1. By: Preston and Miranda Apostrophe

2. Ownership and Other Relationships Apostrophes commonly indicate ownership or origin. You can also use an apostrophe to show how people are related or what physical traits they posses. Ex: 1) Linda’s sister, my roommate’s teacher, the employee’s supervisor. [Human relations] Ex: 2) Fumi’s computer, Dr. Smith’s office, the photographer’s camera. [Ownership]

3. Forming possessive case Most singular nouns, indefinite pronouns, abbreviations, and acronyms require –’s to form the possessive case. Ex: The dean’s office, Parrish’s paintings, Yeat’s poems, anyone’s computer.

4. Plural Nouns Plural nouns ending in -s require only an apostrophe for the possessive form. Ex: The boys’ game, the babies’ toys, the Joneses’ house Plural nouns that do not end in –s need both an apostrophe and an S. Ex: men’s lives, women’s health, children’s projects

5. Joint ownership or collaboration To show joint ownership or collaboration, add -’s or an apostrophe to the second noun only. Ex: The carpenter and the plumber’s decision. [They made the decision collaboratively] Ex: The Becks and the Lopezes’ cabin. [They own one cabin jointly.]

6. Separate Ownership or Individual Contributions Add –’s or an apostrophe to each noun Ex: the carpenter’s and the plumber’s proposals [They each made a proposal.] Ex: the Becks’ and the Lopezes’ cars [Each family owns a car.]

7. Add –’s To the last word of compound nouns Ex: my brother-in-law’s friends, the attorney general’s statements [singular] Ex: my brother-in-law’s friends, the attorney general’s statements [plural]

8. Add –’s To nouns that come before gerunds Ex: Lucy’s having to be there seemed unnecessary. [gerund] Ex: The family appreciated the lawyers’ handling of the matter. [gerund]

9. Apostrophes mark Omissions in contractions, numbers, and words mimicking speech. Ex: do not → don’t Ex: singing → singin’ Ex: class of 2006 → class of ‘06

10. An apostrophe isn’t required In plurals of uppercase letters, numbers, abbreviations, and words referred to as words. Ex: the four Ss Ex: fours and fives YWCAs