{"id":24803,"date":"2025-10-12T21:49:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T21:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.odysseyworkshop.org\/?page_id=24803"},"modified":"2025-10-12T21:49:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T21:49:05","slug":"punctuation-4-the-apostrophe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.odysseyworkshop.org\/writing-tips\/punctuation-4-the-apostrophe\/","title":{"rendered":"Punctuation 4: The Apostrophe"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610661810309{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #c4c4c4 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The apostrophe has a few simple uses that you need to know.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610669693657{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #cee7ef !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1493376887156{background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”17487″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Use the apostrophe when forming the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns.” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:20|text_align:left|color:%2371cff7″ google_fonts=”font_family:Actor%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1760305064228{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760305331300{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]The possessive case<\/em> indicates ownership or possession. If the noun is singular<\/em> (about one person, place or thing), form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and the letter s<\/em>. For example,<\/p>\n

You just ate out of the cat’s dish.<\/p>\n

That teacher’s class is really hard.<\/p>\n

Bess’s arm is broken.<\/p>\n

For safety’s sake, buckle your seat belt.<\/p>\n

The class’s performance was less than stellar.<\/p>\n

Notice that this rule applies even when the noun ends in s<\/em>.<\/p>\n

An indefinite pronoun<\/em> is a pronoun that doesn’t refer to a specific person or thing, such as anyone, everybody, each, no one, or something.<\/p>\n

Is this anyone’s coat?<\/p>\n

If the noun is plural<\/em> and ends in s<\/em>, add only an apostrophe. If the noun is plural and doesn’t end in s<\/em>, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em>. I know. This is one of those rules that makes you throw up your hands. But it’s really simple.<\/p>\n

The students’ grades were listed in the newspaper.<\/p>\n

He has had several years’ experience.<\/p>\n

The puppies’ mother was solid white.<\/p>\n

The children’s parents are out of town.<\/p>\n

Men’s clothing is usually expensive.<\/p>\n

The first three examples have plural nouns ending in s<\/em>. Only an apostrophe needs to be added. The last two examples have plural nouns not ending in s<\/em>. In those cases we need to add an apostrophe and an s<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To form the possessive case of a compound word or phrase, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em> to the last word.<\/p>\n

My mother-in-law’s cooking left a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n

That is somebody else’s problem.<\/p>\n

If two or more nouns have joint possession of something, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em> to the last noun.<\/p>\n

Jeanne and Mike’s new car is a Subaru.<\/p>\n

Kirk and Spock’s friendship is legendary.<\/p>\n

If two or more nouns each have individual possession of something, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em> to each noun.<\/p>\n

Jeanne’s and Peg’s houses face each other.<\/p>\n

The president’s and the congress’s opinions are quite different.<\/p>\n

There are several common errors people make when using the apostrophe to indicate possession.<\/p>\n

Do not use the apostrophe to form possessives of personal pronouns. Personal pronouns<\/em> include he, she, it, we, you, they<\/em>, and who<\/em>. Their possessive forms are his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs<\/em>, and whose<\/em>. None of these have apostrophes.<\/p>\n

I wonder whose iguana this is.<\/p>\n

Have you taken its temperature?<\/p>\n

I would rather take yours.<\/p>\n

Many people use it’s<\/em> when they should use its<\/em> and who’s<\/em> when they should use whose<\/em>. The apostrophes in it’s<\/em> and who’s<\/em> do not indicate possession. That is incorrect, as we discussed above. They indicate a contraction. It’s<\/em> means it is and who’s<\/em> means who is.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610738178828{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1493376887156{background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”17497″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Use the apostrophe in contractions and to indicate missing letters, words, or numbers.” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:20|text_align:left|color:%2371cff7″ google_fonts=”font_family:Actor%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1760305348727{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760305504266{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]A contraction is a two-word combination that uses an apostrophe to signal where letters have been omitted. Here are some examples.<\/p>\n

He’s the president of the club.<\/p>\n

(He’s<\/em> stands for he is<\/em>)<\/p>\n

I can’t go to the store.<\/p>\n

(can’t<\/em> stands for can not<\/em>)<\/p>\n

I wouldn’t betray you.<\/p>\n

(wouldn’t<\/em> stands for would not<\/em>)<\/p>\n

I wonder if it’s time.<\/p>\n

(it’s<\/em> stands for it is<\/em>)<\/p>\n

In each case, one or more letters have been removed and replaced with an apostrophe. An apostrophe can also be used to indicate missing words or numbers.<\/p>\n

My iguana was born in ’92.<\/p>\n

(’92<\/em> stands for 1992<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The ’60s were a wild time.<\/p>\n

(’60s<\/em> stands for 1960s<\/em>)<\/p>\n

It is five o’clock.<\/p>\n

(o’clock<\/em> stands for of the clock<\/em>)<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610669693657{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #cee7ef !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1493376887156{background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”17498″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Use the apostrophe to form the plural of letters, symbols, abbreviations, and words used as words.” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:20|text_align:left|color:%2371cff7″ google_fonts=”font_family:Actor%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1760305523462{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760305632414{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]To form the plural of letters or words used as words (rather than for their meaning) add an apostrophe and an s<\/em>. This is easiest to explain by giving you some examples.<\/p>\n

That teacher wants you to dot your i<\/em>‘s and cross your t<\/em>‘s.<\/p>\n

The exercise on apostrophes told when to use s<\/em>‘s.<\/p>\n

His paper has too many but<\/em>‘s in it.<\/p>\n

Note that letters or words used as themselves are always either underlined or set in italics. But the apostrophe and the s<\/em> are not.<\/p>\n

Similarly, to form the plural of symbols or abbreviations, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Her computer would print only *’s.<\/p>\n

Fifty Ph.D.’s attended the conference.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Excercises” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Actor%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text css=””]Here are some exercises covering what you’ve just learned about the apostrophe. Insert apostrophes where necessary and make corrections where necessary.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Iguanas are fascinating creatures.<\/li>\n
  2. What is the schools mascot?<\/li>\n
  3. Its not an iguana, thats for sure.<\/li>\n
  4. Whose saying that it was?<\/li>\n
  5. The students top choice was a spider.<\/li>\n
  6. That attracted the medias attention, including the television stations and the newspapers.<\/li>\n
  7. The student councils representative was on the six oclock news.<\/li>\n
  8. I can’t believe its all happening.<\/li>\n
  9. Sallys and Janes little iguana started the whole thing.<\/li>\n
  10. Sallys t<\/em>s look like o<\/em>s.<\/li>\n
  11. This could only happen in the 90s.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    [vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610661810309{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #c4c4c4 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The apostrophe has a few simple uses that you need to know.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1610669693657{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #cee7ef !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1493376887156{background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":12562,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24803","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t