense, substitute with “it’s” and the form is correct. If it doesn’t make sense, then you need the form “its”.
Apostrophes With Plurals
Apostrophes are often misused in the formation of plural words, especially those ending with vowels or abbreviations. For Example:
We have several banana’s is incorrect. The correct way to say this would be “we have bananas”. This is easily remedied by remembering apostrophes are never used with regular plurals.
Conclusion: Summary of Regulations and Concise Plans
While they can be a tad confusing, if you know the rules, apostrophes are easy to use, and you can make your writing strong with this. Here is a recap about how it goes:
- Rule for possessives: Add’s after a singular noun and after a plural noun not ending in s. Add an apostrophe after a plural noun that ends in s.
- Plurals: Don’t use apostrophes to form plurals except for lowercase letters to avoid confusion.
- Contraction: always use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters resulting from contraction, and don’t mistake it for a possessive pronoun.
- Common Pitfalls: Do not fall into traps like using “its” instead of “it’s” or putting apostrophes in possessive pronouns or standard plurals.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be well-equipped to use apostrophes correctly and confidently in your writing. Keep these rules in mind, and soon, you’ll find that apostrophes are no longer a source of confusion but a valuable tool in your writing arsenal.
