Your guide to apostrophes

Your guide to apostrophes Apostrophes are enough to cast fear into even the most confident of writers. Just when you think you know exactly where they should go, you are picked up by a proofreader for the errant use of an apostrophe and doubt creeps in.

I know how you feel. I have been reading and writing enthusiastically all my life. I thought after all that exposure to well-constructed sentences that apostrophes and I were like kindred spirits. But it turns out that while we are very good friends, there’s a conversation or two we forgot to have, and a few things at least that I don’t know about them.

So in the interests of getting to know each other that little bit better, and avoiding any uncomfortably awkward silences when I suddenly realise I have placed them in entirely the wrong place, here is our guide to using apostrophes:

1. There are very specific rules governing the use of apostrophes in it’s and its.

(a) It’s as a contraction of it is or it has
It’s – this is used when you’re trying to say it is or it has. The best way to determine if you’re using it’s correctly is to spell it out. If it is sounds right in the sentence, then using the apostrophe would be correct.

Example 1:
It’s a sign of the times that llamas are no longer popular pets.

Replace it’s with it is.

It is a sign of the times that llamas are no longer popular pets.

This works, so the use of the apostrophe here is correct.

Example 2:
It’s come to my attention that popping bubble wrap is a great way to relax.

Replace it’s with it has.

It has come to my attention that popping bubble wrap is a great way to relax.

This works so the use of the apostrophe here is correct.

(b) Its used when indicating possession
If you are indicating use of the possessive where something is owned by or belongs to something else, then you do not use an apostrophe.

For example:
The cat is famous for its loud meow.

In this case, the meow belongs to the cat, so you would not use an apostrophe.

2. Using apostrophes in other contractions
This is where letters are omitted, with the apostrophe indicating where the letter/s have been removed.

Here are some examples:

I can’t (cannot) levitate an elephant to save myself.

I wouldn’t (would not) cross that flimsy bridge if you paid me.

You’re (you are) the best thing that has ever happened to me.

PLURALS: A common mistake is inserting an apostrophe in order to turn a singular word into a plural. This is incorrect. Plurals are never formed using apostrophe. No exceptions

NO	YES
Tomato’s on sale CD’s available	Tomatoes on sale CDs available

3. Using apostrophes to indicate possession

(a) Singular noun
If you want to indicate that an object belongs to a singular noun, you use an apostrophe.

For example:
The girl’s cat could teleport itself to an alternate universe.

The boss’s briefcase was locked.

(b) Plural nouns
But you need to be careful when there is a plural involved. In that case, the apostrophe goes after the s.

For example:
The shepherds’ dogs fought off the aliens that attacked the flock.

The bosses’ pay packets were much higher than that of their employees.

(c) Plural nouns that don’t end in ‘s’
But if the word is already plural, then the apostrophe is placed between the word and the s.

For example:
The men’s cocktails were a luminous blue.

The children’s playground was full of clowns.

The best way to double-check you have placed the apostrophe in the right place is to reverse the sentence using of the. If it still makes sense in that form, then your usage is usually right.

For example:
The toddler’s toys = the toys of the toddler.

The chimpanzees’ playhouse = the playhouse of the chimpanzees.

(d) Proper names ending in s.
There is some divergence on the correct usage:

Either
(a) Michael Jones’s valet dove into the moat to escape his wrath.
or
(b) Michael Jones’ valet dove into the moat to escape his wrath.

Our recommendation is to follow (a). Most Australian newspapers adhere to this format with the exception where the name is a sibilant such as Jesus or Menzies, in which case the apostrophe goes after the existing s and no additional s is added.

(e) Plural names
Where a name or word is a plural, the apostrophe goes after the s.

For example:
The Joneses’ cat flew a rocket to the moon

(f) Country or company names
Similarly, where a country or company name ends in an s, such as the Seychelles, the apostrophe goes after the s.

For example:
The Seychelles’ president rose from humble origins to lead his nation.

Reuters’ head office is an imposing building.

(g) Days/weeks/months
If singular, the apostrophe is inserted between the word and the s.

For example:
He ate a week’s worth of donuts in one mouthful.

If plural, the apostrophe is inserted after the s.

For example:
John was required to give two weeks’ notice of his resignation from NASA.

4. Where do you not use an apostrophe?

Pronouns
The majority of pronouns do not require an apostrophe such as hers, yours and whose.

The exception is pronouns which have both possessive and non-possessive forms, such as everybody and someone, which are rendered as everybody’s and someone’s.

But wait … there’s more
There are, of course, many other permutations of apostrophe usage that would fill book upon book but the intent in this article is simply to make sure that apostrophe usage is set out as simply and fully as possible for the most common issues you might face.

If you want to make doubly sure you’re on top of the apostrophe issue, you could consider our seminar, Grammar and Punctuation Essentials.