How to Use Apostrophes in the Sentences

Author: Kristen Stewart

In writing, apostrophes can be used in two different ways.

1. To show possession

2. To indicate that there is a missing letter (omission).

Many people find apostrophes tricky because it can be difficult to decipher whether or not something is showing possession (especially when using plural nouns).

This is Peter’s book –shows possession as it is actually his book. The dog’s dinner needs an apostrophe because the dinner belongs to the

dog.

However, there are variations that should be followed according to the whether the word is a personal name or plural nouns beginning with s. For a personal name that you would say the extra s aloud, it should look like this:

Dickens’s Charles’s

Yet with personal names that are not spoken with the extra s the apostrophe is located at the end of the word:

Connors’ Bridges’

Plural nouns that end with S should always have the apostrophe at the end of the word:

girls’ school horses’ stables

Personal pronouns do not require apostrophes, and this is where many people can start to become confused. For example: the cat broke its leg; they claimed the

sandwich was theirs; the book was hers. These words are already possessive, which is why they don’t need apostrophes.

Apostrophes can indicate missing words such as: can’t, don’t, I’d, and we’d. I can’t go to the opera; I don’t want to go to the opera; I’d rather go to the cinema; we’d like to go the cinema.

The most common misuse of apostrophes is through the use of plurals – so much so that it is everywhere in society. However, just because it is everywhere doesn’t mean that it will go overlooked. For example if I had an abundance of carrots or apples to sell – there is no need for an apostrophe because there is no possession and there is no missing word, right?

The following are incorrect: MOT’s half price at this garage; the menu’s fell on the floor; 1000’s of bargains.

These should be: MOTs half price at this garage, the menus fell on the floor, 1000s of bargains.

So now that we know that apostrophes are used for possession – Katie’s bicycle – and to indicate the structure of a missing letter – don’t – let’s look at some very specific examples that show how apostrophes can change the meaning of a sentence by Steve Pinker (The Language and Instinct, 1994):

My sister's friend's investments (the investments belonging to a friend of my sister)

My sister's friends' investments (the investments belonging to several friends of my sister)

My sisters' friend's investments (the investments belonging to a friend of several of my sisters)

My sisters' friends' investments (the investments belonging to several friends of several of my sisters)

Proofreading services can make sure that you have used apostrophes correctly throughout your piece of work.