Apostrophes
Note: These reference guides do not take the place of assignment guidelines
Use apostrophes to indicate possession, eliminated letters or number, and finally in some special cases.
Possession
Singular
Add an apostrophe + s to a singular noun.
EX: The dog’s ball is wet with slobber. (NOTE: This ball belongs to a singular dog.)
If a singular, personal noun ends in an –s, listen to the word. An apostrophe + s adds an extra syllable. If this
syllable sounds strange, only add an apostrophe. If it doesn’t sound strange, add an apostrophe + s.
EX: James’ house is at the end of the street.
EX: Charles’s house is at the end of the street.
Plural
Add an apostrophe to a plural, possessive noun.
EX: The dogs’ ball is wet with slobber. (NOTE: This ball belongs to multiple dogs.)
EX: The Joneses’ house is at the end of the street.
NOTE: The possessive pronouns (his, her, hers, its, my, your, yours, their, theirs, our, ours) never have
apostrophes.
Eliminated Letters or Numbers
Contractions
Apostrophes are used to indicate missing letters in a contraction.
do not = don’t
it had = it’d
I have = I’ve
she will = she’ll
we are = we’re
there is = there
Other Examples
Sometimes letters and numbers are eliminated to approximate how a word or phrase is or could be spoken.
1939 = ’39
come on = c’mon
running = runnin’
NOTE: Be careful before using contractions or approximating speech in your writing. These are not appropriate for
some classes, genres, and audiences.
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Apostrophes
Note: These reference guides do not take the place of assignment guidelines
Special Cases
Quotations in Quotations
Sometimes, writers quote something that is already using quotation marks. When this happens, change the
quotation marks within a quote into apostrophes.
ORIGINAL: My favorite short story is “Emergency.”
QUOTE: He said, “My favorite short story is ‘Emergency.’”
Letters
To make lowercase letters plural, add an apostrophe + s.
EX: My name has two r’s and l’s in it.
To make capital letters plural, only add an -s. But, add an apostrophe + s if an –s can cause confusion
EX: I have two BAs from Florida Gulf Coast University.
EX: I earned two A’s this year. (NOTE: An apostrophe was used to avoid confusion with the word “As.”)
Numbers and Symbols
Usually, a number or symbol is made plural by adding an –s.
EX: Today, the temperature is in the low 20s.
EX: Do you have their #s?
But, sometimes writers use an apostrophe + s to make numbers plural.
EX: Today, the temperature is in the low 20’s.
EX: Do you have their #’s?
To decide between the two, think about your audience, and use what your audience expects. Whichever you
choose, be consistent.
Words as Words
When a word is used as a word, they are put in quotation marks. But, to make a word used as a word plural,
an apostrophe + s is added to prevent confusion.
EX: The teacher crossed out fifteen “I think’s” in my paper. (NOTE: An apostrophe was used to avoid
confusion with the word “thinks.”)
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