USING APOSTROPHES To indicate possession use apostrophe s ( ‘s) after the noun, singular or plural eg: The boy’s book (One boy has one book) The boy’s books (One boy has or more books) The boys’ books ( Two or more boys have books) The girl’s bedroom (One girl has one room) The girls’ bedroom (2 girls share one room) The child’s toy (one child has one toy) The children’s toys (2 or more children) Children is plural so just add ‘s James’s assignment received a high distinction (James ends with s, add ‘s) The teacher was pleased with the class’s work (One class) The teacher was pleased with the classes’ work (Two or more classes) Exception: Moses’ law, Jesus’ teachings Here there is no added ‘s’ just the apostrophe after the name For joint possession and compound nouns use the apostrophe on the last noun only: Mary and John’s car (their car – two people own one car) My father-in-law’s car (compound singular noun) BUT: Mary’s and John’s bikes (Two people have two bikes) Time or quantity: Years and weeks may be treated as possessives and given an apostrophe or as adjectival nouns without one The former is perhaps better, so as to conform to what is inevitable in the singular – a year’s imprisonment, a fortnight’s holiday It’s an hour’s walk from here Breaking a mirror means seven years’ bad luck I’ll have a dollar’s worth Use apostrophes to indicate missing letters in words eg: contractions: it’s = it is or it has (Be careful not to confuse this with the possessive pronoun its) The dog is gnawing its bone (Not: The dog is gnawing it’s [it is] bone.) don’t = not won’t = will not etc We use apostrophes to avoid confusion with the plural of some letters and words: Always cross your t’s and dot your i’s (we don’t mean is)  DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES INCORRECTLY DO NOT put an apostrophe on any word that ends in ‘s’ unless it is for missing letters or to show possession DO NOT use an apostrophe for possessive pronouns (his hers its whose theirs yours) even though someone owns something (eg: That book is yours – not your’s ) DO NOT use an apostrophe for street names, place names, and public signs (eg The Teachers Union, Kings Cross, Smiths Road, Jacksons Park ) DO NOT use an apostrophe if the word before the noun is more descriptive than possessive (I have my drivers licence, but that driver’s licence is lost I have my travellers cheques, but that traveller’s cheques were stolen.) NEVER use it’s in your writing unless you mean it is or it has Punctuation Test – Apostrophe When (it’s/its) eight o’clock, give the dog (it’s/its) food ………………………………………………………………………………………… The (Johnson’s/Johnsons’) house is painted white ………………………………………………………………………………………… The Ten Commandments are sometimes called (Moses’s/Moses’) laws ………………………………………………………………………………………… The (womens/women’s/womens’) meeting starts at ten o’clock ………………………………………………………………………………………… Is he a friend of (her’s/hers)? ………………………………………………………………………………………… Yes, (their/there/they’re) really happy with (their/there/they’re) new car ………………………………………………………………………………………… (Here’s/Heres/Hears) your book ………………………………………………………………………………………… (There’s/Theres/Theirs) no sense in ((Johns/John’s) working in heat ………………………………………………………………………………………… Now (your/you’re) late for (your/you’re) music lesson ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 I don’t like (Melbournes/Melbourne’s) climate ………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 (Who’s/ Whose) turn is it next? ………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Surely (its/it’s) not true that the dog lost (its/it’s) brand new collar? ………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 I took a (week’s/ weeks) holiday ………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 That (drivers/ driver’s) using a mobile phone ………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 (Wheres/Wears/ Where’s) (your’re/your) ( drivers driver’s) licence? ………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 Are these books (yours/your’s) No, (their/there/ they’re) (there’s theirs) ………………………………………………………………………………………… Answers Punctuation Test – Apostrophe When it’s eight o’clock, give the dog its food The Johnson’s house is painted white The Ten Commandments are sometimes called Moses’ laws The women’s meeting starts at ten o’clock Is he a friend of hers? Yes, they’re really happy with their new car Here’s your book There’s no sense in John’s working in heat Now you’re late for your music lesson 10 I don’t like Melbourne’s climate 11 Whose turn is it next? 12 Surely it’s not true that the dog lost its brand new collar? 13 I took a week’s holiday or: I took a weeks holiday 14 That driver’s using a mobile phone 15 Where’s your drivers licence? 16 Are these books yours? No, they’re theirs