How to Use Apostrophes?

Maya Lin-Takahashi
Maya Lin-Takahashi
• • 7 min read

The Apostrophe Has Three Uses: 1) to Form Possessive Nouns Possessive Nouns Together with a Noun, as in My Car, Your Sisters, His Boss. .. . Without an...

How to Use Apostrophes?

The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns

possessive nouns
Together with a noun, as in my car, your sisters, his boss. ... Without an accompanying noun, as in mine is red, I prefer yours, this book is his. A possessive used in this way is called a substantive possessive pronoun, a possessive pronoun or an absolute pronoun.
› wiki › Possessive
; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. ​Do not ​use apostrophes to form possessive ​pronouns ​(i.e. ​his​/​her ​computer) or ​noun ​plurals that are not possessives.

How do you use apostrophes correctly?

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to create a contraction or to show possession.
  1. Use an apostrophe when two words are shortened into one. ...
  2. Use an apostrophe when showing possession. ...
  3. Do not create a double or triple “s” when adding an apostrophe. ...
  4. Do not use an apostrophe with pronouns to show possession.

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Is it Chris's or Chris '?

In school, it is common to be taught to write “Chris'” when talking about something that belongs to Chris. When we are talking, we say Chris's when referring to something that belongs to Chris. While both are technically correct, the main difference is in the required style guide.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer
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Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.