How to Use Apostrophes

It isn't fair or reasonable, but using punctuation correctly makes people take you and your writing more seriously. The rules are simple enough. Learn them!

Instructions

1. Use apostrophes to form contractions. Place the apostrophe in place of the letter you have removed. For example: is + not = isn't, they + are = they're, and here + is = here's.

2. Use apostrophes for nominal possession. They indicate that a person, animal or other entity owns something. For example: "This is David's article" or "A dog is a man's best friend."

3. Do not use apostrophes to indicate a plural in most circumstances. The sentence “The dog's went out to chase cats” is wrong, since it is talking about several dogs and not something possessed by a dog.

4. Use apostrophes for plurals if you are talking about an acronym, although it violates the general rule. For example, “I bought some new CD's and DVD's yesterday.”

5. Do not use apostrophes with possessive pronouns. “His' friend” is wrong, because “his” indicates possession by itself.