The Apostrophe: Small Mark, Big Emotional Impact

Published: 10 Aug 2025

The apostrophe (‘) might be a tiny mark, but it plays a big role in writing. You’ll see it in contractions like don’t or it’s and in showing possession like Sarah’s book. Even though it’s small, using it the wrong way can confuse readers. That’s why it’s important to learn the different ways apostrophes are used. Once you understand the rules, your writing will look cleaner and more professional. Ready to make friends with this powerful punctuation mark?

What is an Apostrophe?

An apostrophe (‘) is a punctuation mark used to show ownership or to replace missing letters in a word. It helps make writing shorter and clearer. You’ll see it in words like Tom’s book (to show something belongs to Tom) or it’s (short for it is).

Table of Content

What is an Apostrophe?
1. Examples of Apostrophe Usage:
  1. Showing Possession
  2. Forming Contractions
Types of Apostrophe
Type 2: Apostrophe for Contractions
Type 3: Apostrophe for Plurals
Type 5: Apostrophe in Omitted Letters (Poetic/Old Usage)
Apostrophe Practice Quiz
FAQs

Examples of Apostrophe Usage:

1. Showing Possession

Sarah’s book The book belongs to Sarah.
The dog’s tail The tail of the dog.

2. Forming Contractions

It’s = It is “It’s a sunny day.”
Don’t = Do not “I don’t like cold coffee.”
You’re = You are “You’re doing great!”

In this guide, we will cover.

Types of Apostrophe

This is the most common and foundational use of the apostrophe in English grammar.

Type 1: Apostrophe for Possession

The apostrophe of possession shows that something belongs to someone or something. It helps indicate ownership or a close relationship.

Rule:

Add an apostrophe + s (’s) to a singular noun, and only an apostrophe (’) to a plural noun that already ends in “s”.

Examples

1. Singular Possession (add ’s):

The girl’s book → The book belongs to the girl.
My dog’s collar → The collar belongs to the dog.

2. Plural Possession (just add ’ after s):

The teachers’ lounge → The lounge belongs to multiple teachers.
My parents’ house → The house belongs to my parents.

3. Plural nouns without s (add ’s):

The children’s toys → Toys belong to the children.
The men’s restroom → Restroom for men.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing up its and it’s:
- Its = Possessive (The cat licked its paw.)
- It’s = It is or it has (It’s raining today.)
Adding apostrophes to plurals (wrong):
- Apple’s for sale → should be Apples for sale
- Video’s went viral → should be Videos went vira

Type 2: Apostrophe for Contractions

This type of apostrophe helps combine two words by omitting certain letters and replacing the missing letters with an apostrophe.

Definition

An apostrophe for contractions shows where letters have been left out when two words are joined together. It’s commonly used in informal writing and speech.

Rule

To form a contraction, remove one or more letters from a word (often a vowel and a consonant), and insert an apostrophe in that spot.

Examples of Contractions

Full Form	Contraction	Meaning
Do not	Don’t	Don’t = Do not
Cannot	Can’t	Can’t = Cannot
It is	It’s	It’s = It is
They are	They’re	They’re = They are
You are	You’re	You’re = You are
I have	I’ve	I’ve = I have
She will	She’ll	She’ll = She will
We would	We’d	We’d = We would/had

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing contractions with possessive forms:
- It’s = It is
- Its = Possessive (The dog wagged its tail.)
Misusing you’re and your:
- You’re = You are
- Your = Possessive (Your book is on the table.)
Incorrect apostrophe placement:
- Dont → Correct: Don’t
- Theyre → Correct: They’re

When to Use Apostrophes for Contractions

In casual conversations or informal writing
In dialogue to sound natural and conversational
When shortening phrases for ease or rhythm

Writing Tip

Avoid contractions in formal writing (essays, reports, academic papers), unless quoting directly or using dialogue.

Quick Test

Which is correct?

Its raining outside.
It’s raining outside.

Type 3: Apostrophe for Plurals

This is not a correct use of the apostrophe, but it’s so commonly misused that it deserves its own section. Apostrophes should not be used to make regular plurals.

Definition

Some writers mistakenly use apostrophes to form plurals, especially with numbers, letters, or abbreviations. However, apostrophes are not needed for most plural forms.

Incorrect Rule (Misuse)

Adding an apostrophe + “s” to form a plural:
- Apple’s → (Incorrect plural)
- Video’s → (Incorrect plural)

Correct Usage Examples

1. Correct Plurals (No Apostrophe):

Books, not book’s
Photos, not photo’s
Bananas, not banana’s

2. Exception: Single Letters (Clarity Purpose Only):

Use an apostrophe to avoid confusion when pluralizing single letters:

Mind your p’s and q’s.
He got straight A’s on his report card.
(Here, the apostrophe helps avoid confusion with the word “As.”)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect plural of nouns:
- The dog’s are barking.
- The dogs are barking.
Confusing possessives with plurals:
- All the teacher’s arrived early.
- All the teachers arrived early.

When This Mistake Happens

Often seen on signs or in advertisements:
- Sale on apple’s and banana’s!
- Sale on apples and bananas!
Misunderstood due to the correct possessive apostrophe use in other contexts.

Writing Tip

If you’re unsure whether a word should have an apostrophe,

ask yourself:
Does this word show ownership or replace a missing letter?

If no, don’t use an apostrophe!

Quick Test

Which is correct?

The store sells DVD’s.
The store sells DVDs.

Type 4: Apostrophe in Time Expressions

This type of apostrophe is used to show amounts of time and indicate possessive relationships with time—it may seem tricky at first, but it’s actually quite logical.

Definition

In time expressions, an apostrophe is used to show that a unit of time possesses something (like work, effort, travel, etc.).

Rule

Use apostrophe + s (’s) with singular time units, and just an apostrophe (’) with plural time units.

Examples

1. Singular Time Unit (’s):

A day’s work The work of one day
An hour’s delay The delay of one hour
A week’s notice A notice given for one week

2. Plural Time Units (’):

Two days’ journey The journey of two days
Five years’ experience Experience gained over five years
Three weeks’ leave Leave granted for three weeks

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving out the apostrophe:
- One days work One day’s work
- Two weeks notice Two weeks’ notice
Using ’s with plural time:
- Five year’s experience Five years’ experience

When to Use Apostrophes in Time Expressions

Use apostrophes:

When time is acting possessively (i.e., owning or describing something)
In formal writing, job descriptions, resumes, or reports
To make expressions like “a day’s walk” more precise and grammatically correct

Writing Tip

You can test if the apostrophe is needed by rephrasing:

A day’s work = The work of a day
Three weeks’ leave = Leave of three weeks

Quick Test

Which is correct?

I need two weeks notice.
I need two weeks’ notice.

Type 5: Apostrophe in Omitted Letters (Poetic/Old Usage)

This type of apostrophe is most commonly found in poetry, songs, and older literature. It involves omitting letters or syllables for rhythm, rhyme, or style.

Definition

In this usage, the apostrophe shows that one or more letters have been removed from a word. It’s often used to shorten words to fit a poem’s meter or rhyme scheme.

Rule

Use an apostrophe to replace the missing letter(s), often in older forms of English or artistic writing. This differs from standard contractions by being more stylistic or poetic.

Examples

1. Omitted Letters in Older/Poetic Style:

’tis = it is
- “’Tis the season to be jolly.”
o’er = over
- “And proud waves be stayed o’er land and sea.”
ne’er = never
- “He ne’er gave up, though hope was slim.”
e’en = even
- “The stars shone bright at e’en.”
heav’n = heaven
- “Thank God above in heav’n so high.”

2. Common in Song Lyrics or Shakespeare:

“O’er the land of the free…” (U.S. national anthem)
“’Twas the night before Christmas…”
“Ne’er was there a story of more woe…” (Shakespeare)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using poetic apostrophes in formal writing or modern prose
- It was a cold, dark e’en.
- It was a cold, dark evening.
Confusing them with modern contractions
- ’tis is not commonly used in everyday writing—use it’s instead

When to Use Apostrophes for Omitted Letters

Use them:

In poetry, songs, or literary works
To match rhythm or rhyme in verse
In historical, period-specific, or stylistic writing

Avoid them:

In academic, professional, or technical writing unless quoting

Writing Tip

If you’re writing creatively or quoting old texts, these forms can add flavor or authenticity. But for everyday writing, stick to standard contractions.

Quick Test

Which version fits a formal essay?

’Tis a common mistake.
It is a common mistake.

Apostrophe Practice Quiz

1. Choose the correct contraction:

A. Dont forget your homework.
B. Don’t forget your homework.

2. Which sentence shows correct possession?

A. The cats toy is under the couch.
B. The cat’s toy is under the couch.

3. Identify the correct use of a time expression:

A. She gave a week’s notice.
B. She gave a weeks notice.

4. Which sentence uses a poetic/literary contraction?

A. He never quit.
B. He ne’er quit.

5. Pick the sentence that shows a plural possessive:

A. The girls’ room was painted pink.
B. The girl’s room was painted pink.
(Hint: More than one girl)

6. Which is the correct form?

A. It’s collar is red.
B. Its collar is red.

7. Which uses apostrophes for clarity (single letters)?

A. Dot your is and ts.
B. Dot your i’s and t’s.

8. Identify the incorrect apostrophe use:

A. She has two dog’s.
B. She has two dogs.

9. Which contraction is correct?

A. Theyre going to the store.
B. They’re going to the store.

10. Choose the correct time-based phrase:

A. Five years’ experience
B. Five year’s experience
C. Five years experience

Conclusion:
So guys, in this article, we’ve covered apostrophes in detail. Personally, I suggest revisiting the five types every time you proofread your writing—it’s an easy way to catch common mistakes. Don’t forget to drop a comment below if you have questions or need clarification—we’re here to help!

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Apostrophe to help clarify any doubts:

1. What is the main purpose of an apostrophe?

An apostrophe is used to show possession or to indicate missing letters in contractions. It helps make writing clearer and more concise. Apostrophes are not used to form regular plurals.

2. What’s the difference between “its” and “it’s”?

“It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has”. “Its” is a possessive pronoun, like his or her. If you can say “it is,” use it’s; otherwise, use its.

3. How do I show possession for a plural noun?

If the noun is plural and ends in -s, just add an apostrophe at the end.
Example: Teachers’ lounge (for multiple teachers). If the plural doesn’t end in -s, add ’s (e.g., children’s books).

4. Can I use an apostrophe to make a word plural?

No, never use apostrophes to make regular plurals.
Apple’s → Apples
The only exception is for clarity with single letters (e.g., “Mind your p’s and q’s”).

5. What is an example of an apostrophe in a time expression?

Example: A day’s work means the work of one day.
Use ’s for singular time (a week’s pay), and ’ for plural time (two weeks’ vacation). It shows time is possessing something.

6. When should I use an apostrophe in contractions?

Use it when combining two words and removing letters.
For example: Do not → Don’t, They are → They’re. The apostrophe replaces the missing letters.

7. Is it correct to say “The cat’s are sleeping”?

No, that’s incorrect.
“Cat’s” is possessive, not plural. You should write “The cats are sleeping” without an apostrophe.

8. Why do poets use apostrophes in words like “o’er” or “ne’er”?

They remove letters to create a shorter version that fits the rhythm or rhyme of a poem.
For example, “o’er” means “over” and “ne’er” means “never.” This is a literary or poetic style, not everyday grammar.

9. Should I use an apostrophe with acronyms or abbreviations?

No apostrophe is needed to make abbreviations plural.
For example: DVDs, not DVD’s. Use apostrophes only if the abbreviation is possessive (e.g., NASA’s mission).

10. How can I tell if an apostrophe is needed?

Ask yourself: Is something being owned or combined?
If the answer is yes, an apostrophe is likely needed. If not, leave it out.