Analysing Apostrophes
Apostrophes have two purposes:
• To show contractions (to show one or more letters have been missed out).
• To show possession (to show something belongs to someone).
Contractions
Contractions are used to omit certain sounds: to make language faster and easier. Therefore,
they are common in speech – we use them every day – and can often be found in informal
pieces of writing or dialogue.
For example:
• Did not → didn’t
• Might have → might’ve
• She is → she’s
• They are → they’re
As with everything, the rules are not always strictly followed. Sometimes the apostrophe does
not show where all letters have been omitted, and other times it seems the rules have been
disregarded altogether.
For example:
• Shall not → shan’t
• Will not → won’t
Possession
Apostrophes are also used to show something belongs to someone. As ever, there are several
rules.
If the name or noun is singular, add an apostrophe followed by the letter ‘s’.
For example:
• Thomas’s ice cream (N.B.: although ‘Thomas’ ends in ‘s’, it is still singular).
• The boy’s ball.
• The company’s finances.
If the name or noun is plural, add an apostrophe on its own.
For example:
• The Smiths’ hidden inheritance.
This is the intellectual property of Ross Turner Academics
© Ross Turner 2023 | www.rossturneracademics.com
Apostrophes have two purposes:
• To show contractions (to show one or more letters have been missed out).
• To show possession (to show something belongs to someone).
Contractions
Contractions are used to omit certain sounds: to make language faster and easier. Therefore,
they are common in speech – we use them every day – and can often be found in informal
pieces of writing or dialogue.
For example:
• Did not → didn’t
• Might have → might’ve
• She is → she’s
• They are → they’re
As with everything, the rules are not always strictly followed. Sometimes the apostrophe does
not show where all letters have been omitted, and other times it seems the rules have been
disregarded altogether.
For example:
• Shall not → shan’t
• Will not → won’t
Possession
Apostrophes are also used to show something belongs to someone. As ever, there are several
rules.
If the name or noun is singular, add an apostrophe followed by the letter ‘s’.
For example:
• Thomas’s ice cream (N.B.: although ‘Thomas’ ends in ‘s’, it is still singular).
• The boy’s ball.
• The company’s finances.
If the name or noun is plural, add an apostrophe on its own.
For example:
• The Smiths’ hidden inheritance.
This is the intellectual property of Ross Turner Academics
© Ross Turner 2023 | www.rossturneracademics.com
