THE WRITING CENTER

Use an apostrophe to show possession.

SINGULAR                       PLURAL 

(add apostrophe + s)   (add apostrophe after                                                                       the s)

the curler's stick           the curlers' sticks

skier's run                       skiers' runs

Lady Gaga's song          the choirs' songs

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For nouns ending in s, the preferred way is to add an apostrophe and s. But it is also acceptable to add just an apostrophe. The key is to stay consistent.

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the boss's desk           or        the boss' desk

the cross's owner       or       the cross' owner

Miss Jones's kitchen or       Miss Jones' kitchen

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For irregular nouns that change their spelling in the plural form, use an apostrophe + s.

SINGULAR                   PLURAL

man's car                     men's cars

tooth's mark               teeth's marks

child's book                children's books

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