THE APOSTROPHE

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THE APOSTROPHE
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The Function of the Apostrophe

• An apostrophe acts to show possession.
• Add a s to show possession for singular nouns,
  plural nouns NOT ending in s, and indefinite
  nouns (such as no one, someone, and everybody).
• Example Shannons story is about Nobodys
  journey out from the Luray Caverns into a
  dizzying fast-paced world.
• Example Franks spaghetti surprise made
  everyones mouth water.
• Dornan, Edward and Longman, Charles. The Brief
  English Handbook A Guide to Writing, Thinking,
  Grammar, and Research. New York Addison-Wesley,
  2001.

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Using the Apostrophe in Various Situations

• When the possessive of a singular noun ends in
  s, add s.
• Example Charless toucan flew through the tree
  and then perched on the lasss shoulder.
• When the possessive of plural nouns ends in s,
  add only an apostrophe.
• Example The girls plan to drive through the
  desert was delayed by the sandstorm.

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Using the Apostrophe in Various Situations (Cont.)

• When it comes to the possessive of compound
  words, add s or an apostrophe to the last word
  only.
• Example My brother-in-laws dream job is to
  work as a NASA astronaut.
• When 2 or more nouns show joint possession, add
  s to the last noun in the group.
• Example Nancy, Qubert, and Lionels
  coordination of the Hemingway
  Days Festival was a success.
• Dornan, Edward and Longman, Charles. The Brief
  English Handbook A Guide to Writing, Thinking,
  Grammar, and Research. New York Addison-Wesley,
  2001.

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Other Things to Know About the Apostrophe

• Do not use an apostrophe with possessive
  pronouns, such as his, hers, its, ours, yours,
  theirs, and whose.
• Example My parents reprimanded me by saying,
  This room may be yours but this
  house is ours.
• Use apostrophes to mark omissions.
• Example its (it is) / dont (do not)
• 10 of the clock 10 oclock
• I like them I like em.
• Use s to form the plurals of letters and words
  used as words.
• Example When speaking publicly do not use
  wells, huhs, and you knows.

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A Short Exercise

• Insert the apostrophe in the appropriate place.
• 1) James reptile collection gives me an eerie
  feeling.
• A Jamess reptile
• 2) He rushed into the boss office.
• Abosss office.
• 3) A persons right to speak freely is protected
  by law.
• A A persons
• Dornan, Edward and Longman, Charles. The Brief
  English Handbook A Guide to Writing, Thinking,
  Grammar, and Research. New York Addison-Wesley,
  2001.