Identify Proper Apostrophe Use

Apostrophe are those punctuation marks that look like commas (,) but hang in the air (‘). They are a source of confusion for some and frustration for many. When learning how to apply them in writing, the rules sometimes simply enhances the problem because there are two completely different purposes for the application of apostrophes.

So, let’s examine the multiple ways an apostrophe’s meaning changes. The previous sentence already challenges our minds as it contains two apostrophes. Let’s first identify the purpose in the word “let’s”

Contractions

This example demonstrates two words being crammed together to make one word. These are called contractions. Let + us = letus. But imagine pushing them tightly together it might look like this letus. However, to make a contraction the two must be pushed so tightly together that a letter (sometimes two) flies out. And when the letter flies away an apostrophe drops in.

• Let us = letus = let’s

Observe the magic with a couple more.

• I am = Iam = I’m (The a was pushed out)
• She is = sheis = She’s (The s was pushed out)

Remember earlier it was mentioned sometimes two letters are pushed out? Here is an example.

• Can not = cannot = Can’t (Two letters, n and o, fly away)

Possessives

A possessive is a word that shows ownership. If the student owns a book, she possesses it.

• It is the student’s book.

Notice the apostrophe, flying comma, shows that she owns it. Examine a few more examples to hear how this works.

• The boy’s father is angry.
• The dog’s food bowl sits empty.
• On the trip the tourist’s camera’s battery lost its charge.

I threw that last example in to make you think. Notice there are two apostrophes. The first shows that the tourist owns the camera. The second shows that the camera owns its charge.

This concept becomes a little more difficult when an inanimate object owns something like in the example of the camera. It must be remembered that not only people maintain ownership. For instance, read the following examples:

• The pencil’s lead broke.
• The car’s tire went flat.
• The clock’s hands show it to be 1:45.

Possessives in plural words

To this point the learning curve hasn’t been too steep. But now I throw in a curve ball. The rule states, if there are more than one person or thing owning something, the apostrophe (flying comma) is placed after the s.

Remember plural simply means more than one. Let’s look at the examples from before but make them plural.

• It is the students’ books.
• The boys’ fathers are angry.
• The dogs’ food bowls sit empty.
• On the trip the tourists’ cameras’ batteries lost their charge.

Possessives that end in s

Stick with me as I throw out the fast ball! When a word ends in s, only an apostrophe is added.

• Mr. Jones’ business is successful.
• The babies’ diapers got wet.

• It was a strange occurrence that all the cars’ tires went flat at the same time.

Exceptions to every rule

If a person researched this topic, different sources present different interpretations to the rules. The Penguin Guide to Punctuation differs from The New York Times style manual which differs from The Chicago Manual of Style. However, from my experience these rules fit in the majority of instances; they are commonly accepted.

Strategy to check accuracy

There is a simple trick that helps a writer determine if the apostrophe in possessives is properly placed. Give the word the finger. I mean cover the apostrophe with a finger (or a pencil eraser). If when the apostrophe is covered the s is also covered, then the meaning is singular. If by covering the apostrophe the s remains uncovered the word is plural.

It is the students’ books. Cover the ‘ and the s remains. There are more than one student.

It is the student’s books. Cover the ‘ and the s disappears. There is only one student.

See, it works — most of the time. In English there is always an exception.