answersLogoWhite

0

When do you use apostrophe?

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Best Answer

There's - There is.

He's - He is.

To show the form of a word.

You also use it when there is an s already there..uh, lemme show you.

Seuss' -

Otherwise..It would look like: Seuss's.

I may not be 100% correct.. Sorry.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

People have a lot of trouble with this, but it's quite easy. You use apostrophes in the following cases:

1. to indicate letters that are removed when you make a contraction. So, when "do not" becomes "don't" the apostrophe shows where you removed a letter. Only use one apostrophe no matter how many letters are removed.

2. to make a word possessive. i.e., "the cat's meow." There is an apostrophe in cat's because the word MEOW belongs to the word CAT. It's not just any meow, it's the cat's. Get it?

Where people go wrong is whether to put the apostrophe before or after the S. There is a simple rule: the apostrophe goes at the end of the root word, and then you add an S if there is not one. So if the word is plural, it likely has an S, and the apostrophe goes after. EXAMPLE: the girl's dorm or the girls' dorm ? The first one uses the root word GIRL and refers to the dorm of a specific individual girl. The second example has a root word GIRLS and it's referring to a dorm that belongs to more than one girl. Just make sure the portion of the word BEFORE the apostrophe makes sense in the sentence, and you will not go wrong. Thus, you can say the "children's socks" and it's okay that the apostrophe is before the S because "children" is the root word and it's plural.

3. Do not use an apostrophe to make a word plural. Ever.

4. Do not use an apostrophe to make an acronym plural either. It's CDs, DVDs, and TVs, not CD's, DVD's, or TV's. That said, an acronym could be possessive, as in, "the DVD's case." In that case, you do add an apostrophe.

NOTES: In cases of double possession, use the apostrophe after the last name only. In other words, it's Ben and Jerry's ice cream, not Ben's and Jerry's ice Cream.

ALSO: be careful not to use an apostrophe in a possessive pronoun. Most people know that they should use his, hers, and theirs, not hi's, her's, and their's, but they mess up with its. When you use an apostrophe (it's) you are saying "IT IS". When there is no apostrophe, the word is possessive already and doesn't need anything added to it. Don't say "ever dog has it's day" because that means "ever dog has it is day."

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: When do you use apostrophe?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

When to use a apostrophe with will not?

you dont use an apostrophe in will not


Do you use an apostrophe for culture's?

you do not use an apostrophe in cultures.


Do you use an apostrophe for the word that?

No, the word "that" does not require an apostrophe to show possession. The possessive form of "that" is simply "that's."


How do you use an apostrophe in the word you will?

An apostrophe is used in contraction. Example: you will: you'll


How do you use apostrophe in June?

There is not apostrophe in June. But, there would be apostrophe in the following example: June's car was totaled in the accident.


When using the name Achilles do you use 's or s' apostrophe?

If you are indicating possession (Achilles' heal) use an apostrophe at the end of the word. If you are simply stating his name, there is no apostrophe.


When do you use the apostrophe in its?

it's (as in it is)


Do you use an apostrophe in leases?

No


How do you use an apostrophe in are not?

aren't


How do you use the apostrophe in Gibsons?

Use an apostrophe s to indicate possession.Example:Gibson's guitar strings broke last night.


When do you use an apostrophe for the word waitress?

When it is a possessive, use apostrophe. The waitress's coat was stolen. The waitresses' paychecks were cut.


Would you use an apostrophe in the word your?

No, the word "your" does not require an apostrophe. "Your" is a possessive pronoun, while "you're" is a contraction for "you are" that uses an apostrophe.