Online Writing Guide: Editing 101- Apostrophes

As an editor and writer, one of the most common mistakes I see writers making is in their usage of apostrophes. Writers have a tendency to either overuse apostrophes or skip them altogether. This online writing guide will break it down and simplify apostrophe usage.

Apostrophes in Contractions

The most common use of the apostrophe is in a contraction to indicate there are letters missing. Do not becomes don't; cannot becomes can't; would not becomes wouldn't; it is becomes it's.

While it's acceptable to use contractions as leaving them out could make your writing sound stilted, sometimes spelling out the phrase creates more impact on your writing. Do not is stronger than don't if you wish to stress a point.

Apostrophes in Numbers

While I covered this rule in my numbers tutorial, it's worth repeating here. You can use an apostrophe to indicate there are numbers missing. The most common usage of this rule is with decades.

Example: I was born in the '70s.

Apostrophes to Show Possession

To show possession with singular nouns, use an apostrophe before the s ('s).

Example: Nancy's car was damaged in the storm.

To show possession with plural nouns that don't end with s, use an apostrophe before the s ('s).

Example: The congregation's demeanor was subdued.

To show possession with plural nouns that already end in s, just add an apostrophe to the end of the word.

Example: The two cherry trees' leaves are turning brown.

There are exceptions to these general rules on possession.

If a proper name ends with an s and an eez sound, use only an apostrophe at the end of the name, not an apostrophe s ('s).

Example: The Great Pyrenees' coat is usually white.

If a singular proper noun has been formed into a plural word, use just the apostrophe to show possession.

Example: The United States' president is Barack Obama.

Common Mistakes with Apostrophes

Based on my experience as an editor and writer, here are some of the most common apostrophe mistakes I see in articles.

Using an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. To show possession with a pronoun, add an s only.

Example: The book is hers, not her's.

Mixing up "it's" and "its". It's is a contraction of the words it and is. Its is the possessive form of it. If you can't spell out it is in the sentence and have it make sense, then use its.

Example: The desk and its chair were both wood. I think it's mahogany.

Confusing "lets" and "let's". Again, let's is a contraction of the words let and us. Lets is the plural form of the verb let. If you can't replace lets/let's in the sentence with let us, then use lets.

Example: Let's eat! I hope he lets us get seconds.

Using an apostrophe to pluralize an abbreviation. So many writers do this, and honestly, it takes all my willpower not to call them on their mistake.

Example: The CNAs are getting a raise. Good thing I just renewed my CNA's license.

Source:

"Apostrophes", The Yahoo! Style Guide