Apostrophes

Uses: Contractions and Letters Apostrophes are used to form contractions. These are not acceptable in essays. Examples: can’t, wouldn’t, I’m Apostrophes are also used to form the plurals of letters of the alphabet. Examples: p’s, q’s, A’s

Possession More importantly, apostrophes indicate possession. Singular Noun Possessive: poem’s meter dog’s bone book’s pages star’s light

Possession Singular Proper Noun Possessive: Venus’s beauty Dickens’s reputation Chris’s bicycle Mr. James’s ticket

Possession Plural Noun (ending in “s”) Possessive: firefighters’ trucks students’ backpacks clowns’ unicycles puppies’ paws

Possession Irregular Plural Noun (not ending in “s”) Possessive: women’s studies children’s crayons men’s tuxedos hippopotami’s lunches

Check, Please! Write one sentence that includes the following: apostrophe with a single noun apostrophe with a proper noun apostrophe with a plural noun (ending in “s”) apostrophe with an irregular plural noun (not ending in “s”)

Nouns in a Series Nouns in a Series (ownership shared) Possessive: Palmer and Colton’s book on European history The dog and cat’s owner Jared and Franklin’s uncle

Nouns in a Series Nouns in a Series (ownership not shared) Possessive: Palmer’s and Colton’s books on European history The dog’s and cat’s owners Jared’s and Franklin’s uncles

Check, Please! Correct the following sentences: Mrs. Jones’ car is in the shop. Joe and Cara’s toes hurt. The mens’ choir group meets Friday.

Exceptions its = possession The bear liked its honey. it’s = it is It’s not difficult.

Extra Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation or a number: PhDs, 1990s, fours, TVs, SAT score in the 1400s ’60s