Apostrophes

Apostrophes do two things:
1. Stand in for missing letters or numbers. Examples: can’t, ’98, fo’c’s’le* 2. Show that nouns are possessive.

a. When a noun is singular, add ‘s. Examples: Angela’s qualms, Marconi’s principle

Note: even when a singular noun ends in s, add ‘s. Examples: Charles’s limerick, class’s chatter

b. When a noun is plural and does not end in s, add ‘s. Examples: watchmen’s walkway, children’s crusade c. When a noun is plural and ends in s, add an apostrophe. Examples: pirates’ treasure, beasts’ claws

Apostrophes do not belong in the following places:

1. In possessive pronouns. Words like his, hers, theirs, yours, and its are already possessive and do not need apostrophes added. 2. In plural nouns that are not possessive. Plural nouns like masts, ocelots, kittens, androids, and bagels do not need apostrophes.

Note: Do not use apostrophes to form the plural of acronyms, such as ICBMs or ATVs.

People frequently use apostrophes incorrectly in these two cases:
1. The use of whose and who’s.

a. Whose is a possessive pronoun. Use it like this: My cousin, whose table manners are shocking, has come home from the Crimea. b. Who’s is a contraction for who is or who has. Use it like this: My cousin, who’s (who has) come home from the Crimea, has shocking table manners.

2. The use of its and it’s

a. Its is a possessive pronoun. Use it like this: The wildebeest expressed its displeasure with the manicure. b. It’s is a contraction for it is. Use it like this: The wildebeest thinks it’s (it is) a bad manicure.

Hint: If you’re not sure whether to use whose or who’s, or its or it’s, try replacing the words with who is or it is. If the sentence doesn’t work that way, choose the possessive form.

*Fo’c’sle: the part of a ship forward of the main mast.

Additional Online Resources

Virgil: Online Writing Tutorial
Apostrophe

Purdue Owl
Apostrophes
Punctuation

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