Apostrophes
What Is It?
Apostrophes refers to marks used for possession and contractions.
B1-B2 reference topic in Punctuation.
Why Use It?
- Show ownership.
- Write contractions clearly.
- Avoid common its/it's and plural errors.
Formation and Patterns
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular possessive | noun + 's | the student's notebook |
| Plural possessive | plural s + ' | the students' notebooks |
| Contraction | word + apostrophe | it is -> it's |
Common Mistakes
- Using apostrophes for ordinary plurals.
- Confusing its and it's.
- Writing your's, her's, or their's.
Exceptions & Nuances
- Some style guides differ for names ending in s: James's or James'. Be consistent.