APOSTROPHES - Part 2

Using Apostrophes for Possession

Apostrophes are used to show possession. For example:

• The dog's kennel

• The dogs' kennel

Does the apostrophe go before or after the s? The big question is whether to put the apostrophe before the s or after the s. The basic rule is this:

The apostrophe goes before the s for a singular possessor (e.g., one dog's kennel) and after the s when it's more than one possessor (e.g., two dogs' kennel).

Be aware that dog and dogs are the possessors. The position of the apostrophe has nothing to do with kennel. That word can be singular or plural. It makes no difference whatsoever to where the apostrophe goes. For example:

• One dog's dinner

• One dog's dinners

• Two dogs' dinner

• Two dogs' dinners

The apostrophe-placement ruling seems quite straightforward, but there are exceptions. An exception to the rule: plural words that don't end with s The most notable exception is when the plural doesn't end in s (e.g., children, women, people, men). These words have the apostrophe before the s (even though they're plural). For example:

• children's toys

• women's hat

• (Here's another issue. It's not always about possession. This means a hat for women. Similarly, Picasso's painting is a painting by Picasso. He doesn't necessarily 'own' it; he may have sold it. Sometimes, it's about "possession" in the loosest terms.)

• The people's poet

• men's sizes

Another exception to the rule: singular words that end in s Another quirk is that singular nouns ending s (e.g., Wales, Moses, John Wells) form their possessive forms either by adding ' (just an apostrophe) or 's depending on how you (personally) say the possessive form. For example:

• John Wells' report. This is correct. It is used by those who would say John Wells report as opposed to John 'Wellsiz' report.)

• John Wells's report (This is also correct. It is used by those who would say John 'Wellsiz' report