An apostrophe ( ' ) indicates omitted elements in
words and helps form
possessive forms of words. An apostrophe helps
create the plural forms
of certain figures, letters, and words.
Using Apostrophes Properly
1) Add -’s to render a singular noun possessive.
He took away the cook’s hat.
2) Add an apostrophe to a plural noun ending with an s to make the noun possessive.
The cats’ scratching post was ugly.
3) Add -’s to render a plural noun not ending with an s possessive.
The mice’s holes are in each wall.
4) Add -’s (for a singular noun) or an apostrophe (for a plural noun ending with an s) to the second noun of paired nouns to show joint possession.
She went to Peter and Nancy’s house.
That room is the cats and dogs’ exercise room.
5) Add -’s (for a singular noun) or an apostrophe (for a plural noun ending with an s) to make a hyphenated noun possessive.
Her son-in-law’s car is fabulous.
6) Add -’s to make an indefinite pronoun possessive.
Everybody’s basic needs are similar.
7) Add -’s to a singular proper noun ending with an s to make the noun possessive.
Bleak House is the best of Charles Dickens’s books.
8) Use -’s to form the plural of a letter referenced as a letter. Follow the same procedure to form the plural of a word referenced as a word.
How many i’s are in the word facilitate?
Never use should’s when one can use could’s.
9) Use an apostrophe to indicate omission.
He said, “’Bye.”
They’re acting poorly.
10) Do not add an apostrophe to a possessive personal pronoun.
His friends are odd.
Their opinions seem harsh.
11) Plural numbers and most abbreviations require no apostrophes.
He likes music from the 1970s.
More YWCAs are needed in that city.