Apostrophes

Apostrophes have two uses, to shorten something or to show possession (that something belongs to something)

1. Apostrophes show you that some letters have been taken out of a word to shorten it. For example: Don't instead of do not - I'll instead of I will - Could've instead of could have Can't instead of could not - I don't instead of I do not - It's instead of it is or it has

The apostrophe goes where the letters have been removed. Apostrophes are used this way in informal writing. Words should not be shortened when writing formal letters.

NOTE: sometimes words are shortened in an irregular way. The apostrophe, however, is still used to show where letters are missing. For example: Will not means won't.

2. Apostrophes show that something belongs to or is connected with something else. To show belonging you add: 's

The dog`s bone - means the bone belongs to the dog The company`s logo - means the logo belongs to the company The cat's tail - says that the tail belongs to the cat. The newspaper's readers - says that the readers are connected with the newspaper. Tim's hair - says that the hair belongs to Tim.

If the word is plural we add 's onto the plural - example Keats's. This applies to all nouns, so the correct versions are Peter`s friends, Keats`s poems and so on.

3. Usually the apostrophe goes before the 's' but If the word already ends in 's' then the apostrophe goes after the 's' that is already there. You just need to add an apostrophe.

For example: The dogs' bowls - says that the bowls belong to some dogs. The boys' coats - says that the coats belong to some boys. The cars' wheels - says that the wheels belong to some cars.

Watch out for plurals that don't end in 's'. Words like 'men' and 'children' don't end in 's', but they are talking about lots of people. These words use 's to show possession. For example: The men's hats - says that the hats belong to the men. The women's house - says that the house belongs to the women.

If there are two or more dogs or boys, the apostrophe comes after the `s`: For example: The dogs` bones The boys` coats

It's and Its It's means 'it is': eg It's cold outside today. But there is no apostrophe after 'it' to show belonging: eg The kitten likes to chase its own tail 4. Apostrophes are NEVER ever used to denote plurals! Common examples of such mistakes that we see in every day life are: Banana`s for sale which should be Bananas for sale Menu`s printed to order which should be Menus printed to order MOT`s at this garage, which should be MOTs at this garage 1000`s of bargains here! Which should be 1000s of bargains here! New CD`s just in! Which should read New CDs just in! Buy your Christmas tree`s here! ¬¬¬¬Which should be Buy your Christmas trees here! Note: Special care must be taken over the use of "your" and "you`re" as they sound the same but are used quite differently: . your is possessive as in this is your pen . you`re is short for "you are" as in you`re coming over to my house