20.2: Apostrophes
- Page ID
- 315455
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Apostrophe Use 1: Use apostrophes to make singular words possessive.
Example: The book’s spine was worn from years of re-reading.
The spine belongs to the book; we could rewrite the sentence to read, “The spine of the book was worn from years of re-reading,” but using an apostrophe to show possession helps to make the sentence more concise.
Without an apostrophe, the word would be plural, and “spine” would become a verb, rendering the sentence nonsense: “The books spine was worn from years of re-reading.” The noun requires an apostrophe to make the sentence’s meaning clear.
Apostrophe Use 2: Use apostrophes to make plural words possessive.
Example: The students’ faces turned from smiles to frowns when they realized the due date loomed so close.
Here, the apostrophe goes after the “s” instead of before it to indicate the writer is speaking of more than one student.
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Pro-Tip Think carefully about apostrophe placement to indicate possession, lest you inadvertently make your sentence say something you do not intend. In the sentence above, for example, if the writer had written “student’s,” that one student then would have gained the attribute of having more than one face, all of which would be frowning. |
Here is another example: The next morning, I drove over to my boyfriends’ house.
This sentence tells us not only that the writer has more than one boyfriend, all the boyfriends happen to live in the same house. How very convenient—for the writer, at least.
When errors like this occur, the paper usually provides enough context so that readers can figure out what the writer intended. That is not always the case, however; and in any event. the larger point is that you as the writer should not put your reader in the position of having to figure out your meaning. You need to be aware, by the way, that your computer’s grammar check cannot indicate these are errors because, depending on what you intend, either would be correct. But grammar checks and spell checks do not “read” your paper and thus cannot determine what your intended meaning is. Only you know your intentions, so it is still your responsibility to read your paper closely and attentively.
Apostrophe Use 3: Use apostrophes to create contractions.
Example: They didn’t feel ready to write the paper, but the students realized they still had time to ask questions.
“Didn’t” is a contraction of “did not.” Below is a list of some common contractions:
| Contractions | Full Word(s) |
| I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’re, they’re | I am, you are, he is, she is, it is, we are, they are |
| can't | cannot |
| don’t, doesn’t/didn’t | do not, does not/did not |
| aren’t, isn’t/wasn’t, weren’t | are not, is not/was not, were not |
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won't |
will not |
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Pro-Tip Generally, avoid using contractions in formal and academic writing. Instead, spell out the words to help establish a formal tone. |
Apostrophe Exception: Do not use apostrophes to show possession in pronouns.
Example: The book was worn, but its pages were still readable.
Remember the rule: Possessive pronouns (“my/mine,” “your/yours,” “his/her/hers/its,” “our/ours,” and “their/theirs”) are called that because we use them only to indicate possession. Thus, you do not need an apostrophe for “his” or “her” (or “hers,” for that matter). But because of the similarity of “its” to “it’s” (the contraction for “it is”), even practiced writers should think carefully about their meaning here and then choose accordingly.
See this page for video instruction help with apostrophes from Khan Academy.