The Proper Use of Apostrophes

2. The apostrophe is used to indicate possession, the omission of one or more letters, or sometimes plural numbers. In addition, it has a few conventional uses. Use an apostrophe and sometimes s to form possessive nouns and indefinite pronouns. Do NOT use an apostrophe in a plural noun, a singular verb, or a possessive personal pronoun. Use the apostrophe to form contractions. Increasingly, the apostrophe does not mark plurals of abbreviations, dates, and words and characters named as words. For example: MAs is written MAs.

3. 1. Possessive nouns and indefinite pronouns: a) Singular: Ms. Parkers, Lawyers, everyones b) Plural: the Parkers, lawyers, two weeks c) Add s if the noun does not end in s, or if the noun is singular and ends in -s Example: The musicians guitar was lost; Loiss car was stolen. d) Add only if the plural form of a noun ends in s Example: The students activities had to be rescheduled. Incorrect: the Glass car, both boys fathers, babies care Correct: the Glass car, both boys fathers, babies care Note: Adding an additional s is optional: both boyss fathers

4. 1. Possessive nouns and indefinite pronouns (cont.): e) Add s (or s) only to the last noun to show joint possession; however if you need to indicate individual possession add s to all nouns. Example: Maria and Josephs new car is blue; Marias and Josephs expectations were quite different. f) Add s (or s) to the last element in a compound word. Example: Her sister-in-laws surgery was successful. g) Add s to indefinite pronouns that are possessive. Example: Everyones medical insurance plan was reviewed.

5. 2. Contraction formation: a) The apostrophe is used to replace missing letters in a contraction. Example: Its a shame that Johnny cant make it to the concert tonight. Its stands for it is ; cant stands for cannot . b) Its a girl, youre, shouldnt, wont 3. Optional for plurals of abbreviations, dates, and characters names as words. a) MAs or MAs b) Cs or Cs c) Class of 99

6. 1. Do not use an apostrophe in plural nouns, singular verbs, or possessive personal pronouns: a) The plural of Jones is Jones b) The singular verb breaks remains breaks (e.g., breaks is not a word) c) His , hers , its , ours , yours , theirs , and whose are all possessive forms of he , she , it , we , you , they , and who . They never take apostrophes. 2. Do not use an apostrophe to form plurals of nouns. a. Incorrect: books are, the Freeds b. Correct: books are, the Freeds

7. 3. Do not use an apostrophe with verbs ending in s. a. Incorrect: Swims b. Correct: Swims 4. Do not use an apostrophe to form the possessives of personal pronouns. a. Incorrect: its toes, yours b. Correct: its toes, yours

8. Plurals Workers Moses The business Possessives The dogs hair Everyones hope Billys skill Contractions It isIts They areTheyre You areYoure Who isWhos Who hasWhos

9. 1. Four attorneys expertise provided a solid defense for the defendant. 2. There are four s and two ps in the word Mississippi. 3. Their two son-in-laws dealership was in financial difficulty. 4. Both Jason and Jeremys fathers coached the softball team. 5. Smith and Johnsons product is selling at a high profit. 6. The senator-elects office was staffed primarily by volunteers. 7. Both diplomats briefcases were stolen.

10. 8. The childrens noses were pressed against the candy store window. 9. Mrs. Jones sister spent last year in Italy. 10. Most of the lawyers offices are located on the tenth floor of the building. 11. Several MDs came together to open the clinic in the downtown area. 12. Several companies balance sheets showed a deficit balance.