Navigation
Apostrophes
Apostrophes show ownership (whose?) and make words shorter (contractions).
A2Punctuation & Mechanics
What is an apostrophe?
An apostrophe (’) is a punctuation mark that shows ownership (whose?) or makes words shorter (contractions).
- ’s at the end of a name/word = shows possession: John’s book (the book belongs to John).
- It’s = it is, don’t = do not = shorten words: It’s time to go (it is time to go).
- Names ending in ‘s’ add just ’: James’ car (James’s car is optional in modern English).
When to use it
- To show something belongs to someone: My sister’s dog (the dog is her sister’s).
- To make common words shorter: Can’t (cannot), He’s (he is).
- To show mistakes in informal writing: They’re (they are) sounds friendly, Let’s (let us) invites action.
Examples
- Emma’s phone is new.
- Let’s go to the park!
- It’s raining!
- The company’s logo needs fixing.
- Three players’ uniforms are missing.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Johns book. Correct: John’s book.
- Wrong: Its hungry. Correct: It’s hungry (it is hungry).
- Wrong: Buses’ seats. Correct: Buses’ seats is okay; some teachers prefer Buses's for groups.
Exceptions
- Its vs. It’s: Its is correct when meaning “belonging to it” (Its color is red). No apostrophe here—it’s not short for anything.
- Plurals don’t need apostrophes: Books (not Book’s). Apostrophes = ownership, not plural!”
Memory trick
- Think of the apostrophe as a secret: ’s means whose? or cut something out (like in don’t).”
Quick check
Which of the following sentences uses an apostrophe correctly?
Where this matters in your exam
IELTS corrects apostrophe errors in Writing, which affects grammar scores.
- Writing Task 2
Use apostrophes to show possession in your essay for clarity.