Apostrophes for Ownership

Using an Apostrophe to Show Ownership

An apostrophe and the letter s can be used to show ownership. For example:

• The dog's kennel
(Here, the 's tells us that the dog owns the kennel. When an apostrophe is used like this, it makes the word a "possessive noun.")

Look at this similar example:

• The dogs' kennel
(This time, the ' tells us that more than one dog owns the kennel. The word dogs' is still a "possessive noun.")

So, notice that in the first example (with one dog), the apostrophe was before the s. In the second (with more than one dog), it was after the s.

In order to form possessive nouns correctly, you must learn the rules for apostrophe placement.

The Rules for Apostrophe Placement

When using an apostrophe for ownership, the first thing to consider is whether there is one owner (a singular owner) or more than one owner (a plural owner). This determines the position of the apostrophe. Here are some examples with the owners highlighted:

• The boy's den.
(With one boy, the apostrophe is placed before the s. In other words, you have to add 's.)
• The boys' den.
(With more than one boy, the apostrophe is placed after the s. In other words, add just ' because the s will already be there.)

With a Singular Noun, the Apostrophe Is Placed before the S

When the noun is singular, add 's.

For example:

• Wagner's music is better than it sounds. (Author Mark Twain)
• A friend's eye is a good mirror. (Proverb)

With a Plural Noun, the Apostrophe Is Placed after the S

When the noun is plural, add ' after the s. For example:

• The dogs' dinner smells better than ours.
• The ladies' mobile phones were confiscated until after the show.

(Exception 1) Plural Nouns Not Ending S

For plural words that do not end s (e.g., "children," "people," "women"), add 's (as though they were singular). For example:

• Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfilment. (Greek author Homer)
• All television is children's television. (Author Richard P. Adler)

(Exception 2) Singular Nouns Ending S

For singular words that end s (e.g., "Dickens," "series," "Moses"), add ' or 's. (You have a choice.) For example:

• Wells's report was shockingly bad.
• Wells' report was shockingly bad.

Useful guideline: Write the version that reflects how you (yes, you personally) would say it. If you would say "Wellsiz report," then use Wells's. If you would say "Wells report," use Wells'.

(Exception 3) Compound Nouns

For compound nouns (e.g., "brother-in-law"), add 's to the end regardless of whether it is singular or plural. For example:

• My brother-in-law's help was essential.
(This is help from one brother-in-law.)
• My brothers-in-law's help was essential.
(This is help from brothers-in-law, i.e., more than one brother-in-law.)

Read more about forming the plurals of compound nouns.

(A Quirk) Apostrophes with Joint and Individual Ownership

For joint ownership, make just the last word in the series possessive. For individual ownership, make all parts possessive. For example:

• Peter and Paul's factories
(For joint ownership, only the last part is possessive.)


• Peter's and Paul's factories
(For individual ownership, all parts are possessive.)
(Without context, it will be assumed that Peter has one factory and Paul has one factory. Another construction is required if this is not the case: "Peter's factories and Paul's factories" is one option.)

More Observations about Apostrophes for Ownership

It's Not about the Thing Being Owned

The position of the apostrophe is determined only by the number of the owner. It doesn't matter whether the thing being owned is singular or plural.

• dog's dinner
• dogs' dinner
• dog's dinners
• dogs' dinners

In these examples, only the number of dogs is relevant. The number of dinners is irrelevant.

The Term "Ownership" Is Applied Very Loosely

Sometimes, the idea of ownership is very loosely applied. For example:

• Picasso's painting
(These are paintings by Picasso.)
• Men's changing rooms
(These are changing rooms for men.)
• Two years' insurance
(This means insurance of two years. How can two years own insurance? Remember, the idea of ownership is often very loosely applied.)

Read about the possessive case for more about the function of the apostrophe for ownership.

The Word "It's" Has Nothing To Do with Ownership

The word It's is a contraction of it is or it has.

The word it's has nothing to do with ownership. (NB: The word its (without an apostrophe) is used for ownership.)

• I saw its tail.
(The word its is used for ownership.)
• I know it's true.
(The contraction it's can always be expanded to it is or it has.)

Read more about it's and its.

The History of the Apostrophe for Ownership

The principal function of an apostrophe is to replace a missing letter (e.g., "don't," "isn't"). This is related to why apostrophes are used for ownership.

In old English, ownership was shown by adding es to the possessor regardless of whether the possessor was singular or plural. For example:

• cates dinner (for one cat)
• catses dinner (for several cats)
• manes dinner (for one man)
• menes dinner (for several men)
• Moseses dinner (for Moses)

Over time, the "e" was replaced by an apostrophe to reflect how these words were spoken. If the new ending did not sound right (typically because of an -s's ending, then the second s was removed.

This process still works for everything. There are no exceptions.

(Step 1). Identify the possessor. For example:

• cat
• cats
• woman
• women
• Moses

(Step 2). Add es. For example:

• cates
• catses
• womanes
• womenes
• Moseses

(Step 3). Replace the e with '. For example:

• cat's
• cats's
• woman's
• women's
• Moses's

(Step 4). If left with s's (which sounds awkward), simply remove the last s.

• cat's
• cats'
• woman's
• women's
• Moses'

This works for everything! There are no exceptions. Read more about using apostrophes.

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