Apostrophe Rules
Rule #1 Use an apostrophe to form a contraction. The apostrophe replaces the letters you
remove(often vowels) Common contractions: can’t, shouldn’t, don’t
Rule #2 Similar to a contraction, an apostrophe can
be used to show that numbers have been left out of a year. Example: ’54 stands for 1954. The apostrophe takes the place of “19.”
Rule #3 Use an apostrophe to show possession
(ownership). To know if an item is possessive, ask yourself, “Is this somebody’s something?” If the answer is “yes,” then the word is possessive and requires an apostrophe.
Singular nouns To make a singular noun possessive, add ’s
to the end of the noun. Example: Joe’s coat, the cat’s toy *Add the ’s even if the noun ends with s: James’s guitar
Plural nouns To make a plural noun (like dogs)
possessive, add an apostrophe after the s that is already at the end of the noun. Example: the dogs’ ball (the ball belongs to more than one dog) *If the plural noun doesn’t end in s, add ’s like you would for a singular noun. For example, the children’s toys
Compound nouns To make a compound noun possessive, add ’s
to the end of the last word. Example: mother-in-law’s house If two or more people or things possess the same item, add ’s to the end of the last person or thing only. Example: Karen and Walter’s box of crayons
What NOT to do Do NOT use apostrophes to form plural nouns Example: shoes, apples, faces To form the plural of a word that ends in y, remove
the final y and add ies. NO apostrophes! Example: party becomes parties, body becomes bodies Do NOT use apostrophes to form possessive pronouns. Example: the bike is hers, its tires were flat, that is ours
Stay in school! The following are examples of why you should pay attention in English class. ď Š
What’s wrong here? Apostrophe Catastrophe!
Another one!
Mistakes are even on printed t-shirts!
I guess they WERE opening at 3am, but they’re not now.
Not even close‌
Oh no…
Is it ironic that the word genius contains the error?
Lickety Split’s Ice Cream in Johnston
Beach House in Champion
Marietta, Ohio
Bad grammar is NOT!