possessives
1. Use an apostrophe to show ownership or possession.
EXAMPLES: the uniform of the player the player’s uniform
2. To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES:
the tail of the dog the dog’s tail
the book owned by Jess Jess’s book
3. This “rule” applies even if the word ends in s, but this is a style issue. (AP Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style don’t completely agree.) Some writers only add an apostrophe if adding the s would make pronunciation difficult:
4. To form the possessive of a plural noun, form the plural first. If the plural ends in s, add just an apostrophe. If the plural does not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES:
the toys of the cats the cats’ toys
the bats of the boys the boys’ bats
the games of the children the children’s games
EXAMPLES: the uniform of the player the player’s uniform
2. To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES:
the tail of the dog the dog’s tail
the book owned by Jess Jess’s book
3. This “rule” applies even if the word ends in s, but this is a style issue. (AP Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style don’t completely agree.) Some writers only add an apostrophe if adding the s would make pronunciation difficult:
- If the word has more than one s sound Ex: Cassius’ opinion
- If the word ends with a z sound Ex: Ortiz’ bat
- If the next word contains an s sound Ex: Copernicus’ sayings
4. To form the possessive of a plural noun, form the plural first. If the plural ends in s, add just an apostrophe. If the plural does not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES:
the toys of the cats the cats’ toys
the bats of the boys the boys’ bats
the games of the children the children’s games
pronouns
5. Possessive pronouns—as the name suggests—are already possessive and, therefore, do not take an apostrophe.
INCORRECT the dog wagged it’s tail
CORRECT the dog wagged its tail
INCORRECT Do you know who’s phone this is?
CORRECT Do you know whose phone this is?
6. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive of an indefinite pronoun. If the indefinite pronoun precedes the word else (anyone else, somebody else), form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and an s after else.
CORRECT the dog wagged its tail
INCORRECT Do you know who’s phone this is?
CORRECT Do you know whose phone this is?
6. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive of an indefinite pronoun. If the indefinite pronoun precedes the word else (anyone else, somebody else), form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and an s after else.
EXAMPLES:
someone’s jacket
everybody’s plans
anybody else’s ideas
someone’s jacket
everybody’s plans
anybody else’s ideas
compounds
7. Form the possessive of the last word in a hyphenated compound word, name of a business, name of an organization, or leader’s title.
8. Form the possessive of an acronym by adding an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES:
YMCA’s programs
UNICEF’s mission
NCAA’s ruling
9. Sometimes a conjunction may indicate joint or individual ownership. To show joint ownership, form the possessive with the final noun. However, if one of the words is a possessive pronoun, then the other words will take a possessive form.
EXAMPLES:
Revere and Copley’s rivalry [They share the rivalry.]
Grandma and Grandpa’s house [They share the house.]
Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe’s father [They shared the same father.]
Katrina’s and his report [Katrina and he worked together on the one report.]
10. To show individual ownership, form the possessive with both words.
EXAMPLES:
Mom’s and Dad’s cars [Mom has her car, and Dad has his car.]
Shreya’s and Cameron’s papers [Shreya wrote her paper, and Cameron wrote his.]
Katrina’s and his reports [Katrina compiled her report, and he compiled his.]
EXAMPLES:
YMCA’s programs
UNICEF’s mission
NCAA’s ruling
9. Sometimes a conjunction may indicate joint or individual ownership. To show joint ownership, form the possessive with the final noun. However, if one of the words is a possessive pronoun, then the other words will take a possessive form.
EXAMPLES:
Revere and Copley’s rivalry [They share the rivalry.]
Grandma and Grandpa’s house [They share the house.]
Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe’s father [They shared the same father.]
Katrina’s and his report [Katrina and he worked together on the one report.]
10. To show individual ownership, form the possessive with both words.
EXAMPLES:
Mom’s and Dad’s cars [Mom has her car, and Dad has his car.]
Shreya’s and Cameron’s papers [Shreya wrote her paper, and Cameron wrote his.]
Katrina’s and his reports [Katrina compiled her report, and he compiled his.]
times and amounts
11. For times and amounts, use an apostrophe (or apostrophe and an s) to form the possessive.
![Picture](/uploads/8/6/2/9/86293172/editor/img-9640_16.jpg)
A possessive of a possessive may create an awkward sentence. Try using a prepositional phrase instead.
AWKWARD My brother’s best friend’s tweet
BETTER A tweet by my brother’s best friend
AWKWARD my dad’s boss’s account
BETTER the account for my dad’s boss
contractions
12. A contraction is a shortened form of a word or group of words. Writers use apostrophes to indicate where letters have been omitted. While contractions are common in informal writing, especially in dialogue, avoid contractions in formal situations.
aren't = are not |
that's = that has, that is |
can't = cannot |
there's = there has, there is |
couldn't = could not |
they'd = they had, they would |
could've = could have |
they'll = they shall, they will |
didn't = did not |
they're = they are |
doesn't = does not |
they've = they have |
don't = do not |
we'd = we had, we would |
hadn't = had not |
we're = we are |
hasn't = has not |
we've = we have |
haven't = have not |
weren't = were not |
he'd = he had, he would |
what'll = what shall, what will |
he'll = he will, he shall |
what're = what are |
he's = he is, he has |
what's = what has, what is |
I'd = I had, I would |
what've = what have |
I'll = I will, I shall |
where's = where is |
I'm = I am |
who'd = who had, who would |
I've = I have |
who'll = who shall, who will |
isn't = is not |
who're = who are |
let's = let us |
who's = who has, who is |
mightn't = might not |
who've = who have |
mustn't = must not |
won't = will not |
shan't = shall not |
wouldn't = would not |
she'd = she had, she would |
would've = would have |
she'll = she shall, she will |
you'd = you had, you would |
she's = she has, she is |
you'll = you shall, you will |
shouldn't = should not |
you're = you are |
should've = should have |
you've = you have |
13. Contractions are also used with numbers.
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
1980s |
80's |
twelve of the clock |
twelve o'clock |
spotlight on: frequently confused words
14. Do distinguish between contractions and possessive pronouns.
plurals
15. Generally, do not use an apostrophe s to form a plural.
INCORRECT Beware of the bat’s inside the cave.
CORRECT Beware of the bats inside the cave.
16. Do use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural in these situations:
INCORRECT Beware of the bat’s inside the cave.
CORRECT Beware of the bats inside the cave.
16. Do use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural in these situations:
17. To form the plurals of abbreviations that end with a period, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXAMPLES: Jr.’s Ph.D.’s M.D.’s
18. To form the plurals of abbreviations not followed by periods, add either an apostrophe and an s, or just s.
EXAMPLES: ATM’s or ATMs GMO’s or GMOs
EXAMPLES: Jr.’s Ph.D.’s M.D.’s
18. To form the plurals of abbreviations not followed by periods, add either an apostrophe and an s, or just s.
EXAMPLES: ATM’s or ATMs GMO’s or GMOs