The apostrophe (a-POS-tro-fee) is a single vertical mark (‘) or (’). Learn useful apostrophe rules with example sentences and infographics to help you use this punctuation mark correctly.
The Apostrophe (‘/’)
What Is An Apostrophe?
The symbol (‘) or (’) is called an apostrophe in the English language. Its top is level with those of the letters surrounding it. It may be written either straight or curled with a knob at the top.
The mark has two main functions: to show that letters have been omitted in a contraction, and to show possession.
When to use an apostrophe
This punctuation mark has two main functions. First, it replaces the letters that have been omitted in a contraction
Examples:
- He is waiting for us at the mall.
- He’s waiting for us at the mall.
- We will be ready to buy a car next summer.
- We’ll be ready to buy a car next summer.
- I am very disappointed that I didn’t get the job.
- I’m very disappointed that I didn’t get the job.
The punctuation mark (‘), with “s,” is also used to show possession.
- Courtney’s office is down the hall this way.
- The city’s growth has been phenomenal over the last few decades.
- Luke’s job is to make sure the vending machines are refilled when they are empty.
What if a name ends with “s” and you want to add an apostrophe to show that something is possessed by that person? Do you add another “s” after the mark (‘) in the last sentence? Actually, both ways are correct—just be consistent.
- Marcus’s explanation was very clear.
- Marcus’ time with our company is coming to an end.
Special usage
Sometimes, if a plural with a single letter or symbol looks odd with just a letter “s,” an apostrophe is used. It may also be omitted in these situations, but be consistent.
- The students as a group received 18 A’s, 13 B’s, 12 C’s, 3 D’s, and 3 F’s.
- Q&A’s will be held after all the lectures, so have your questions ready.
For a plural of a lowercase letter, this punctuation mark (‘) should be used.
- Americans sometimes sign their emails with x’s and o’s, meaning kisses and hugs.
Key Points to Remember
We use an apostrophe for one of three major reasons. To show possession, to show contraction, or to show plurality for letters, numbers, and symbols. There are certain nuances in using apostrophes that you have to be aware of, such as with ‘Mr. Roberts’ vs Mr. Roberts’s’ but if you stick to one style, then you won’t go wrong. With apostrophes, as with most things we cover in these guides, practice will make perfect, and the more you expose yourself to different writers using apostrophes, the better.
Common Apostrophe Mistakes
There are some cases where individuals use an apostrophe when it isn’t necessary or else use them inappropriately. These cases are relatively common, so we’ll look at some of the most common mistakes to help you avoid them yourself.
Regular Nouns
A regular noun is a noun that simply adds an ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the end to show plurality. In these cases, mistakes are common when trying to show plural possession. For example:
- Incorrect: The guy’s party was fun. – The guy’s suggests that it was just one guy whose party it was.
- Correct: The guys’ party was fun – The guys’ suggests that it was multiple guys hosting the party, i.e. we are showing plural possession.
Making a Noun Plural
The third apostrophe use we covered ‘to show plurality’ is likely the reason for this confusion. We only use an apostrophe to show plurality for letters, numbers, and symbols, never a noun.
- Incorrect: The car’s drove by quickly.
- Correct: The cars drove by quickly.
More than One Person Possesses it
Sometimes you may need to write a sentence in which more than one person possesses something. Here, only ever put the apostrophe and the ‘s’ to show possession after the second name.
- Incorrect: Kelly’s and June’s house wasn’t far away. – This suggests that Kelly and June live separately. If that were the case, the house would have to become houses to show that.
- Correct: Kelly and June’s house wasn’t far away. – This shows that both Kelly and June own the house.
Apostrophe Rules with Examples
Apostrophe Rules for Contractions
A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters and sounds.
The apostrophe is used to show the contraction of words in a sentence.
Examples:
- aren’t – are not
- can’t – cannot
- couldn’t – could not
- didn’t – did not
- doesn’t – does not
- don’t – do not
- hadn’t – had not
- hasn’t – has not
- haven’t – have not
- he’d – he had; he would
- he’ll – he will; he shall
- he’s – he is; he has
- I’d – I had; I would
- I’ll – I will; I shall
- I’m – I am
- I’ve – I have
- isn’t – is not
- let’s – let us
- mightn’t – might not
- mustn’t – must not
- shan’t – shall not
- she’d – she had; she would
- she’ll – she will; she shall
- she’s – she is; she has
- shouldn’t – should not
- that’s – that is; that has
- there’s – there is; there has
- they’d – they had; they would
- they’ll – they will; they shall
- they’re – they are
- they’ve – they have
- we’d – we had; we would
- we’re – we are
- we’ve – we have
- weren’t – were not
- what’ll – what will; what shall
- what’re – what are
- what’s – what is; what has
- what’ve – what have
- where’s – where is; where has
- who’s – who had; who would
- who’ll – who will; who shall
- who’re – who are
- who’s – who is; who has
- who’ve – who have
- won’t – will not
- wouldn’t – would not
- you’d – you had; you would
- you’ll – you will; you shall
- you’re – you are
- you’ve – you have
Example Sentences:
- It’s rain outside.
- I’ll be there.
- I haven’t met him before.
- I’m planning to write a book someday.
- She’s been working.
- Who’s at the door?
- They weren’t hungry, because they’d already eaten.
- I can’t believe it’s snowing again.
Apostrophe Rules for Possession (Possessive Apostrophe)
Apostrophe Before S
In most cases, we add an apostrophe before s for singular nouns to show possession. For example, dog owned by Jack -> Jack‘s dog, wallet belongs to Jim -> Jim‘s wallet, etc.
Examples:
- The children’s room
- The men’s work
- The women’s club
- A ship’s captain
- A doctor’s patient
- A car’s engine
Example sentences:
- The girl’s hands were chapped by the cold.
- The cat’s toy was missing.
- John’s attempts to solve the problem were rewarded.
Apostrophe After S
For plural nouns, we simply add an apostrophe after s except for those few plural nouns that do not end in s.
Examples:
- Boys’ ball
- Babies’ shoes
- Lemons’ acidity
- Owls’ eyes
- Students’ bag
- Two girls’ dresses
Example sentences:
- The tables’ legs were all wobbly and needed repair.
- Cherries’ stones can break your teeth if you are not careful.
- People are prepared to pay high prices for designers’ clothes.
Note:
We use an apostrophe and an –s to indicate the plural form of lowercase letters.
Example:
- You need to write your l’s more legibly.
Apostrophe Quiz
Questions
Below, we’ll put your new knowledge to the test. See if you think the following sentences are correct or incorrect, and if you think they’re incorrect, how would you change them?
- Sometimes when I write my letters, my as look like us.
- The girls’ dinner was delicious.
- Mr. Richards’ car can’t have been driving in that direction, I’d already seen it parked by his house.
Answers
1.Incorrect.
Do you see the confusion when we don’t add an apostrophe and ‘s’ to the end of letters, numbers, and symbols. It should be:
- Sometimes when I write my letters, my a’s look like u’s.
2. Correct.
We are showing plural possession of a regular noun. Writing it as ‘The girl’s dinner was delicious’ suggests only one girl made the dinner.
3. Correct.
Mr. Richards’ could have been written as Mr. Richards’s too, of course, but it is perfectly correct the way we’ve written it. ‘Can’t’ is the correct contraction of can not, and ‘I’d’ is the correct contraction of I had.
