This document outlines 5 basic rules for using apostrophes: 1) Apostrophes are used to mark omitted letters in contractions and show possessive case. 2) For singular possession, an apostrophe is placed before the s. For names ending in s, add an additional s after the apostrophe. 3) For plural possession, make the noun plural before adding the apostrophe. 4) Do not use an apostrophe for plural of a name. 5) Do not use apostrophes with possessive pronouns, only with contractions. Examples are provided to illustrate each rule.

1. Apostrophes
Bryce Hoyle & Xin Li
9/25/14

2. Basic Rules
● The marking of the omission of one or more
letters. (do not & don’t)
● Possessive case. (one month’s time)

3. Rule 1
❏ Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is
always placed at spot where letters were removed.
Examples:
❏ do not = don’t
❏ you are = you’re
❏ she is = she’s

4. Rule 2
● Place apostrophe before S to show singular
possession.
o (Names ending in S should include a second S.)
Singular: one boy’s pet, Ms. Sally’s store
Names ending in S: Mr. Jones’s house, Texas’s cities

5. Rule 3
❏ To show plural possession make noun plural
first then use apostrophe.
❏ Example:
Two dogs’ bone

6. Rule 4
❏ Do not use an apostrophe for plural of a name.
❏ Example
The Johnsons have two lions and a cat.
I have four Xbox One controllers.

7. Rule 5
❏ Don’t use with possessive pronouns (his, hers,
its, theirs, ours, yours) only use if a contraction
is used.
❏ Example
It is = It’s
That is = That’s

8. Knowledge Check
● I bought some ______.
A.) Apples B.) Apple’s C.) Apples’
● _____ mine.
A.) Thats B.) That’s
● I talked to the _______ father.
A.) Children’s B.) Childrens’

9. Answers
1. A.) Apples
2. B.) That’s
3. A.) Children’s