Tips & Tricks: Writing Tips

Using an Apostrophe Correctly

We all know that an apostrophe is used to either show possession — Rich's chair — or to show the conjunction of a subject and verb — there's for there is. A most problematic usage is when showing possession for words that end in the letter 's'.

Most instruction about using an apostrophe focuses on whether or not the word ends in 's', but this is just where the problem comes in. Instruction should, instead, focus on whether or not the word ending in 's' is singular or plural: for example, ball or balls.

The rule is:

• When the word is singular—ball—add an apostrophe and an 's' to show possession: as in, the ball's color is red.
• When the word is plural—balls—add only an apostrophe after the 's' since an 's' has already been added to the word: as in, the balls' color are all red.

You probably already know this. The confusion comes when the singular word inherently ends with the letter 's', such as gas. Don't let the ending 's' confuse you.

The possessive of gas is gas's: as in the gas's order made me dizzy. Since the word gas is singular, add apostrophe s to make it possessive. When plural, add only an apostrophe to make it possessive: as in, the gases' beakers.

So remember the rule: apostrophe usage depends on singular or plural.