Apostrophe Workshop printable pdf download

Apostrophe Workshop

BASIC

APOSTROPHE WORKSHOP

APOSTROPHE GUIDELINES

Apostrophes are used to show omission of letters in a contraction or

numbers in a date.

Apostrophes are used to form plurals of words, letters, or numerals used as

words.

EX:

How many e’s are in the name Jeffery. She uses too many and’s when she is speaking.

In the number 55,785,456 there are four 5’s.

The apostrophe shows possession in singular nouns by adding ’s to nouns not

ending with an s.

EX:

Mary’s

the dog’s

the Smith’s

In singular possessive nouns ending in s, a writer could merely add ’ , or if the

extra syllable is comfortably pronounced, the writer could add ’s.

EX:

Ulysses’ return

the boss’ office

the boss’s office

Add an ’ to plural possessive nouns that form their plural by adding s.

EX:

three boys’ room

the soldiers’ quarters

Add ’s to plural possessive nouns that form their plural in irregular ways not

ending in s.

EX:

the women’s shoes

the children’s room

the men’s section

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS NEVER USE APOSTROPHES!

EX:

ours

yours theirs hers

its

Remember that PERSONAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS (such as yours, ours, his, hers, theirs,

its, whose) are possessive in form and DO NOT NEED APOSTROPHES.

Other uses of apostrophes include use with CONTRACTIONS (it’s, don’t, would’ve, who’s) and

use with plural letters and numbers.

Apostrophe Workshop