BUS603: Managing People

The apostrophe is the small mark we use to indicate possession (Darcy's souffle) or contractions (turning cannot into can't). Most native English speakers aren't confused by contractions, with the exception of it's vs. its, so let's handle that one first.

14.1 It's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". However, its (no apostrophe) indicates possession.

To easily check whether you've chosen the right word, expand to "it is" or "it has" and read the sentence again. If the sentence makes sense, use the apostrophe; if not, no need.

14.2 Use apostrophes to express possession. In simple possession, just add an apostrophe + s.

You can learn about the possession rules for trademarks here.

If the word has an "s" at the end because it has already been made plural, then just add the apostrophe to the end of the word after the "s". (Follow this rule: First form the plural, then make it possessive.)

In some cases, words are made plural differently than adding an "s" (like child to children or man to men). When making these words possessive, go back to the simple rule of adding an apostrophe + s after forming the plural.

When expressing possession with a proper noun, what do you do with names that end in -s, -es, -z, or -x? As a start, ask whether you are referring to one person or a group implying more than one (as when referring to a family). Look at the singular example first and note two correct options for making the trickier endings work.

SINGULAR:  NO: That blue Honda is John Thomases car.

PLURAL:        NO: That blue Honda is the Thomases's car.

For names ending in z (such as Sanchez or Aziz), the rule is the same.

SINGULAR: NO: That blue Honda is Rita Sanchezes car.

PLURAL:       NO: That blue Honda is the Sanchez's car.

For more on how to make names plural and possessive, read the Grammar Girl's post How to Make Family Names Plural

Other terms, like time, can show possession:

In fact, you can add several possessives in a row if needed. For example, if Harry has a wife and his wife has a manager, then the manager is Harry's wife's manager.

When expressing ownership, joint and individual ownership are differentiated by the correct use of apostrophes. If the item is jointly possessed, the apostrophe goes on only the SECOND person's name as in the first two examples below. If they individually possess their own, they individually need their own apostrophe (as in the second set of examples).

Also incorrect is the use of apostrophes to form possessive pronouns. As we learned already with it's, you use the apostrophe for a contraction. Possessives are not contractions, so follow the guidelines in the Exhibit 2B.1.

All of this is pretty easy and straightforward, right? Then why do we so commonly see some of the following incorrect usages?

Just one more reason to sweat the small stuff, so you don't offend any party goers or grammar-loving relatives on your next Christmas card.

Exhibit 2B.1: Correct and Incorrect Possessive Forms