TECHNICAL ACCURACY
How to use apostrophes
The apostrophe should be used in two distinct situations: one is to show possession and the other is to show when letters or words have been missed out, called contraction.
This guide is part of the Technical accuracy series:
Situation 1: An apostrophe is used in contractions when a word or letter(s) is missing. For example:
Don’t go outside. (Do not)
I’ll finish my homework later. (I will)
Situation 2: An apostrophe shows possession. Use it to show that one thing owns another thing. For example:
John’s new shoes are red.
These are the student’s books. (Several books belonging to one student.)
These are the students’ books. (Books belonging to a group of students.)
My three friends’ shirts are blue. (More than one friend.)
The lions’ den. (More than one lion)
Rufus’s books.
This is where the confusion around its arises. Because the apostrophe can be used for possession, people often think that it’s means belongs to it. This is understandable, but wrong. You just need to remember that it’s always means it is and that we have a special word for belongs to it, namely its (no apostrophe).