When to Use an Apostrophe for the Possessive

Learning and memorizing the rules of apostrophes might take some studying.

Knowing when to use an apostrophe and how to use it can be quite confusing. Most often, apostrophes are used to indicate possession and the absence of letters in contractions.

Singular Noun

"This brown eye's luster is stellar."

When the possessive noun is singular, even if it ends with an "s," an apostrophe and the letter "s" are placed at the end. For example, consider the phrases "Giselle's brown eyes" and "Mars's aliens."

Plural Noun Ending in "S"

"Hippos' swimming time is important to their happiness."

In the case that the possessive noun is plural and ends with the letter "s," such as "ferrets," a lone apostrophe should be placed after the "s." "Ferrets' muddy paws" and "storms' electricity" are both examples of this usage.

Plural Noun Not Ending in "S"

"Geese's teeth scare away most mice."

When the possessive noun is plural and doesn't end with an "s," such as "deer," an apostrophe and an "s" are added to the end of the word, such as in "mice's cowardice."

References

• Purdue OWL: The Apostrophe