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American English Grammar
Apostrophe
Learning objectives
  • Learn the definition of an apostrophe
  • Study usage of apostrophes
Definition of an apostrophe
  • An apostrophe looks like this:

        ' or

  • An apostrophe is used to:

    • indicate omitted letters such as abbreviations and contractions

    • indicate possession

    • form the plural noun for abbreviations and symbols where adding just s instead of ’s would be confusing

  • Note: personal possessive pronouns (his, hers, yours, theirs, its, etc.) do not take an apostrophe
Usage of apostrophes
  • Apostrophes used to indicate omitted letters

    • abbreviations

      • government = gov't

    • contractions

      • cannot = can't

      • it is = it's

  • Apostrophes used to indicate possession

    • Oliver's army

    • James's crown

  • Apostrophes used to form the plural noun for abbreviations and symbols where adding just s instead of ’s would be confusing

    • mind your p's and q's

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