Commas and Apostrophes
Use commas to indicate prepositional phrases, and apostrophes where there is multiple possession.
Read this first
The apostrophe has two jobs only. Everything else is a mistake.
Words you need
- Apostrophe
- The mark used for missing letters or for ownership.
- Contraction
- Two words squashed into one, like do not to don't.
- Possession
- Showing that something belongs to someone.
Worked example
e.g. Where does the apostrophe go: the girls bags?
- First ask: is this a contraction or possession?
- No letters are missing. So it is possession.
- Now ask: one girl, or more than one?
- Say it is more than one. So the owner word is girls.
- Write the owner word first: girls.
- Add the apostrophe straight after it: girls'.
- Then the thing owned: girls' bags.
- For one girl it would be girl's bags instead.
Write the owner, add the apostrophe after it, then the thing owned.
Practice
Contraction or possession? Decide that first.
1The dog's bowl. How many dogs?with a picture
AnswerOne.
2What does don't stand for?with a picture
AnswerDo not.
3Punctuate: the boys football (many boys)with a hint
Need a hint?
Write the owner word first.
AnswerThe boys' football.
4Does its need an apostrophe in the cat licked its paw?with a hint
Need a hint?
Is anything missing?
AnswerNo. Its shows possession. It's means it is.
5Punctuate: the childrens toyson your own
AnswerThe children's toys. Children is already plural.
6Why does apples for sale need no apostrophe?on your own
AnswerNothing is owned and nothing is missing. It is just a plural.
Think about it
1
Why is it's the most common apostrophe error?
One good answerIt looks like possession, but it is a contraction. The rule seems to flip.
2
How would you check a tricky one?
One good answerSay it in full. If it is fits, use it's.
Common mistakes
Apostrophes mark plurals.
Never. Three cat's is wrong. Plurals take a plain s.
The apostrophe always goes before the s.
Only for singular owners. For plural owners it goes after: the dogs' tails.