Apostrophes

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The apostrophe is used to indicate an omission, to indicate possession, or to form certain plurals.

 

To Indicate an Omission

An apostrophe indicates the omission of letters or numbers.

Example: coming=comin’
1969=‘69

Apostrophes are also used in contractions to indicate the omission of letters

Example: it is=it’s
they are=they’re
you are=you’re
should not=shouldn’t

 

To Indicate Possession

An apostrophe is used to indicate possession. For most nouns (either singular or plural without a final s), add ’s to the word.

Example: lady’s choice
A Bug’s Life
men’s room
owner’s expense

For plural nouns ending in s, only add ’ to the word to indicate possession.

Example: the dogs’ food dishes
his daughters’ shoes

Joint possession

If something belongs to two or more people, add an ’s to the last name listed.

Example: George and Elaine’s comic situation
Bruce and Demi’s overdue breakup

If two or more people each own separate but similar objects that are listed together,’s is added to all of the applicable names.

Example: Bob’s and Lola’s favorite flavors. (They each have different favorite flavors.)
Wayne’s and Garth’s most embarrassing moments. (They each have different embarrassing moments.)

Singular nouns ending in S

According to the 15th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style, singular nouns ending in s are made possessive by adding ’s because simply using an apostrophe does not accurately reflect pronunciation.

Example: boss’s office
Jones’s power tools

Note: The Brief Penguin Handbook (2003) allows for the use of a single apostrophe after a singular noun ending in s where pronunciation could be considered awkward.

Example: Heroditus’ travels
Jesus’ sermons (the ‘s in this case would conflict with the s beginning "sermons")

As a guideline, use the punctuation that would best reflect the pronunciation of the word.

 

Do NOT Use Apostrophes in the Following Situations:

To create plurals of words, letters, and symbols that are used as nouns.

Incorrect: do’s and don’t’s
3’s and 4’s
@’s and #’s

Correct: dos and don’ts
3s and 4s
@s and #s

Note: the use of ’s is acceptable when the construction would be awkward or confusing.

Example: Not yesses and nos, but yes’s and no’s

To create plurals of capital letters and abbreviations without any internal punctuation.

Incorrect: A’s, B’s, and C’s
IRA’s
PhD’s

Correct: As, Bs, and Cs
IRAs
PhDs

Note: the use of ’s is acceptable to create plurals of lowercase letters and abreviations with two or more periods.

Correct: a’s, b’s, and c’s
Ph.D.’s
M.A.’s

To indicate a time period.

Incorrect: the 1990’s
‘40’s

Correct: the 1990s
‘40s

To create possessive pronouns.

Incorrect: it’s
your’s
their’s

Correct: its
yours
theirs

Note: It’s with an apostrophe is a contraction of it is.

To pluralize regular nouns.

Incorrect: There are lots of dog’s in the yard.
Who ate my sandwich’s?

Correct: There are lots of dogs in the yard.
Who ate my sandwiches?

Note: a singular noun with an ’s creates a singular possessive noun.

James Gunter, April 2005
Based on a handout by Roy Turner, Aug. 1999