Apostrophe -Definition, Uses, Examples

Apostrophe

An apostrophe (’) is an important punctuation mark in English grammar that plays a vital role in writing clearly. To understand what is an apostrophe means, think of it as a helper that we can use in three main ways: to show possession, to make short forms of words, and sometimes to write short forms of numbers or letters. 

For example, "can’t" is the short form of "cannot," where the apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters. We write apostrophes using the mark (’). Let’s now learn the apostrophe definition and examples as per the different dictionaries to understand it more clearly.

Apostrophe Definition and Examples

According to the apostrophe definition given by the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, it is used when some letters or numbers are left out, for example, “she’s” for “she is” or “’63” for “1963.” The Cambridge Dictionary also defines that it can be placed before or after s to show possession, like Neha’s garden or the teachers’ room.

As per the apostrophe definition given by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it can also be used in the plural form of letters and numbers, for example, “Mind your t’s” or “the 1980’s.” To better understand when to use an apostrophe, go through the rules and examples given below.

Read more: What is an Optative Sentence?

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How to Use Apostrophe in Sentence?

An apostrophe is a multifunctional punctuation mark. To use it correctly, we need to follow some simple rules. These rules tell us where to place the apostrophe and how it changes the meaning of words. Let's understand them in detail:

1. Using Apostrophe To Show Possession or Ownership

An apostrophe is generally used to show that something belongs to someone. In this case, we place the apostrophe just after the name or noun and add an ’s. For example, when we write Mohan’s cycle, it means the cycle belongs to Mohan.

2. Possession with Words Ending in “s”

Sometimes the noun already ends with the letter "s." In such cases, we simply add the apostrophe after s without adding another s. For example, James’ notebook means the notebook belongs to James.

3. Hyphenated Words 

When we have compound words or two words joined with a hyphen, the apostrophe + s is added to the last word. For example, if we write my sister-in-law’s bag, it shows that the bag belongs to the sister-in-law.

4. Joint Ownership vs. Separate Ownership

The use of apostrophes changes when two people are mentioned in a sentence. If they own different things, we add apostrophes to both names, such as in Ravi’s and Neha’s books, which means Ravi has his own books and Neha has hers.

But if they share the same thing, we use the apostrophe only with the second name. For example, Ravi and Neha’s house means there is one house owned by both of them together.

5. Missing Letters or Numbers

The apostrophe also helps us show when letters or numbers are missing. For example, “didn’t” is the short form of “did not,” where the apostrophe takes the place of the missing “o.”

In the same way, when we write ’07, it stands for the year 2007, with the apostrophe showing the missing digits 20.

6. Making Contractions

Contractions are short forms of two words combined into one, and the apostrophe marks the missing letters. For example, "I’m" is a shorter way of saying "I am." Another example is "they’ve," which is the short form of "they have."

Also Read: Pronouns - Definition, Types and Examples

Apostrophe as Figure of Speech

An apostrophe can also be a figure of speech, but it is different from the punctuation mark we use in writing. In this case, the speaker talks directly to someone who is not there, a person who has passed away, an object, or even an idea, as if it could hear and answer. 

Writers generally use apostrophes as a figure of speech to show strong feelings or to make their point more powerful.

For example, a poet might say, “Oh sun, why do you hide behind the clouds?” Here, the sun cannot answer, but the poet talks to it to show feelings.

Common Apostrophe Mistakes To Avoid

While the apostrophe meaning and rules are easy to understand, many students still make some common mistakes while using apostrophes.

• One common mistake is adding an apostrophe to regular plurals. For example, we write cats, not cat’s, when we mean more than one cat.

• Another mistake is confusing "its" with "it’s." Where "its" is used to show possession, like "The dog wagged its tail," "it’s" is short for "it is," like "It’s raining today."

• Moreover, you should never forget to add the apostrophe in contractions. For example, writing "dont" instead of "don’t" leaves out the missing letter.

• It is also important to note that using an apostrophe with possessive pronouns such as "hers" or "yours" is not correct. These words already show ownership, so they do not need an apostrophe.

Also read: Conjunctions: Definition, List, Types and Examples

Apostrophe Before s vs. Apostrophe After Meaning

The meaning of apostrophe s changes depending on where it is used in a sentence: before or after "s." Let's simply understand the apostrophe before s vs. the apostrophe after s meaning:

• When we use an apostrophe before s like (’s), it shows that one person or thing owns something.

• On the other hand, an apostrophe after s meaning tells that it is used for plural nouns that already end in "s." It shows that many people or things own something.

But there are some special cases with singular nouns ending in "s." In such cases, we can use both forms. For example, James’s pen or James’ pen. For irregular plural nouns that do not end in s, the apostrophe comes before the s, like the children’s toys or the men’s room.

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