When using a singular noun, the apostrophe is used before the s. For example: “The squirrel’s nuts were stashed in a hollow tree.” When using a plural noun, the apostrophe goes after the s.
What is the meaning of apostrophes in grammar?
Apostrophes are punctuation marks used to indicate possession. The placement of an apostrophe depends upon the word you are making possessive. Singular possessive. Make a singular noun possessive by adding an apostrophe and an "s ." Example: Long's theory (2003) suggested...
How do you write possessive names with apostrophes?
"If you must announce possession, place the apostrophe after the plural names — the Smiths', The Gumps' and The Joneses'." To form the possessive of plural nouns that end in a letter other than s, add 's , as in the women's cars. Other examples include:
Do you put an s after the apostrophe in a name?
If there’s more than one noun, and the plural noun is formed by adding an s (e.g. 1 horse; 2 horses), no s is required after the apostrophe. If there’s more than one noun, and the plural is formed irregularly (e.g. 1 child; 2 children), an s follows the apostrophe. Names can be tricky.
How do you write plurals without an apostrophe?
As a general rule, use only an -s (or an -es) without an apostrophe to form the plurals of nouns — including dates, acronyms, and family names: 1 Markets were booming in the 1990s. 2 The tax advantages offered by IRAs make them attractive investments. 3 The Johnsons have sold all their CDs.
Do you write James's or James?
Which is correct, Chris's chair or Chris' chair? James's car or James' car? Actually, both ways are correct. If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s.
What are the 2 rules for apostrophe?
The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not. The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other than s.
What are the 5 examples of apostrophe?
A few apostrophe examples below:I am – I'm: “I'm planning to write a book someday.”You are – You're: “You're going to have a lot of fun with your new puppy.”She is – She's: “She's always on time.”It is – It's: “I can't believe it's snowing again.”Do not – Don't: “I don't like anchovies.”More items...
Can you use apostrophes in formal writing?
Apostrophes are frequently used in everyday writing, but they are rarely used in scientific and medical writing. This rarity helps to maintain a formal tone, because apostrophes are generally considered informal. But the apostrophe, when used carefully, can add simplicity and clarity to your writing.
Where do you put a possessive apostrophe?
Apostrophe Rules for PossessivesUse an apostrophe +"s" ('s) to show that one person/thing owns or is a member of something.Use an apostrophe after the "s" (s') at the end of a plural noun to show possession.If a plural noun doesn't end in "s," add an apostrophe + "s" to create the possessive form.
Where do I put the apostrophe?
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to create a contraction or to show possession.Use an apostrophe when two words are shortened into one. ... Use an apostrophe when showing possession. ... Do not create a double or triple “s” when adding an apostrophe. ... Do not use an apostrophe with pronouns to show possession.More items...
What are the 3 rules for apostrophes?
The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use apostrophes to form possessive pronouns (i.e. his/her computer) or noun plurals that are not possessives.
How do you write something that belongs to someone?
For most nouns you just need to add an apostrophe and an s to show that something belongs to a person or thing. It's a handy tool because instead of saying the bedroom of Luca, the apostrophe and the s make it Luca's bedroom. Much easier!
What is apostrophe and its examples?
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used in contractions to replace missing letters. The contraction "we'll" stands for "we will," with the apostrophe replacing "wi." It can also show possession, as in "Mary's car." The apostrophe indicates the car belongs to Mary.
How do you use an apostrophe in academic writing?
NOTE: the generally accepted convention for most academic styles (including CMOS, APA, and MLA) is to add apostrophe + s to the singular form of the word, even if it ends in "s." Non-academic styles, such as AP, suggest simply adding an apostrophe to the end of a word that ends in "s." Please check the style guide of ...
What is apostrophe technique?
It occurs when a speaker breaks off from addressing the audience (e.g., in a play) and directs speech to a third party such as an opposing litigant or some other individual, sometimes absent from the scene. Often the addressee is a personified abstract quality or inanimate object.
Do you put an apostrophe after a letter?
Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) If you wish to form the possessive of a single capital letter, add an apostrophe and an s after the letter: Plan A failed right away.
What are the 2 types of apostrophes?
There are two different kinds of apostrophes: smart and straight. To use them correctly, it helps to know how they work. Smart apostrophes, also known as curly or typographer's apostrophes, are the professional-looking marks preferred by most publishers.
What are the 3 rules for apostrophes?
The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use apostrophes to form possessive pronouns (i.e. his/her computer) or noun plurals that are not possessives.
What are the rules of apostrophes?
Apostrophes are used to form the possessive form of a singular noun or a plural noun not ending in s by adding ' and an s at the end. If a plural noun ends in s, only ' should be added.
What is a possessive apostrophe example?
A possessive apostrophe is a form of apostrophe that you use to show that something belongs to or is connected to something else. For example, Linda's bag or the Queen's hat.
Indicating Possession
Apostrophes are how we indicate in writing that something belongs to someone or something else. For example, if we were writing about a car owned by Nigel we would add an apostrophe and an “s” like this:
Indicating Contractions
A contraction is an abbreviated version of two words. We use an apostrophe in contractions to indicate missing letters:
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Plural Nouns
Not every word ending in an “s” requires an apostrophe. When pluralizing a word, for instance, you don’t need to include an apostrophe before the “s.”
What is an apostrophe in writing?
Apostrophes are one of the most common mistakes that writers make. Apostrophes are a little-known part of the English language. They are used to indicate possessive pronouns, possessive nouns, possessive adjectives, and interrogative words.
When to use apostrophes?
Apostrophes are used in some words to form possessive nouns, but it is a very common practice to use them only when there is no other way to form the possessive.
What is an apostrophe generator?
The apostrophe generator is a tool that simplifies these type of corrections with an emphasis on accuracy and clarity. It accepts input from users for all kinds of sentences, letters or even text files, making them available for editing straight away.
How many ways can you use apostrophes to show possession?
There are two ways in which we can use apostrophes to show possession.
Do you use an apostrophe before a possessive pronoun?
In that case, you may use the apostrophe only where the word itself is plural or singular – as in “the pup”. However, it’s not always this simple and it’s better to make sure that your writing is as correct as possible.
Can an apostrophe generator be used to generate apostrophes?
Apostrophe generator can help you generate any apostrophe.
Do plurals require an apostrophe?
But we often forget the need to use them when we write for a general audience and they don’t know the difference between “he” and “his”, or “he’s” and “he is”.
What is an apostrophe in punctuation?
Apostrophe Basics. Apostrophes are punctuation marks used to indicate possession. The placement of an apostrophe depends upon the word you are making possessive. Singular possessive. Make a singular noun possessive by adding an apostrophe and an "s .". Example: Long's theory (2003) suggested...
How to make a possessive noun plural?
Make a plural noun possessive by adding an apostrophe. Example: The Nurses' Association published a code of ethics... Plural possessive (irregular). Make an irregular plural noun (e.g., "women" or "children") possessive by adding an apostrophe. Example: The Akron Children's Hospital.
When to use an apostrophe in a sentence?
We can use an apostrophe to indicate that a letter is missing at the end of a word (dancing – dancin’), the middle of a word ( cannot – can’t) and the beginning of a word (horrible – ’ orrible). Start-of-word letter omissions are commonly used in fiction writing to indicate informal speech or a speaker’s accent.
What is an apostrophe in a book?
The apostrophe is the same mark as a closing single quotation mark: ’ (unicode 2019). This is worth remembering when you use them in your fiction to indicate the omission of letters at the beginning of a word. More on that further down.
Why do we use contracted forms in fiction?
In fiction, we often use contracted forms of two words to create a more natural rhythm in the prose, particularly in dialogue. The apostrophes indicate that letters (and spaces) have been removed. . Common examples include: Indicating omission at the beginning, middle and end of single words.
What is the job of an apostrophe?
Apostrophes have two main jobs: 1. To indicate possession. 2. To indicate omission. And sometimes a third (though this is rarer and only applies to some expressions): 3. To indicate a plural. 1.
Do you need an apostrophe for plural numbers?
Indicating omission in numbers and dates. Plural numbers don’t usually require an apostrophe because there’s no ambiguity. In fiction writing, it’s common to spell out numbers for one hundred and below, but even when numerals are used, no apostrophe is needed for plurals.
Do you put an apostrophe after a noun?
If there’s more than one noun, and the plural noun is formed by adding an s (e.g. 1 horse; 2 horses), no s is required after the apostrophe.
Do possessive pronouns need an apostrophe?
The following possessive pronouns NEVER need an apostrophe: hers, theirs, yours and its.
What is an apostrophe in a sentence?
An apostrophe is a mark of punctuation ( ') used to identify a noun in the possessive case or indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word. The apostrophe has two main jobs in English: to mark contractions and to indicate possession. While that may sound simple enough, many people are baffled by the little squiggle.
When do you add an apostrophe to a noun?
By contrast, when two or more nouns separately possess something, add an apostrophe to each noun listed:
How to use apostrophe plus s?
Use an apostrophe plus -s to show the possessive form of a singular noun, even if that singular noun already ends in -s. To form the possessive of singular nouns, add 's , as in Homer's job or the dog's breakfast. Some other examples include: "The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. ".
How to use apostrophes in a contraction?
How to Use Apostrophes to Make Contractions. Use apostrophes to form contractions, where two or more words are combined to form one, with letters omitted. The apostrophe replaces the omitted letter (s). The classes of words that are most frequently affected by contractions are verbs and pronouns.
What is a possessive of a noun that ends in a letter other than s?
To form the possessive of plural nouns that end in a letter other than s, add 's , as in the women's cars. Other examples include: The women's conference (the conference belonging to the women) The children's toys (the toys belonging to the children)
How to make a possessive of a noun that ends in a s?
To form the possessive of a plural noun that already ends in -s, simply add an apostrophe, as in the bankers' bonuses , the coaches' offices, and in these examples:
Why do we use apostrophes in letters?
To avoid confusion, you may occasionally need to use apostrophes to indicate the plural forms of certain letters and expressions that aren't commonly found in the plural — for example: Mind your p's and q's . Nordquist, Richard. "A Guide to Using Apostrophes Correctly.". ...
How to make a possessive of a single capital letter?
If you wish to form the possessive of a single capital letter, add an apostrophe and an s after the letter: Plan A failed right away. Now it is Plan B’s fault that we can’t start the project.
What is possessive letter?
Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural: She went to three M.D.s’ offices. To form the possessive of an initialism, add an apostrophe to the plural: The DVDs’ new lower price could help them sell much faster. If you wish to form the possessive ...
How to make a possessive number?
To create the possessive form of a multi-digit number, add an apostrophe to the plural: The 1970s’ influence on music that followed was unmistakable.
Do you use an apostrophe for a letter?
Plural of Letters. Rule: The plurals for letters are typically not formed with apostrophes. However, do use an apostrophe and an s for the plural of a single letter if not doing so would make the meaning unclear. Examples. Brian has three Bs on his report card.
How do you write a decade apostrophe?
When shortening a decade, place an apostrophe before the digits (facing the proper way ), but NOT before the "s." Nothing can be possessed by a decade! Decades are forms that function as units of measurement as well as quantities by themselves.
How do you use years with apostrophes?
Years are a good time to use an apostrophe. When missing numerals, an apostrophe, like a contraction, should be used with caution.
Where does the apostrophe go when abbreviating a year?
The right sign for abbreviating the year with two digits, according to this source, is an apostrophe: When shortening a year, leave off the first two numerals and denote the omission with an apostrophe: 2009 becomes '09 (rather than '09). 2010 is renamed '10' (rather than '10). Thus, '06'st means sixth and '07'st means seventh.
How are the years written?
Except at the start of a phrase, years should be stated as numbers. Most style guides agree that beginning a sentence with a numerical is bad form, hence years should be spelt out as words at the start of a phrase. This is especially important when writing about astronomical dates - 2001 was an awesome year.
Do dates need apostrophes?
Using apostrophes with dates: Although it may appear strange to have a number and a letter next to each other without punctuation, the plural does not contain an apostrophe. Thus, the date's year, month, and day all require an's' suffix.
Where do you put the apostrophe in a year?
When reducing 2012 to just '12, use an apostrophe. That adaptable punctuation mark (seen at left, a strong one being appropriately employed) fills in for missing numbers just like it does for missing letters in a contraction. It may also be used for decades! So, yes, you can write that he's been dead twenty years.
How to spell masters?
Masters Degree or Master’s Degree? 1 The correct way to spell master’s degree is with the apostrophe. 2 The s in master’s indicates a possessive (the degree of a master), not a plural. 3 If you’re speaking of a specific degree, you should capitalize master and avoid creating a possessive: Master of Science. 4 The same rules apply to a bachelor’s degree.
What is the last step to get a masters in linguistics?
Writing a thesis is the last step before being awarded a Master of Arts degree in Linguistics. Often enough, terms like Master of Arts and Master of Sciences are abbreviated, and the rules on how to do it vary from one university and style guide to another.
Is a bachelor's degree capitalized?
Bachelor’s degree follows the same spelling rules as master’s degree. When talking about the degree in general, it doesn’t need to be capitalized, the bachelor’s is written as a possessive, not a plural: If you don’t study hard, you’ll never get a bachelor’s degree. When speaking about a specific degree, you drop the possessive ...
Is "masters" a possessive?
The s in master’s indicates a possessive (the degree of a master), not a plural. If you’re speaking of a specific degree, you should capitalize master and avoid creating a possessive: Master of Science. The same rules apply to a bachelor’s degree.
Possession Is Indicated by Using An Apostrophe
Using Possessive Apostrophes: A Simple Tip
- As a rule, you use the apostrophe before a possessive pronoun. But this rule can be broken if you want to indicate possession. In that case, you may use the apostrophe only where the word itself is plural or singular – as in “the pup”. However, it’s not always this simple and it’s better to make sure that your writing is as correct as possible. If ...
Do Plurals Require An Apostrophe?
- Apostrophes can be used to show plurality and possessive singularity in written material. But we often forget the need to use them when we write for a general audienceand they don’t know the difference between “he” and “his”, or “he’s” and “he is”.
The Most Common Errors with Apostrophes
- Apostrophes can be used in so many different ways, and when we need to use them, we may not notice the difference in the way they are written and thus make a mistake. We should pay attention to apostrophe usage. Apostrophe generator can help you generate any apostrophe. This is a tool that makes the process of creating the final version of an article easier. The program wi…