Do not be tempted to use an apostrophe just because

a word ends in s.

Don't Add Your Own Apostrophe to a Plural Word
In English, the plural form of a word is most commonly shown by adding an s to the end (e.g., cats, pictures). You must not add your own apostrophe!
In other words, do not add 's to the end. Just add s.

The plural of words ending in vowels (e.g., video, patio) are extremely prone to this error. This is a very common mistake and is considered a grammatical
howler.

Examples:
Dog's look up to us, and cat's look down on us. I prefer pig's they treat us as equal's. (badly transcribed version of a Sir Winston Churchill quote)
Anteater's prefer termite's to ant's.
Pearl's melt in vinegar.
Rent two adult video's for the price of one.
Three large male lion's approached the 4x4. (lions )
Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's. (Dwarfs Actually, you could write "Dwarves" too both are correct plurals of dwarf.)
Their board genuinely stated: "Open seven day's a week and weekend's".
(days / weekends )
She fly's to New York regularly. (flies )

There are 24 applicant's waiting in the coffee room. [correct the example]
(do not use an apostrophe just because a word ends in s)
When to Use Apostrophes
The rules on using apostrophes can be summarised:
To replace missing letters
aren't
isn't
can't
To show possession
Sarah's jumper
The dog's toy
The dogs' kennel
In temporal (or time) expressions
3 months' wages
A day's leave
2 days' notice
To show the plural of an awkward abbreviation, letter or number
BUY THREE CD'S.
Mind your p's and q's.
Your 5's look like 6's




Apostrophes are used in time expressions such as 2 days' leave.

When it is one measure of time, the apostrophe goes before the s (e.g., one day's pay). When it is more than one measure of time, it goes afterwards (e.g.,
two days' pay).

Apostrophes in Time (Temporal) Expressions
Apostrophes are used in time expressions such as 3 years' insurance (also called temporal expressions). In a temporal expression, the apostrophe is positioned
before the s for single units of time and after for multiple units of time.

Examples:
my life. It was all fun. (Thomas A. Edison) (one day - apostrophe before the s)
(one day - apostrophe before the s)
(one year - apostrophe before the s)

My car came with a years' free insurance. [correct the example]
(one year - apostrophe should be before the s)
There is six months' interest-free credit on all sofas.
(six months - apostrophe after the s)


Applicants should have at least 3 year's experience. [correct the example]
(three years - apostrophe should be after the s)


An apostrophe can be used to replace a letter (or letters). For example:
isn't
don't
can't
When this happens, a new word (called a contraction) is formed.


Apostrophes Replace Missing Letters
An apostrophe can be used to show that a letter (or letters) is missing from a word.

Using an apostrophe to replace a missing letter is not common in formal writing, where you'd expect all
words to be written in full. (Using an apostrophe to replace a letter is extremely common, but it is
generally reserved for informal writing. It is used to reflect how people speak.)

Examples:
The weather's bad.
(Written in full: The weather is bad. In this example, the apostrophe replaces the letter i.)

Don't think about it.
(In full: Do not)

What horse c'ant you ride? [correct the example]
(The apostrophe is in the wrong place.)
(Should be: can't)
(In full: cannot)
Alan can't deliver on Tuesdays.
(In full: cannot)
If you don't fail now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe. (Woody Allen)
(In full: do not / it is / you are)
Don't look now, but there's one too many in this room, and I think it's you. (Groucho Marx)
(In full: do not / there is / it is)
Blood's not thicker than money. (Groucho Marx)
(In full: blood is)
Sally is'nt able to complete her work. [correct the example]
(The apostrophe is in the wrong place.)

Only Use Apostrophes to Replace Letters in Standard Contractions
When an apostrophe replaces a letter, a new word is formed (most often, but not always, from two
words originally). The new word is called a contraction.

You cannot invent your own contractions. Here is a list of common contractions in English:
Contraction Orginal
aren't are not
can't cannot
couldn't could not
didn't did not
doesn't does not
don't do not
hadn't had not
hasn't has not
haven't have not
he'd he had, he would
he'll he will, he shall
he's he is, he has
I'd I had, I would
I'll I will, I shall
I'm I am
I've I have
isn't is not
it's it is, it has
let's let us
mustn't must not
shan't shall not
she'd she had, she would
she'll she will, she shall
she's she is, she has

DON'T CONFUSE YOU'RE & YOUR

You're is short for you are.
You're a naughty boy.
The trouble with the rat race is that even if
you win, you're still a rat. (Lily Tomlin)
Your is not short for you are. It is used to show
possession.
This is your PC.
This is you're PC.
Your a star.
See the lesson on You're and Your

DON'T CONFUSE IT'S AND ITS

It's is short for it has or it is. (There are no other uses.)
For example:
It's stopped raining, and it's sunny.
Its, on the other hand, is similar to his and her and is
used to show possession. For example:
I'm near the whale. I can see its tail.
This is it's fourth journey.
(its )
Its as easy as falling off a log.
(it's )
A lie gets halfway around the world before
the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
(Winston Churchill)
See the lesson It's and Its

DON'T WRITE SHOULD OF

Should've sounds like should of, but it is short for
should have. (This is the same for could've and
would've.)
should of , could of , would of
WRITE CANNOT AS ONE WORD

As an expansion of can't, cannot is one word.

annot be too careful in the choice of his
enemies. (Oscar Wilde)
Although rare, it is possible to see can and not as two
separate words. However, this is not usually (see
below) an expansion of can't.
Rebecca can not only sing but dance too.

(Note: There is a lot of leniency on this ruling. Many
like to use can not over cannot for added emphasis.)

NO APOSTROPHE IN OURS

Words like ours, theirs, yours, and hers do not have
apostrophes in them.
These books are ours.
You can use our's.
I saw theirs'.
These are called absolute possessives.


DON'T INVENT CONTRACTIONS

Words with apostrophes that replace letters are
known as contractions. You should only use
shouldn't should not
that's that is, that has
there's there is, there has
they'd they had, they would
they'll they will, they shall
they're they are
they've they have
we'd we had, we would
we're we are
we've we have
weren't were not
what'll what will, what shall
what're what are
what's what is, what has
what've what have
where's where is, where has
who'd who had, who would
who'll who will, who shall
who're who are
who's who is, who has
who've who have
won't will not
wouldn't would not
you'd you had, you would
you'll you will, you shall
you're you are
you've you have

recognized ones:
g'tar (replacing the ui in guitar)

potato's (replacing the e in potatoes)
WRITE THEM OUT IN FULL

In business writing, it is highly unusual to use
contractions. You should write all words in their full
forms.
Therefore, the delivery date can't be met.

(use cannot )
It's available for collection on Tuesday.
(use It is )




Apostrophes are used to show possession. For example:
The horse's hay
The horses' hay
The big question is where to put the apostrophe. Does it go before or after the s? The quick answer:

For one horse (or one possessor), put the apostrophe before the s. For more than one horse (or more than possessor), put the apostrophe after the s.

(Beware! There are some exceptions to this rule.)

Apostrophes Are Used to Show Possession
An apostrophe and the letter s are often used to show possession.

When using an apostrophe to show possession, the very first thing you have to think about is whether the possessor is singular or plural. This is important
because it determines where you must put your apostrophe. Look at these examples (the possessors are shown in bold):
The dog's kennel.
(With one dog, the apostrophe goes before the s.)
The dogs' kennel.
(With more than one dog, the apostrophe goes after the s.)
Below are some more examples with singular and plural possessors. The reason why apostrophes for possession cause so much trouble for writers is the number
of exceptions to this basic rule. They are also covered below.
With a Singular Possessor, the Apostrophe Goes before the s
So, with one possessor, the apostrophe goes before the s.

For example:
Take the girl's hand and place it on the cushion.
(hand belonging to the girl)
I had to remove Peter's label and replace it.
(label belonging to Peter)
Wagner's music is better than it sounds. (Mark Twain)
A foolish woman knows a foolish man's faults.
A friend's eye is a good mirror.
A guest should be blind in another man's house.
With a Plural Possessor, the Apostrophe Goes after the s
With a plural possessor, the apostrophe goes after the s.

For example:
The horses' hay is damp.
(hay belonging to the horses)
(Note: more than one horse - apostrophe after the s)
The ladies' toilets are out of bounds.
(toilets belonging to the ladies)
(Note: more than one lady - apostrophe after the s)
The fairies' wings glistened in the moonlight.
(wings belonging to the fairies)
(Note: more than one fairy - apostrophe after the s)
An Exception to the Rule (Plural Nouns Not Ending s)
Mistakes with apostrophes to show possession are very common. One reason for this is the number of exceptions to the rules above. For example, plural words
which do not end in the letter s (e.g., men, people, and children) have the apostrophe before the s when showing possession.

Examples:
He is the people's poet.

All television is children's television.
(Richard P. Adler)
Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfilment.
(Homer (800 BC - 700 BC))
Leave the childrens' presents in the hall until they have gone to bed. [correct the example]
(apostrophe should be before the s to show possession with plural words not ending in s)
My watch was stolen from the men's changing room.
Exception to the Rule (Singular Nouns Ending s)
To make things even more complicated, singular words which end in s (e.g., Charles, Wales, Paris, and Dickens) can end in ' (i.e., just an apostrophe) or 's when
showing possession.

Examples:
It is Charles' birthday. It is Charles's birthday.
(both correct)
I have not seen Wales' new stadium. I have not seen Wales's new stadium.
(both correct)


Both Charles' birthday and Charles's birthday are grammatically correct. However, as a guideline, you should use the version which best matches how you would
pronounce it. In other words, use Charles's if you pronounce it "Charlesiz", but use Charles' if you pronounce it "Charles".

More examples:
Dr Evans' report
(for those who pronounce it "Dr Evans report")
Dr Evans's report
(for those who pronounce it "Dr Evansiz report")
Miss Williams' victory
(for those who pronounce it "Miss Williams victory")
Miss Williams's victory
(for those who pronounce it "Miss Williamsiz victory")
IT Solutions' conference
(for those who pronounce it "IT Solutions conference") (where "IT Solutions" is considered as singular)
IT Solutions's conference
(for those who pronounce it "IT Solutionsiz conference")
Exception to the Rule (Compound Nouns)
Here is another quirk. Some compound nouns (e.g., sister-in-law) do not form their plurals by adding s to the end. The s is appended to the principal word (i.e.,
the plural is sisters-in-law). With a noun like this, the possessive form is created by adding 's to the end, regardless of whether it is singular or plural.
Singular Plural
sister-in-law's pond
colonel-in-chief's arrival
maid of honour's bouquet
sisters-in-law's husbands
colonels-in-chief's meeting
maids of honour's dresses
Apostrophes with Joint Ownership
Finally, joint ownership is shown by making the last word in the series possessive. Individual ownership is shown by making both (or all) parts possessive.
Example:
Andrew and Jacob's factory (joint ownership)
(note: only the last part is possessive)
Andrew's and Jacob's factories
(individual ownership)
(note: both parts are possessive)
(Without context, it will be assumed that Andrew has one factory and Jacob has one factory. Another construction is required if this is not the case:
"Andrew's factories and Jacob's factories" is one option.)
India and Pakistan's problems
(common to both)
India's and Pakistan's problems
(separate problems)