What are the steps to follow when deciding where the apostrophe goes to show possession?

Answer 1

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the following rules apply when dealing with possessives:

• To form a possessive from a singular noun, add an apostrophe followed by s: 'the girl's book'.
• Add an apostrophe to plurals ending in s, e. g. 'the girls' books'.
• If a plural noun does not end in s, add an apostrophe followed by s: 'the children's toys'.
• Also add an apostrophe to a name ending in -es that is pronounced like the word is: 'Moses'mother'.

Answer 2

When deciding where the apostrophe goes to show possession, follow these steps:

1. Add the apostrophe + s ('s) after the singular noun to show possession (e.g., the dog's tail).
2. Add the apostrophe after the plural noun ending in s to show possession (e.g., the girls' shoes).
3. Add the apostrophe + s ('s) after the plural noun not ending in s to show possession (e.g., the children's toys).