answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The rules for apostrophes vary with the type of word. Learn where to put apostrophes so that your writing is clear and correct. In short, apostrophes are frequently used to indicate possession and in contractions, but generally not to pluralize.

Avoid using an apostrophe to indicate a plural. The incorrect use of an apostrophe to form the plural is called the greengrocer's apostrophe, since grocers are often the worst (or at least the most visible) offenders. If you have more than one apple, then write apples, not apple's. If you cannot replace the word with "his," "her," "their" or "its" and if it isn't a contraction, then an apostrophe should not be used.

#

#* People often forget the rules when a word ends in a vowel, such as the word "mango." Many people write "mango's" instead of "mangos" or "mangoes". #* An exception to this use is in the case of making a single letter plural. Therefore, Why are there so many I's in the word "indivisibility"? is correct. This is simply for clarity reasons, so the reader does not mistake it for the word "is." However, in modern usage, the preference is to avoid inserting an apostrophe and instead surround the single letter in quotation marks before pluralizing it: Why are there so many "I"s in the word "indivisibility"? #* Similarly, apostrophes can be used when talking about a word (e.g., this list contains a lot of do's and don't's) but quotation marks can make it clearer ("do"s and "don't"s). #* An exception can also be made for numbers and abbreviations, although some consider this old fashioned, illogical and unnecessary.

#** "I bought many CD's in the 1990's." Incorrect. #** "I bought many CDs in the 1990s." Correct. # Use apostrophes to indicate possession. There are two basic methods that make use of an apostrophe in constructing the possessive. Most words use an apostrophe followed by an "s" at the end of the word, although many situations require simply an apostrophe. #* Place an apostrophe before the "s" when you are indicating a singular possessive, unless the name or word ends in "s," in which case either is correct. (James's dog or James' dog, Dickens' novel or Dickens's novel)

#** "Jacob's shoes are very cool." The shoes belong to Jacob (singular: one person). #** "I found the dog'sold bone buried in the backyard." The bone belongs to the dog (singular: a single dog). #* Place an apostrophe after the "s" when you are dealing with a possessive plural case that has an "s" at the end (e.g., book to books, tree to trees). But if the word is plural without an "s" at the end, this rule does not apply; add an apostrophe and an "s" as if the word were singular.

#** "Look at all of the sailors' boats!" The boats belong to the sailors (plural: there is more than one sailor). #** "The children's dresses were pink and frilly." The dresses belong to the children, but since the word children is alreadyplural without having to add an "s" at the end, this is an exception. # Use apostrophes in contractions. Sometimes, especially in informal writing, apostrophes are used to indicate one or more missing letters. For example, the word "don't" is short for "do not"; other examples include "isn't," "wouldn't," and "can't." Contractions can also be made with the verbs "is," "has," and "have." For example, we can write "She's going to school" instead of "She is going to school"; or "He's lost the game" instead of "He has lost the game." A similar usage can be found in the notation of calendar years, as in '07. In this case, the apostrophe appears in the spot where the missing numbers would have been (before the number, not after as in 07'). # Be aware of the its/it's trap. Use an apostrophe with the word "it" only when you want to indicate a contraction for "it is" or "it has." Its is a pronoun, and pronouns have their own possessive form that does not use an apostrophe. For example, "That noise? It's just the dog eating its bone." This may seem confusing, but it follows the same pattern as other possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, yours, ours, theirs.

* For singular names ending in "s," the Chicago Manual of Style adds an "s" after the apostrophe, as in "Charles's bike." If your work or assignment requires you to adhere to one convention or another, then do so. Otherwise, either form is acceptable so long as it is consistent throughout a single piece of written work. * "Apple's 89¢ a pound," literally means that "apple" owns "89¢ a pound" (the possessive) or "Apple is 89¢ a pound" (a contraction). * The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is a very short and handy guide to writing and punctuation. Keep a copy of this book nearby when you're writing and refer to it if you're unsure about usage. * If you want to write about a party given by Luke and Ashley Smart and all their children, write "the Smarts'party" (Smarts is a plural, then add the possessive apostrophe). * If you have trouble applying the rules for a possessive, rephrase the sentence to use "of" and place the apostrophe after the word in question. For instance: "Look at all of the sailors' boats!" becomes "Look at all of the boats of the sailors" and you can place the apostrophe after "sailors" to make "sailors'". Or, "The children's dresses were pink and frilly." becomes "The dresses of the children..." and so the apostrophe goes after "children" to make "children's". * If ever in doubt, always remember that apostrophes are almost always used in nouns to show possession. Avoid using apostrophes for anything else.

* Throwing in apostrophes willy-nilly quickly shows that the writer does not understand the rules about possessives, contractions, and plurals. If in doubt, err on the side of leaving out the apostrophe. * Don't put an apostrophe within your name on your return address label. If your surname is "Greenwood," then "The Greenwoods" is correct, while "the Greenwood's" is incorrect. "The Greenwoods" indicates the residence of more than one person with the surname Greenwood, not some sort of possession. * Never write "her's." Her's is not a word, just as you would not write "him's". Recall that possessive pronouns do not need an apostrophe: his, hers, its, yours, ours, theirs. * When a word ends in "y," as in "try," take extra care when changing the verb form. For example, "try" does not become "try's". "Tries" is correct. * Do not use apostrophes or quotation marks for emphasis. For example, take a billboard that says: Joe Schmo, the "best" realtor in town! It makes the word "best" appear sarcastic, and untrue, rather than emphasized.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

three week's pay

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Where will be the apostrophe three week's pay or three weeks' pay?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

How would show possession of the word weeks should the s come before or after?

Week is a singular noun, meaning one week. Weeks is the plural noun, meaning more than one week. Week is a singular possessive is week's with the apostrophe before the s. Ex. This week's storm battered the eastern coast. Weeks is a plural possessive is weeks' with the apostrophe after the s. Ex: The weeks' stressful events left me exhausted. HOWEVER, it would just be simpler to say how many weeks and exclude the use of an apostrophe. Example: The stressful events of the last 3 and one-half weeks left me exhausted. (no apostrophe)


In a few weeks time or in a few weeks' time?

I could be wrong, but I think the question was to do with the use of the apostrophe (or not) after the word weeks. Am actually looking for that answer :-)


If an employee quits and gives three weeks notice but you tell them not to work it do you have to pay them three weeks?

You should to avoid any potential litigation which will cost you more in the end. However, it depends on the circumstances as to if you are required to pay the employee or not. But, if a notice is given to work 3 weeks then more than likely you pay it. If you pay it, you do have the option to tell them not to return but to have them not return and not pay would not be advisable unless you have just cause to end employment immediately which in turn would not be a voluntary resignation any longer.


Is it last 2 weeks or week's?

The version with the apostrophe is possessive so a sentence might read, " The two week's work for the project is done for the month of April. The other, without the apostrophe is the plural of week and the sentence could be, "It took two weeks for the project to be completed."


What are the three purposes for using an apostrophe?

Possession, contraction, omission.


What three letter word has an apostrophe after the third letter?

Can't


How long does it take to get the first check from worker's comp in Kentucky?

You have to be off work about 3 weeks before they start paying you. When you are off three weeks then they will also go back and pay for the 3 weeks you were off.


Is the apostrophe used in the word your to show possession As in the word your?

No there's no apostrophe. For example:Can I borrow your book please?It's easy to get mixed up with you're.You're is the contraction of "you are". For example:You're going to pay for that!This can also be written as:You are going to pay for that!


Is this apostrophe right or wrong If you look at this week's schedule?

The apostrophe is used correctly in "If you look at this week's schedule..."Plural would be "If you look at the weeks' schedules..." Note the change to plural, and plural possessive.


What to do if you have not received your vehicle licence from dvla it has been three weeks?

You should call them or pay them a visit to find out the reason it is so late.


What three letter words have an apostrophe after the first letter?

I've is a three letter word. I'll is another three letter word.


How much do the celebrities make on Dancing with the Stars?

According to The Hollywood Reporter (see Related Links below), celebrities get $125,000 just for joining the show, rehearsing on a tight schedule for three weeks, and competing in the first two episodes. For Weeks 3 and 4, the pay per episode is $10,000. If the celebrity survives elimination, the pay is $20,000 per episode for Weeks 5 & 6 and $30,000 for Weeks 7 & 8. In Weeks 9 & 10, the final two weeks of the show, the pay per episode is $50,000. The most a celebrity can earn, provided they make it to the final, is $345,000. There is no cash prize for winning.