What Is a Possessive Apostrophe?
A possessive apostrophe (') shows ownership or a relationship between nouns. It’s one of the most commonly misused punctuation marks in English.
Sarah's book → The book belongs to Sarah.
Basic Rules
1. Singular Nouns
Add 's to show possession.
the dog's tail
James's car (or James' car – both are acceptable)
James's car (or James' car – both are acceptable)
2. Plural Nouns Ending in "s"
Add only an apostrophe after the s.
the students' exams
the cats' toys
the cats' toys
3. Plural Nouns Not Ending in "s"
Add 's as usual.
the children's playground
the women's team
the women's team
4. Joint vs. Individual Possession
For joint ownership, use one apostrophe at the end. For separate ownership, use apostrophes on both.
Joint: Alex and Taylor's apartment
Individual: Alex's and Taylor's cars
Individual: Alex's and Taylor's cars
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Its vs. It's: Its shows possession; it's is short for "it is" or "it has".
- Plurals ≠ Possessives: Never use an apostrophe just to make a word plural (e.g., “banana’s” is wrong).
- Overuse: Apostrophes are not needed for decades (e.g., “1990s”, not “1990’s”).
Quick Quiz
Which sentence is correct?