Apostrophes Apostrophes with Possessives For singular

Apostrophes

Apostrophes with Possessives • For singular nouns use ‘s – the book’s author; the flower’s smell • For singular noun that ends in s, the added s after the apostrophe is optional – James’s car (or) James’ car • For plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe – both teams’ colors; six days’ vacation

Apostrophes with Possessives • For plural nouns not ending in s, use ‘s – the children’s game; four men’s cars • For the indefinite pronoun (pronouns ending in –body and –one), use ‘s – no one’s fault; somebody’s hat • For compound words, add ‘s to the last word – brother-in-law’s house; everyone else’s water

Apostrophes with Possessives • For joint ownership by two or more nouns, add ‘s after the last noun – Mary and Tim’s house; bar and grill’s parking • For individual ownership when two or more nouns are used, add ‘s after each – Mary’s and Tim’s houses; • Mine and Tim’s house; Tim’s and my houses (never write or say I’s)

Apostrophes with Contractions • Use the apostrophe to mark omitted letters or numbers – it’s = it is (its shows possession) – who’s = who is (whose shows possession) – ’ 79 = 1979 – what’ve = what have

Apostrophes with Plurals • Use apostrophes to form plurals of lowercase letters and abbrevations with periods. Always use ‘ with A or a. – k’s B. A. ’s A’s a’s • The apostrophe is optional for numbers, abbreviations without periods, and symbols – – UFOs or UFO’s 1950 s or 1950’s (I prefer ’ 50 s over ’ 50’s) do’s and don’ts #s or #’s; &s or &’s

Unnecessary Apostrophes • Don’t use the apostrophe with possessive pronouns. – his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, whose • Don’t use the apostrophe with regular forms of plural nouns that don’t show possession. – two cars, but the car’s driver – The Smiths went to three parades.