May 18, 2023 · Knowing when to use an apostrophe can be tricky. Check out our easy guide of the do's and don'ts of apostrophes to make yourself a better writer.

Using an apostrophe to show singular possession. Rule 1a. Use the apostrophe to show possession. To show possession with a singular noun, add an apostrophe plus the letter s. Rule 1b. Many common nouns end in the letter s (lens, cactus, bus, etc.). So do a lot of proper nouns (Mr. Jones, Texas, Christmas).

Jul 24, 2019 · Although there will always be minor disagreements about usage, these six guidelines should help you decide when to use apostrophes, where to put them, and when to leave them out altogether. Use apostrophes to form contractions, where two or more words are combined to form one, with letters omitted. The apostrophe replaces the omitted letter (s).

Mastering apostrophes is important because your readers will be highly unimpressed with wrongly placed ones. Apostrophes are used to show possession (e.g., dog's dinner), in time expressions (e.g., 2 years' pay), in contractions (e.g., isn't) and, on …

Jan 6, 2025 · Use an apostrophe to form possessive nouns, to form contractions and show the omission of letters, and to form plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use apostrophes to make nouns plural or to form possessive pronouns (like his or her). Add an apostrophe and an S to make nouns possessive.

Oct 27, 2020 · Always struggled with how to use an apostrophe? Learn these three apostrophe rules (with examples) so you can use it correctly!

Sep 1, 2022 · It’s the age-old question: Should you add apostrophe + “s” to singular words that already end in “s” (such as James, cactus, or dress), or just an apostrophe? The answer is …

May 31, 2019 · Apostrophes are used in possessive nouns to indicate that something belongs to something or someone else. To indicate possession with a singular noun , add an apostrophe “s” ’s at the end of the word.

Oct 2, 2022 · When any noun, whether it’s a person, place, or thing, possesses something, you always add an apostrophe plus "s." If, however, the noun is already plural with an "s" on the end, simply add an apostrophe. Otherwise, if the noun is plural but doesn’t end with an "s," add an apostrophe plus "s."

May 31, 2019 · Learn useful apostrophe rules with example sentences and infographic to help you use this punctuation mark correctly. What is an apostrophe? The symbol (‘) or (’) is called an apostrophe in the English language. Its top is level with those of the letters surrounding it. It may be written either straight or curled with a knob at the top.

In informal writing, it is acceptable to indicate a year with only the last two digits preceded by an apostrophe (e.g., the class of ’85, pop music from the ’80s). The apostrophe is seldom used to form a plural noun.

Aug 30, 2023 · The best way to remember apostrophe rules is to practice using them correctly. Try writing sentences that use possessives and contractions, and double-check your work to make sure you’ve used apostrophes correctly.

May 9, 2023 · We break down various apostrophe rules for when to use an apostrophe. Plus, check out our guide on how to use a semicolon and how to use a colon. What is an apostrophe? Apostrophes are the...

Oct 16, 2023 · Below are eleven simple steps for getting apostrophes used right every time to raise those marks and ace your essays. 1. Do not use apostrophes to make plurals. The biggest apostrophe make is the use of apostrophes for plurals. Apostrophes do not indicate plurality. One girl makes two girls, not two girl’s.

Feb 1, 2022 · There are several common reasons why we would use an apostrophe. Apostrophes are needed to create a possessive noun. The specific rules of how to make a noun possessive often vary by style guide or grammar resource. In general, the rules are: Singular and plural nouns that don’t end in s: Add an apostrophe followed by the letter s.

However, apostrophe usage can easily be remembered if you make a note of 2 basic things: apostrophes indicate possession, and apostrophes indicate contractions. If you can remember these two rules, you can make sure your writing uses the apostrophe punctuation mark correctly to bring concise, clear meaning to your writing. What is an Apostrophe?

We use the apostrophe to transform various words into plurals, contractions, and possessive forms. Without apostrophes, the English language would seem even more confusing. In a nutshell: there is logic. To make it is easier to remember when to use an apostrophe, keep in mind that most plurals do not contain apostrophes.

Jun 29, 2024 · There’s a lot that can be done using apostrophes. The trick, however, is using them correctly in your writing. Follow these apostrophe rules to become a master of when and where to put an apostrophe. I’m talking about possession as in ownership, not demonic, exorcism-worthy freakiness (in case you were confused).

Feb 19, 2024 · In the realm of grammar, understanding how to correctly use apostrophes for possessive nouns is fundamental. Let's delve into the rules governing singular and plural nouns, along with proper nouns. When it comes to singular nouns, adding an apostrophe is essential to indicate possession.

Apr 14, 2023 · In this article, we will help you master how to use apostrophes correctly in your writing. We’ll cover the basics of apostrophes, as well as some of the more advanced rules for using them. Always using the right words? Make sure: …

Mar 26, 2025 · Avoiding these errors involves basic knowledge of the rules: 1) Use commas to separate items in a list; after introductory elements; before conjunctions in compound sentences. 2) Use apostrophes to indicate possession (John’s book) or contractions (don’t). 3) Use semicolons to link closely related independent clauses.

Use "long term" in phrases like "in the long term". But use a hyphen for "long-term" as an adjective, for example in "long-term care". Do the same with "short term" and "short-term". Use "follow up" as a verb, but "follow-up" with a hyphen in "follow-up appointment". Dashes. Dashes can make content hard to read so we do not often use them.