Avoiding Apostrophic Embarrassment: When to Use an Apostrophe

When to use an apostrophe is a topic of considerable consternation among word enthusiasts, grammar gurus, and educators alike – especially when it comes to apostrophe usage in plural names and nouns. 

Is venting about correct apostrophe usage a bit nerdy? Admittedly, yes. Is using an apostrophe correctly always necessary? Absolutely. Some word nerds might go so far as to say there is no greater achievement in the field of English grammar. And yet…the errors continue. 

A Brief History of Apostrophe Misuse

Even among the most seasoned writers, when to use an apostrophe seems elusive. It’s sad but shouldn’t be surprising. World-renowned literary experts have found themselves falling into apostrophe traps since the apostrophe was introduced in the early 1500s (as opposed to the early 1500’s). 

To certain people, the “abuse” of the apostrophe is no laughing matter. Misuse has led to genuine misunderstandings and even lawsuits. Even major companies with millions of dollars at their disposal aren’t immune. 

In the late 1980s, famed apostrophiser Keith Waterhouse, a well-known British columnist, just simply couldn’t take it anymore and started the Association to Abolish the Aberrant Apostrophe (or the AAAA). The organization’s mission was “to round up and confiscate superfluous apostrophes” and “redistribute them” to restore grammatical order. Obviously, that mission failed, and the AAAA went the way of the word “figuratively” (which is now replaced almost universally by the word “literally”).  

The fight for apostrophic purity continues, however. Apostrophe activists in the UK regrouped in 2001 and formed the Apostrophe Protection Society, which continues to pursue this esoteric war on error to this day.

Basic Functions of the Apostrophe

Despite the frustration many have about when to use an apostrophe, this small but mighty punctuation mark serves two primary functions in the English language: it indicates possession, and it forms contractions. 

When showing possession, the apostrophe helps signify that something belongs to someone or something, as in “Jessica’s book” or “the dog’s leash.” 

For contractions, the apostrophe acts as a placeholder for omitted letters, seamlessly transforming two words into one shorter form, like turning “do not” into “don’t” or “she is” into “she’s.” 

Apostrophe Usage for Contraction

For the most part, people seem to know when to use an apostrophe for contractions. In this regard, apostrophes play a pivotal role in streamlining our written communication. They efficiently combine two words into one by replacing omitted letters, making the language more concise and conversational. 

For instance, “does not” becomes “doesn’t,” and “I will” transforms into “I’ll.” This use of apostrophes in contractions is ubiquitous in both formal and informal writing, reflecting spoken language’s natural rhythm and economy of expression. 

Common mistakes do arise quite often, unfortunately. Confusing “it’s” (a contraction for “it is” or “it has”) with the possessive pronoun “its” or “you’re” (the contraction for “you are”) with the possessive “your” are two of the most abundant. 

Understanding and correctly applying these rules help maintain clarity and prevent misunderstandings in both casual and formal contexts.

Apostrophe Usage for Possession and Plural Names

There are strict rules about when to use an apostrophe for possession, although they do vary depending on whether the noun is singular or plural, regular or irregular, or one syllable or two. Generally speaking, here are the rules that fit most situations: 

1. Singular nouns. For singular nouns, the apostrophe is placed before an ‘s’ to denote ownership, as in “the cat’s whiskers” or “David’s car.” 

2. Plural nouns ending in ‘s.’ For plural nouns, if they already end in an ‘s’, the apostrophe is placed after the existing ‘s’, as in “the teachers’ lounge” or “the Joneses’ house.” 

3. Plural nouns not ending in ‘s.’ For plural nouns that do not end in ‘s’, the apostrophe precedes the ‘s’, similar to the singular form, as in “the children’s coats” or “the women’s basketball team.” 

4. Proper nouns ending in ‘s.’ Proper nouns ending in ‘s’ are perhaps the most confusing of all. If the proper noun is singular, as in “James,” you’ll want to add the possessive apostrophes and an ‘s’, as in “James’s coat.” 

5. Plural proper nouns ending in ‘s.’ If a proper noun is plural, representing a whole family, for example, and ends in ‘s’, you’ll want to add an ‘es’ followed by an apostrophe, as in “the Sanderses’ driveway.” This rule also applies when a plural proper noun ends in ‘z’, as in “the Sanchezes’ dog.” 

6. Plural proper nouns not ending in ‘s.’ If a proper noun is plural and represents an entire group but does not end in ‘s’, you’ll want to add only an apostrophe, as in “the Millers’ mailbox.” 

Possession goes wrong when people attempt to apply these rules to possessive pronouns such as “hers,” “theirs,” “yours,” and “its.” Unlike singular and plural nouns and pronouns, possessive pronouns exist for one reason only: to show possession. Because of this, they do not require an apostrophe at all. As in, never. 

There are no such contractions as “you’res” or “your’s”, but it’s virtually certain you’ll come across them one day if you haven’t already.

Apostrophe Usage in Special Cases

If it seems like the further down you read, the more confused you get, we understand. English is a tough language to learn for many reasons, and apostrophes certainly don’t help. Besides their standard uses in contraction and possession, apostrophes also have a special role in some less common cases. 

One notable instance is in the pluralization of letters, numbers, and symbols, where an apostrophe is used for clarity. For example, when pluralizing a single letter, as in “Mind your p’s and q’s,” the apostrophe helps differentiate the plural form from a word or acronym. This also holds true when periods appear between letters, as in “there are three M.D.s in the room.”

However, when discussing decades, the correct form is “1980s” without an apostrophe, contrary to the common but incorrect “1980’s.” The correct usage form reflects a pluralization, not a possessive or a contraction, ensuring precision in historical and chronological contexts. 

Though tricky, understanding these apostrophe nuances is essential for clear and accurate written communication.

Teaching Tips for Knowing When to Use an Apostrophe

When it comes to mastering apostrophes, a few tips and tricks can make a world of difference. 

General Tips

Tip 1: In most cases, apostrophes are not used to turn a word into a plural form. 

Tip 2: Apostrophes are only used to indicate possession or to indicate missing letters in a contraction. 

Possession Tips

Tip 1. Remind students to always double-check if they’re indicating possession or creating a contraction; this will guide them on whether an apostrophe is necessary. 

Tip 2. For singular possession, ask students to remember the simple formula of noun + apostrophe + ‘s.’ 

Tip 4. Plural possessive forms can be trickier; if the plural noun already ends in ‘s,’ just tell your students to add an apostrophe and an ‘s’ after the word that ends in ‘s.’

Contraction Tips

Tip 1. Mentally expand the contraction to its original two words to ensure the apostrophe is in the correct position. 

Tip 2: Use visual cues to help. Ask students to imagine the apostrophe as a placeholder for the missing letters. 

Tip 3: Remember, possessive pronouns (like hers, ours, its) never take an apostrophe. 

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Knowing when to use an apostrophe is part intuition and part education. If students practice these guidelines in their writing, using apostrophes will become more intuitive and less daunting over time. In fact, they may one day find themselves emboldened to conquer any apostrophic apocalypse that may come their way!

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