GSP – Punctuation
When to use an apostrophe (and when not to)
Use an apostrophe:
1. When a letter is missed out in a contraction. Contractions are used in informal
writing to reflect the way we speak:
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I am = I’m (the apostrophe replaces the letter ‘a’)
They are = They’re (the apostrophe replaces the letter ‘a’)
It is = It’s (the apostrophe replaces the letter ‘i’)
Who is = Who’s (the apostrophe replaces the letter iI’)
In practice, you should avoid using contractions in formal/ academic writing – they are too
conversational. In academic writing ALWAYS use the full form.
2. To indicate possession or belonging:
Where something belongs to an individual, or a single thing, use ’s
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The doll belonging to a single girl = the girl’s doll
The book belonging to Sarah = Sarah’s book
The duties of a single nurse = the nurse’s duties
The tail of a dog = the dog’s tail
Sainsbury’s (as in the supermarket belonging to Mr Sainsbury)
To indicate things belonging to a group of people or things, use s’
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The girls’ dolls (all the dolls belonging to all the girls)
The nurses’ training (the training of a group of nurses)
The boys’ game (one game played by a number of boys)
The dogs’ tails (the tails of a number of dogs)
So, “The Queen’s visit to Bradford” means that one queen visits, but “The Queens’ visit to
Bradford” means that there are several queens all visiting together!
BUT NOTE THE EXCEPTION
Its – as in “the dog wagged its tail” has no apostrophe (just as his, ours, theirs etc.
don’t have one)
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Academic Skills Advice service
www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/
Do NOT use an apostrophe:
1. In plurals (when you are referring to more than one of a thing or person):
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The nurses came on duty at 8am
The dogs barked (more than one dog was barking)
There are many theories to explain this
…and this applies even if the plural is an abbreviation:
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The MPs voted against the Bill (not MP’s)
I got three CDs for £10 (not CD’s)
NOTES:
 Plural forms such as women and children take the form women’s or children’s as
possessives
 The correct form to indicate possession is whose e.g. Whose turn is it?
o Who’s always means “who is” or “who has”
2. When writing about decades e.g. 1980s is correct, NOT 1980’s
Test yourself: Are the apostrophes in the correct places in the following sentences?
(answers over the page)
1. If a child see’s their mother reading they are more likely to do it themselves with their
own children.
2. The dogs stole the cats milk.
3. Social worker’s must follow a strict code of practice.
4. Guidelines are provided to help nurse’s follow the correct procedures.
5. The student nurse’s main role in the scenario was as an observer.
6. ASBO’s are often issued to young people.
7. The case was heard at the Law Courts.
8. The Court’s decision was to sentence the man to ten years’ in prison.
9. I bought my lunch from Greens bakery.
10. I had cheese and tomato sandwiches’.
Academic Skills Advice service
www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/
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Test Answers
1. If a child sees their mother reading they are more likely to do it themselves with their
own children.
2. The dogs stole the cat’s milk. (if only one cat; cats’ if more than one cat).
3. Social workers must follow a strict code of practice.
4. Guidelines are provided to help nurses follow the correct procedures.
5. The student nurse’s main role in the scenario was as an observer.
6. ASBOs are often issued to young people.
7. The case was heard at the Law Courts.
8. The Court’s decision was to sentence the man to ten years in prison.
9. I bought my lunch from Green’s bakery. (if the bakery is owned by one person called
Green; Greens’ if owned by a family called Green)
10. I had cheese and tomato sandwiches.
For more information on the use of the apostrophe, try:
The Apostrophe Protection Society: http://www.apostrophe.org.uk/
Trask’s Guide to Punctuation. Available online at:
http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/department/docs/punctuation/node00.html
For a detailed online tutorial: http://www.writing-kit.com/apostrophes/index.html
…and to test your knowledge: http://www.writing-kit.com/ApConsol/index.html
Academic Skills Advice service
www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/
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