Apostrophe Use and Misuse on the SAT and ACT
The other day, I was stuck in traffic on Mopac, when to my horror, I glanced to my right to find a truck emblazoned with the following pronouncement: “We do window’s, we do door’s…”
I felt embarrassed for the truck’s owner and what the advertisement’s poor grammar said about his business. Of course, the apostrophes weren’t needed. Since many adults make apostrophe mistakes, it’s critical now more than ever that students learn how to use them. Knowing how and when to use an apostrophe will help you not only on the SAT and ACT, but also in life! So let’s get to it.
Singular vs. Plural
A noun is a person, place, or thing. When a noun is singular, there’s only one of it. When a noun is plural, there’s more than one. To form the plural of most nouns, you add an s. For example, “dog” is singular, but “dogs” is plural. Some nouns have irregular plurals, which you must memorize. For example, the plural of “child” is “children.” No apostrophes are needed to form plural nouns.
The dog = singular
The dogs = plural
The child = singular
The children = plural
Singular Possessive
When something belongs to someone or something, we need a possessive. For example, if you want to indicate that a car belongs to John, you would write “John’s car.” Notice we used an apostrophe s. To form the possessive of a singular noun, add apostrophe s.
The cat’s meow
The dog’s house
Sally’s friend
Chris’s book
For archaic names, such as Jesus, you can put just one apostrophe at the end of the word (“In Jesus’ name, amen”). Otherwise, even names ending in “s” will get an apostrophe s for their possessive form.
Plural Possessive
When things belong to more than one person, place, or thing, we need a plural possessive. For nouns whose plural form ends in s already (most nouns), just add an apostrophe to form the plural possessive. For nouns with irregular plurals not ending in s, add an apostrophe s. For example:
The dogs’ houses
The Stevensons’ cat
The children’s game
Exceptions (It’s vs. Its, Who’s vs. Whose)
It’s important that you memorize these exceptions to the rule of possessive formation.
It’s = it is. It is NOT possessive. It’s a contraction. It’s raining today.
Its = possessive. Notice there is no apostrophe. The dog wagged its tail.
Who’s = who is. It’s not possessive. It’s a contraction.
Whose = possessive. Whose car is that?
Contractions
When letters are omitted from a word, indicate their omission with an apostrophe. For example, “isn’t” is a contraction composed of “is” and “not.” We left out the “o” in “not” and indicated that omission with an apostrophe.
They’re over there.
It’s impossible.
Can’t you understand?
Won’t you take me to Funkytown?
Decades
Do NOT use an apostrophe when writing “the 1960s.” Do use one when writing “the ’60s.” The first is simply plural. The second indicates an omission.
Hopefully that’s cleared up how to use (and how NOT to use) the apostrophe. Good luck on the SAT and ACT!