Our Friend the Apostrophe.

Three quick tips to help with its usage:

The humble apostrophe (') is one of English's most commonly misused punctuation marks. With a few simple rules, you can confidently use it like a pro. Let’s break it down with some examples.

1. To Show Possession

Use an apostrophe to indicate ownership.

• Singular nouns: The dog’s leash (the leash belongs to the dog)

• Plural nouns ending in s: The teachers’ lounge (the lounge belongs to multiple teachers)

• Irregular plural nouns: The children’s toys (the toys belong to the children)

2. In Contractions

Apostrophes replace missing letters in contractions.

• Can’t = cannot

• It’s = it is (not to be confused with its, which is possessive)

• You’re = you are (not to be confused with your, which is possessive)

3. Avoid Apostrophe Catastrophes!

Apostrophes do not make words plural.

• Wrong: Apple’s for sale

• Right: Apples for sale

Remember: If in doubt, ask yourself whether the apostrophe indicates possession or replaces missing letters. If not, it probably doesn’t fit!

Mastering the apostrophe may seem tricky, but if you keep these 3 points in mind, you’ll be well on your way to better punctuation!