Punctuation Department · Today with The Mayor

Apostrophe

1 Learn Start here

2 Assess Take the quiz

3 Practice Try it out

★ Certified Earn your badge

▶ Play Optional

Apostrophe

The Mayor teaches this column himself. Work through each capitalization job below, then take the quiz.

Use an apostrophe in a contraction

A contraction combines two words and drops one or more letters; the apostrophe marks exactly where the letters were removed (cannot becomes can't, I will becomes I'll). The apostrophe stands in for the missing letters, not for the whole word.

In a sentence

They won't be late again.

Now you try

Join two words and drop a letter; the apostrophe marks the gap. You could try isn't, we'll, or you're.

Use an apostrophe to show ownership

For a singular noun, add apostrophe plus s (the dog's leash). For a plural noun that already ends in s, add only an apostrophe after the s (the dogs' yard). The position of the apostrophe shows how many owners there are.

In a sentence

The dog's leash is new.

The dogs' yard is muddy.

Now you try

One owner takes apostrophe plus s; more than one owner ending in s takes the apostrophe after the s.

One mark, two jobs

An apostrophe either marks where letters were removed (contraction) or shows ownership (possessive). The classic trap: it's (with an apostrophe) means it is; its (no apostrophe) is the possessive.

In a sentence

My friends' team won.

We'll meet at noon.

Now you try

Missing letters, or ownership. And remember: it's means it is; its shows ownership.