An apostrophe's job is to own!

1. Use an ' to Show the Omission of Letters in a Contraction (left out letters)

Use the apostrophe to form contractions:

• • I'm (I am)

  • I'd (I would)

  • you're (you are)

  • he's (he is)

  • she's (she is)

  • it's* (it is)

  • we're (we are)

  • they're (they are)

  • isn't (is not)

  • aren't (are not)

  • can't (cannot)

  • don't (do not)

  • who's (who is)

  • won't (will not)

  • let's (let us)

3. Use an s'for Possessives of Most Plural Nouns

To show that more than one thing owns something, add an apostrophe if the word already ends with S:

• • the girls' swing set (the swing set belongs to the girls)

  • the students' projects (the projects belong to the students)

  • the Johnsons' house (the house belongs to the Johnsons)

If the plural noun does not end in -s, add an apostrophe plus -s:

• • the women's conference (the conference belongs to the women)

  • the children's toys (the toys belong to the children)

  • the men's training camp (the training camp belongs to the men)