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Apostrophe: How To by Sorcha
This is a simple guide on some of the most common usages for the apostrophe, which is one of the most misused punctuation marks. I see it all the time, on the wrong side of letters, or in places it shouldn't be at all. So, if you're confused about how you should be using this little deedily (note, an apostrophe looks like the following: ') then take a look below and see if we can solve your problem.
When Letters Are Missed Out
The apostrophe is often used in place of letters when for one reason or another they are deliberately missed out of a word or phrase, some examples of this are as follows below.
Short Forms of Words/Phrases
In speech we are tempted to slur words together for ease of use, and this has slipped into writing as we become more and more free and easy with language and how it can be used. Sometimes we miss out letters in longer words and sometimes push to small words together.
Examples: Can't = Cannot; She'll = She Will; Should've = Should Have
Date/Time Expressions
The same abbreviating of words happens in expressions of date and time, which can be used in this way as time is an abstract noun.
Examples: o'clock = of the clock; '69 = 1969 or 1869 or 1769, et cetera...
Dialect Speech
When writing dialogue is often included, it's a staple part of most fics and sometimes the characters speak with a dialect or accent. If you want to show that accent rather than telling the reader about it, then it's common to use apostrophes in place of letters which are missed by certain accents. For example an English working class accent often misses the letter "h" off the beginning of words.
Example: 'e 'ad a bad 'at an' all = he had a bad hat and all
Of course for different accents different letters would be missed out or words slurred together with the use of an apostrophe.
To Indicate Possession
An apostrophe is used to indicate possession by a person, animal or abstract noun such as time. However, there is often confusion about how to do this and on which side of a letter the apostrophe should go. To solve this I have a short guide for the most common nouns.
In nouns where the plural is "s" or "es" then add 's in singular forms and only an apostrophe in plural.
The demon's victim was juicy. (only one demon)
The demons' victim was juicy. (many demons)
In nouns which have their own special plural form, for example, man/men or goose/geese, add 's to both the singular and plural.
The man's spleen was eaten. (one man)
The men's spleens were eaten. (many men)
In nouns which the singular form ends in "s" you have two options. Either add 's to the end or add only an apostrophe, which is more commonly accepted to avoid writing the double s.
Dickens's books are famous.
Dickens' books are famous.
On occasion the apostrophe is used to form plurals, this is uncommon but used for the plurals of: figures and symbols (100's and 1000's), letters (dot your i's) and words which are commonly thought of as part of language (this sentence has too many and's in it).
Hopefully this guide will help you to go out there and use the apostrophe correctly, and as a final note, remember never to use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs.