apostrophe Definition
a punctuation mark (') used to indicate either possession (e.g. Harry's book) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g. can't instead of cannot).
Using apostrophe: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "apostrophe" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I can't believe it!
Example
That's Sarah's car.
Example
The cat's tail was fluffy.
Phrases with apostrophe
a humorous term for the misuse or overuse of apostrophes in writing
Example
The sign for 'apple's' was a classic example of an apostrophe catastrophe.
greengrocer's apostrophe
the incorrect use of an apostrophe to form plurals, often seen in signs for shops or advertisements
Example
The sign for 'banana's' was a classic example of a greengrocer's apostrophe.
an apostrophe used to indicate that something belongs to someone or something else
Example
The apostrophe in 'the dog's bone' indicates possession.
Origins of apostrophe
from Greek 'apostrophos', meaning 'turning away'
Summary: apostrophe in Brief
An 'apostrophe' [əˈpɒstrəfi] is a punctuation mark (') used to indicate either possession (e.g. Harry's book) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g. can't instead of cannot). It is commonly misused, leading to humorous terms like 'apostrophe catastrophe' and 'greengrocer's apostrophe.' The 'apostrophe of possession' is used to indicate that something belongs to someone or something else.
