apostrophes 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 apostrophes: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "apostrophes" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The apostrophe in 'John's car' indicates possession.
Example
The apostrophe in 'can't' replaces the missing letters in 'cannot'.
Example
The apostrophe in 'I'm' replaces the missing letter in 'I am'.
Phrases with apostrophes
a humorous term for the misuse or overuse of apostrophes in written language
Example
The sign for 'apple's and pear's' was a classic example of an apostrophe catastrophe.
greengrocer's apostrophe
the incorrect use of an apostrophe to form plurals, typically seen in signs for shops selling fruit and vegetables
Example
The greengrocer's apostrophe in 'apple's' and 'pear's' is a common mistake.
an apostrophe used to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a word
Example
The apostrophe in 'can't' is an apostrophe of omission, indicating the missing letters in 'cannot'.
Origins of apostrophes
from Greek 'apostrophos', meaning 'turning away'
Summary: apostrophes in Brief
An 'apostrophe' [əˈpɒstrəfiːz] is a punctuation mark used to indicate possession or the omission of letters or numbers. Examples include 'John's car' and 'can't'. The term 'apostrophe catastrophe' refers to the humorous misuse or overuse of apostrophes, while 'greengrocer's apostrophe' denotes the incorrect use of apostrophes to form plurals. An 'apostrophe of omission' is used to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a word.
