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Apostrophes Simplified

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Uses of the Apostrophe

• To show possession.
• To show that a letter is missing.
• 3. To show, in some cases, that a word is plural.

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1. SHOWING POSSESSION
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Showing Possession

• When it is clear that a word is possessive, then
  an apostrophe is required, as in the following
  sentences
• This is Marias room.
• David went to a boys school.
• The womens department is on the second floor.

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Showing Possession

• The placement of the apostrophe is cause for
  much confusion. However, the principle is
  simple. Let us use the phrase The boys room as
  an example.
• Clearly, the room belongs to either one boy, or
  to two boys. Since there are no context clues,
  it is impossible to know precisely which. An
  apostrophe will clarify the meaning.
• If the room belongs to one boy, then the
  apostrophe goes after the singular word boy.
• If the room is shared by two or more boys, the
  apostrophe goes after the plural word boys.
• The boys room. - Belongs to just one boy.
• The boys room. - Belongs to at least two
  boys.
• As you can see, it is now clear how many boys own
  the room.

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Showing Possession

• The general principle is this

Words that take an apostrophe do so after the
singular or after the plural form of the word,
as the case may be.
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Brief Review

I stole the boys hat.

I went to a boys school.

He stole the childrens hearts.
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The One Ziz Rule

• Plural words that end in an s or a z sound
  will drop the additional s in certain
  circumstances. I call this the one ziz rule.
  A word that ends ziz-ziz just sounds stupid.
• Jesus sandals, NOT Jesuss sandals.
• Moses loin cloth NOT Mosess loin cloth.
• St. Jamess Palace NOT St. James Palace.

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Quick Quiz

1. The childrens department is upstairs.
2. My daughter attended a girls conference in New
   York.
3. The one dogs kennel is outside.
4. The Students Union is on the east side of campus.
5. My uncle is recuperating at the Veterans Hospital
   in Indianapolis.
6. Have you noticed Jennifers acne?
7. My grandmother attended the Worlds Fair in 1932.
8. The teams winning streak was short-lived.
9. My mother attends the Peoples Church.
10. The two girls room is at the end of the hall.

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Quick QuizAnswer Key

1. The childrens department is upstairs.
2. My daughter attended a girls conference in New
   York.
3. The one dogs kennel is outside.
4. The Students Union is on the east side of
   campus.
5. My uncle is recuperating at the Veterans
   Hospital in Indianapolis.
6. Have you noticed Jennifers acne?
7. My grandmother attended the Worlds Fair in 1932.
8. The teams winning streak was short-lived.
9. My mother attends the Peoples Church.
10. The two girls room is at the end of the hall.

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2. Showing Missing Letters
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Showing Missing Letters

• An apostrophe indicates that letters are missing
  from a contraction, as follows
• its - it is - i is missing from is
• didnt - did not - o is missing from not
• couldve - could have - ha is missing
• wont - will not - God only knows
• cant - cannot - no is missing
• een - even - v is missing
• and so on.

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3. Showing Plurals
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Showing Plurals

• Apostrophes also show that words (usually
  numbers of one sort or another) are plural,
  although this usage is falling out of fashion.
  It is still seen from time to time but is now
  considered unnecessary and in MLA Format should
  be omitted.
• During the 1960s, I lived in Ontario.

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Uses of the Apostrophe

• You now know all you need to about the uses of
  the apostrophe.
• Remember, it shows (a) possession, (b) omission
  in contractions, and (c) certain types of plural.
  

The following rule of thumb is a good one where
the apostrophe is concerned If in doubt, leave
it out.
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The End
PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA,
MEd, MA
Painting by David Shevlino