Apostrophe Usage and Rules

Apostrophes are punctuation marks used to indicate possession and in contractions. They can be tricky to use correctly, especially when dealing with plural nouns, contractions, and possession. Here are some tips on when to use apostrophes and common mistakes to avoid:

1. Plural nouns:

• For most singular nouns, add -'s: "Mr. Smith's dog" or "Mrs. Wallace's house"
• For most plural nouns, add only an apostrophe: "High school students' scores"
• For plural nouns that do not end in s, add -'s: "Bill and Ted's guitar"

2. Contractions:

• A contraction is a shortened form of a word or group of words that omits certain letters or sounds. In a contraction, an apostrophe represents missing letters
• Contractions should be avoided in academic writing, but possessive apostrophes are used in all types of writing

3. Possessive nouns:

• For singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an s: "The student's paper"
• For plural nouns, add only an apostrophe: "High school students' scores"
• For plural nouns that do not end in s, add -'s: "Bill and Ted's guitar"

Common apostrophe mistakes to avoid:

• Mistakingly adding an apostrophe in plural nouns
• For such a small punctuation mark, the apostrophe causes some big grammar problems
• When making a noun plural, do not use an apostrophe

In short, apostrophes are used to indicate possession and in contractions. Make sure to use them correctly, especially when dealing with plurals and abbreviations. Remember the rules for singular and plural nouns, and avoid common mistakes to avoid grammar errors in your writing.

For more in-style guides and examples, you can check out the following:

• Northern Illinois University's Effective Writing Practices Tutorial on Apostrophe
• The Writing Tutorial's Apostrophe page
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