When do you use s versus s

Use an apostrophe followed by "s" 's to show that a singular noun belongs to someone or something. This sentence is referring to something that someone owns. The 's means the computer belongs to John. This sentence is describing whose house burned down. The 's shows us that it was the house that belonged to Mary. This sentence is comparing the rooms occupied by two different people. The 's indicates that one room is owned by my brother, while the other is owned by my sister.

Use an "S" followed by an apostrophe s' to show possession of plural nouns or nouns that always end in "s. This sentence is comparing the two rooms used by the boys and the girls. Since the words boys and girls are already plural, the apostrophe is added after the "s" to show possession.

Once again, notice the plural noun, students, uses "s" followed by an apostrophe to show possession. The name, Myles, always ends in "s" even though it is singular. This means that when you want to show possession with the name Myles, you need to add the apostrophe after the "s.

The word "is" is often abbreviated or "contracted" in English. Use an apostrophe followed by an "s" 's in order to show the contraction for the word "is. There are several other words that are commonly used with 's to show a contraction.

For example, who's, what's, where's, there's, he's, she's, etc. Gallaudet University is a federally chartered private and premier university for the deaf and hard of hearing since Request Info. Gallaudet University. Who We Are. What We Do. No Communication Compromises. When can we use S' and when can we use 'S?? Improve this question. ColleenV Ice Girl Ice Girl 4, 22 22 gold badges 44 44 silver badges 64 64 bronze badges. It's not so much S' vs. S'S is clunky, so the last S is left off.

Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Both express possession, of course. Improve this answer. I assumed the question was about possession. Otherwise you are right, the apostrophe signifies omission. TylerH Either adding 's or just ' e. Thomas's or Thomas' is acceptable, or at least common, but you raise a good point that's missing from the answer. English apostrophe rules are not difficult to master.

Just remember that all possessives need an apostrophe and an "s" at the end. If the word already has an "s," it only needs an apostrophe. If the word does not already have an "s," it needs the apostrophe followed by "s. As for contractions, the only apostrophe rule you need to remember is that if you take something out, replace it with something else. Then squish everything together, so it looks like one word.

Now, are you ready for some fun? Learn when NOT to use an apostrophe! All rights reserved. Apostrophe Uses Apostrophes serve two basic functions in writing: to show possession to indicate that letters have been removed to form a contraction Learn more about the different ways apostrophes are used with an examination of possessives and contractions at work, including lots of examples. Apostrophe Rules for Possessives It would be difficult for possessives to exist without apostrophes.

Amy 's ballet class Lisa 's car Robert 's car Style guides vary when it comes to a name that ends in an "s. In this case, you can show possession for Ross in either of two ways: Ross ' room Ross 's sports team 2. Apostrophe Rules for Joint Possessives When you want to show that two people have ownership over something, it can get a little tricky. Joint Ownership If both people own the same item together, you can add the possessive to the final one.

The rules about forming possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion. They vary a little bit, depending on what type of noun you are making into a possessive. Here are the rules of thumb:. Style guides vary in their recommendations of what to do when you have a singular proper noun that ends in s. Use whichever style matches the style guide you use for your writing.

Personal pronouns, unlike regular nouns, do not use apostrophes to form possessives. The relative possessive pronoun whose is also frequently the victim of apostrophe abuse. Note that none of these forms uses an apostrophe.