Apostrophes
With possession
| example | explanation | correct use |
|---|---|---|
| the cats | more than one; no possession | The cats are prowling at night |
| the cat's | belongs to one | The cat's bell has fallen off |
| the cats' | belongs to more than one (plural ending in s) | The cats' beds were in the laundry |
| the children's beds | belongs to more than one (plural not ending in s) | The children's beds were still unmade. |
With pronouns
All pronouns except it have a specific plural form. None of them takes an apostrophe:
my place; your place; his place; her place; its place; our place; their place.
With contractions
Apostrophes are used to indicate contractions (missing letters): that's reasonable; don't go; it's raining .
Common errors
Confusing the possessive pronoun its, with the contraction it's (it is): the dog chased its tail; it's a long tail.
Using the possessive pronoun your (belonging to you), instead of the contraction you're (you are): you're invited; your mistake was to think you're not welcome.
With plurals
Apostrophes are not used to indicate plurals: PDFs, not PDF's; 1980s, not 1980's; fruit and veges, not fruit and vege's.
With Australian placenames
Australian placenames involving possessives are all written without apostrophes: Kellys Creek; Logans Crossing; Batemans Bay.
