Apostrophes cause trouble mainly because people expect them to do more than they actually do. In reality, the proper use of apostrophes in English is very limited. It exists for only two situations, and once you clearly separate them, most hesitation disappears.
Case 1: Apostrophes to Show Possession
An apostrophe is used to show possession: to say that something belongs to someone. First, look at who owns the thing. The apostrophe is added to that word. Here is the rule:
Case 2: Apostrophes in Contractions
The second situation is contractions. When two words are shortened into one, the apostrophe marks missing letters. It does not add emphasis or tone; it just shows omission.
Some common patterns include:
- do not → don’t
- they are → they’re
- we have → we’ve
- she is → she’s
- it is → it’s
- who has → who’s
Possessive Pronouns: Possession Without Apostrophes
Some words show possession but never use apostrophes because they are possessive pronouns, not nouns.
These include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their, as well as forms like yours, hers, his, ours, and theirs.
For example:
- The cat licked its paw.
- This seat is hers.
- The choice is yours.
⚠️ NB: pronouns people mix up the most
The most common apostrophe mistakes come from pairs that sound the same but follow different rules.
The Most Common Apostrophe Mistakes
If you ever stop mid-sentence and wonder, "Do I need an apostrophe?", here are some useful examples. Many errors come from using apostrophes where they serve no purpose. These mistakes are especially common in everyday writing, even among native speakers.
The main thing you need to remember about the apostrophes is that they follow a small set of predictable rules. They show possession or replace missing letters. If neither of those things is happening, leaving the word alone is almost always the correct choice.
FAQ
How do you use an apostrophe?
An apostrophe in English is used for two purposes only: to show possession and to mark missing letters in contractions. It shows that something belongs to someone (the teacher’s book) or that letters have been left out (don’t = do not). Apostrophes are not used to make words plural, to add emphasis, or to make writing look more formal. If a word does not show ownership and is not a shortened form of two words, an apostrophe is not needed.
When do you use an apostrophe?
You use an apostrophe when one person or thing owns something, or when two words are combined into a shorter form. For possession, the apostrophe is added to the owner: my sister’s car, the students’ answers. For contractions, the apostrophe replaces missing letters: it’s (it is), they’re (they are). Outside these situations, apostrophes are usually incorrect and often change the meaning of a sentence.
Where do you put an apostrophe?
The position of the apostrophe depends on the owner or on the contraction. For possession, it goes on the word that names the owner. If the owner is singular, add ’s (the dog’s leash). If the owner is plural and ends in s, place the apostrophe after the s (the dogs’ leashes). If the plural does not end in s, add ’s (the children’s toys). In contractions, the apostrophe goes exactly where letters have been removed, as in don’t or she’s.
Do you use an apostrophe for possession?
Yes, but only with nouns. Apostrophes are used to show possession with nouns such as the girl’s coat or my parents’ house. However, possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes. Words like my, your, his, her, its, our, their, as well as yours, hers, ours, and theirs, already show possession and never take an apostrophe. This is why its has no apostrophe, while it’s means it is or it has.
