Using Apostrophes

This page gives a quick overview on using apostrophes. (Each subject is expanded with
its own page.)

Using Apostrophes Incorrectly with Plurals

Don't add an apostrophe to a word just because the word ends with the letter s. This is a
common mistake, and it is a grammatical howler. (In other words, your readers will
think you're a bit dim if you keep doing it.)

This mistake is most commonly seen when people form the plurals of nouns, but it
happens with verbs too; e.g., He eat's pies.

Examples:

 I like pig's. Dog's look up to us. Cat's look down on us. Pig's treat us as equal's.

(These are all wrong.)

 I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as
equals.
 A spoken word is not a sparrow. Once it fly's out, you cannot catch it.

(This mistake is sometimes made with verbs too. This should be flies.)

 Tomato's and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French; garlic
makes it good.

(This mistake is particularly common when forming the plural of a noun which
ends in a vowel (e.g., video's , banana's ). It should be tomatoes in this
example.)

Using Apostrophes in Time Expressions

Apostrophes can be used in time expressions (also called temporal expressions) like a
day's pay and two weeks' notice.

The big question with these is where to put the apostrophe. The ruling is quite simple:
the apostrophe goes before the s for a single unit of time (e.g., one day's pay) and after
the s when it's more than one (e.g., two days' pay).
Examples:

 I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun. (Thomas Edison, 1847-
1931)
 It's not worth it for just two minutes' pleasure.

It's not always about time. For example:

 I live a stone's throw away.

Don't think you have to use an apostrophe every time you write seconds, minutes, hours,
days, weeks, months, etc. Only use an apostrophe where the word of could have been
used.

 a year's insurance

(a year of insurance)

 two weeks' holiday

(two weeks of holiday)

Using Apostrophes to Replace Letters

An apostrophe can be used to replace a letter or letters (e.g., isn't, can't). The new word
formed is called a contraction. Contractions are not usually used in formal
correspondence.

 When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half. (Gracie
Allen, 1906-1964)
 Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep. (Fran Lebowitz)

Contractions are most commonly used in informal writing to reflect how we speak.
These two contractions are notorious grammar villains: it's and you're.
Using Apostrophes in Unusual Plurals

The first thing to say about this topic is that apostrophes are not normally used to show
plurals, and lots of your readers will hate it if you use an apostrophe for this purpose.
However, that said, there are times when it helps to use an apostrophe to show a plural.
For example:

 There are two i's in skiing.

 You use too many but's in your writing.

Of course, there are other ways of writing these. For example:

 There are two Is in skiing.

 You use too many "but"s in your writing.

The bottom line is apostrophes can be used in this way and for good reason — the
apostrophe version is usually neater and clearer. However, be aware that you run the
risk of annoying a high proportion of your readers if you do it.
Apostrophes Are Used to Show Possession
An apostrophe and the letter s are often used to show possession.

When using an apostrophe to show possession, the very first thing you have to think
about is whether the possessor is singular or plural. This is important because it
determines where you must put your apostrophe. Look at these examples (the
possessors are shown in bold):

 The dog's kennel.

(With one dog, the apostrophe goes before the s.)

 The dogs' kennel.

(With more than one dog, the apostrophe goes after the s.)
Below are some more examples with singular and plural possessors. The reason why
apostrophes for possession cause so much trouble for writers is the number of
exceptions to this basic rule. They are also covered below.

With a Singular Possessor, the Apostrophe Goes before

the s
So, with one possessor, the apostrophe goes before the s.

For example:

 Take the girl's hand and place it on the cushion.

(hand belonging to the girl)

 I had to remove Peter's label and replace it.

(label belonging to Peter)

 Wagner's music is better than it sounds. (Mark Twain)

 A foolish woman knows a foolish man's faults.

 A friend's eye is a good mirror.

 A guest should be blind in another man's house.

With a Plural Possessor, the Apostrophe Goes after the
s
With a plural possessor, the apostrophe goes after the s.

For example:

 The horses' hay is damp.

(hay belonging to the horses)

(Note: more than one horse - apostrophe after the s)

 The ladies' toilets are out of bounds.

(toilets belonging to the ladies)

(Note: more than one lady - apostrophe after the s)

 The fairies' wings glistened in the moonlight.

(wings belonging to the fairies)

(Note: more than one fairy - apostrophe after the s)

An Exception to the Rule (Plural Nouns Not Ending s)

Mistakes with apostrophes to show possession are very common. One reason for this is
the number of exceptions to the rules above. For example, plural words which do not
end in the letter s (e.g., men, people, and children) have the apostrophe before the s
when showing possession.

Examples:

 He is the people's poet.

 All television is children's television.

(Richard P. Adler)

 Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfilment.

(Homer (800 BC - 700 BC))

Leave the childrens' presents in the hall until they have gone to bed. [correct the
example]
(apostrophe should be before the s to show possession with plural words not ending in
s)

 My watch was stolen from the men's changing room.

Exception to the Rule (Singular Nouns Ending s)
To make things even more complicated, singular words which end in s (e.g., Charles,
Wales, Paris, and Dickens) can end in ' (i.e., just an apostrophe) or 's when showing
possession.

Examples:

 It is Charles' birthday. It is Charles's birthday.

(both correct)

 I have not seen Wales' new stadium. I have not seen Wales's new stadium.

(both correct)

Both Charles' birthday and Charles's birthday are grammatically correct. However,
as a guideline, you should use the version which best matches how you would
pronounce it. In other words, use Charles's if you pronounce it "Charlesiz", but use
Charles' if you pronounce it "Charles".

More examples:

 Dr Evans' report

(for those who pronounce it "Dr Evans report")

 Dr Evans's report

(for those who pronounce it "Dr Evansiz report")

 Miss Williams' victory

(for those who pronounce it "Miss Williams victory")

 Miss Williams's victory

(for those who pronounce it "Miss Williamsiz victory")

 IT Solutions' conference

(for those who pronounce it "IT Solutions conference") (where "IT Solutions" is
considered as singular)

IT Solutions's conference (for those who pronounce it "IT Solutionsiz

conference")
Exception to the Rule (Compound Nouns)
Here is another quirk. Some compound nouns (e.g., sister-in-law) do not form their
plurals by adding s to the end. The s is appended to the principal word (i.e., the plural is
sisters-in-law). With a noun like this, the possessive form is created by adding 's to the
end, regardless of whether it is singular or plural.

Singular Plural
 sister-in-law's pond  sisters-in-law's husbands
 colonel-in-chief's arrival  colonels-in-chief's meeting
 maid of honour's bouquet  maids of honour's dresses

Apostrophes with Joint Ownership

Finally, joint ownership is shown by making the last word in the series possessive.
Individual ownership is shown by making both (or all) parts possessive.

Example:

 Andrew and Jacob's factory (joint ownership)

(note: only the last part is possessive)

 Andrew's and Jacob's factories

(individual ownership)
(note: both parts are possessive)
(Without context, it will be assumed that Andrew has one factory and Jacob has
one factory. Another construction is required if this is not the case:
"Andrew's factories and Jacob's factories" is one option.)

 India and Pakistan's problems

(common to both)

 India's and Pakistan's problems

(separate problems)