ABSTRACT
The two main purposes of an apostrophe are to indicate possession and to represent the missing letter(s) in a contraction. Additionally, apostrophes signify what is missing when words and dates are expressed colloquially. And apostrophes can aid in the readability of certain plurals.
Glaring apostrophe mistakes, which many readers can easily spot, can swiftly diminish your credibility. Such errors include improper use of apostrophes with common nouns, proper nouns, common and proper nouns ending in s or es; indefinite pronouns, irregular nouns, attributive nouns, and of course, plural possessives. Some contractions and possessive pronouns that sound alike are also commonly confused, such as: it’s versus its; who’s versus whose; there’s versus theirs; and you’re versus your.
Those lacking confidence in their punctuation skills tend to rely heavily, if not solely, on grammar/punctuation computer checkers, faithfully following every suggestion. Often that counsel includes adding unnecessary apostrophes or foregoing necessary ones.
Grammar/punctuation checkers are helpful aids that function best when critically assessed by the knowledgeable writer.
