Apostrophes

Use an apostrophe:

• For contractions (when there’s a letter or more missing). Remember that contractions are not used in most formal work.
• She’s (she is/has), ’04 (2004)
• To show possession of one thing. (add an apostrophe and an ‘s’)
• John’s idea, Russia’s GDP, a day’s hire
• To show possession of a plural entity. (add an apostrophe and an ‘s’)
• Children’s lives,
• To show possession of a plural entity (don’t add an ‘s’ if the plural already ends in ‘s’).
• The students’ work, countries’ duty
• To show individual possessions.
• Sue’s and Dave’s cars. (They each own their own car)
• To show joint possession.
• Sue and Dave’s cars. (They own them together)
• For letters, numbers and words that aren’t normally used in the plural.
• There are two f’s in my surname, 6’s are unlucky, there are too many and’s in this sentence.

Do not use an apostrophe:

• For possessive pronouns.
• Its, yours, theirs, his, hers, ours
• For plurals of words.
• Mango’s , pie’s, school’s