1. Is that plural or possessive?

6. Most apostrophes show possession. Do not confuse making something possessive with making it plural.  Rules for plurals  to make a word not ending in s plural, add “s”  to make a word ending in s plural, add “es”

7.  If the word is singular add an ‘s at the end.  Those are Alex’s toys.  Don’t take the kid’s bike.

8. You even add an ‘s if the person’s name ends in an s.*  There is Chris’s house.  That is Mr. Andrus’s classroom  That is my brother’s room (one brother) * Unless you are Jesus, Zeus, or Moses  Apparently these people are important enough to only add an apostrophe  Jesus’ teaching  Zeus’ powers  Moses’ people

9.  If the word is plural and doesn’t end in s, add an apostrophe and an s. (just like rule 1)  This is the children’s toy car  She is in the women’s restroom.  The men’s locker room stinks.

10.  If the word is plural and ends in an s, only add the apostrophe AFTER the final s.  That is the kids’ toy car  That is my brothers’ room (multiple brothers)

11.  Use an apostrophe to indicate contractions (omissions of letters)  It’s raining outside. ▪ It is raining outside.  We’re going to have a party. ▪ We are going to have party.  Didn’t he know it was time to start? ▪ Did not he know it was time to start?  That’ll be hard to do. ▪ That will be hard to do.

12. Trying to use apostrophes for possessive pronouns.  The car with the flat tire is our’s. (incorrect)  The car with the flat tire is ours.  Is that dog your’s? (incorrect)  Is that dog yours?

13. Compound subjects (joint possession)  Tuesday is Tom and Jane’s anniversary.  Rodger, Ed, and Tommy’s plan is the best. Compound subjects (individual possession)  Rodger’s, Ed’s, and Tommy’s cars were stolen.  Tom’s and Sally’s clothes were ruined.

14.  Make the noun plural first*  Box – BoxesGoose—Geese  Bush – BushesChild—Children  Jones – JonesesSheep—Sheep  Then make it possessive based on the rules  Boxes – Boxes’Geese—Geese’s  Bushes – Bushes’Children—Children’s  Joneses – Joneses’Sheep—Sheep’s

15.  The party is at Mr. Jones’s house. (singular)  The party is at the Joneses’ house. (plural)  Jose Sanchez’s mom got mad.  Is that the Sanchezes’ car?

16. Apostrophes Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of Letters Abbreviations Numbers Words mentioned as words

17.  Italicize the letter and use regular font style for the –s ending.  Two large Js were printed on the door  Do NOT italicize academic grades.  He received two Ds for the first time in his life.  To avoid misreading, use an apostrophe to form the plural of lowercase letters and the capital letters A and I.  Beginning readers often confuse b’s and d’s.

18. MLA NOTE: The Modern Language Association recommends using an apostrophe for the plural of both capital and lowercase letters. J’s and p’s

19.  Do not use an apostrophe to pluralize an abbreviation  Harriet has thirty DVDs on her desk.  Marco earned two PhDs before his thirtieth birthday.

20.  Generally, omit the apostrophe to form the plural of words mentioned as words.  If the word is italicized, the –s ending appears in regular type.  We’ve heard enough maybes.  Words mentioned as words may also appear in quotation marks. When you choose this option, use the apostrophe.  We’ve heard enough “maybe’s.”