NCO Primary Leadership Subjects
Apostrophes
Use apostrophes to form plurals, possessives, and contractions and as single
Purpose
quotation marks when needed.
Read the rules and examples for using the apostrophe. Then apply the rules in the
Rules
practice that follows.
Use an apostrophe...
Example
to show possession for singular and plural
man's
best
prince's
nouns.
friend
balls.
Add 's when the noun does not end in
Mars' moons
corps' mascot
"s."
.
Add just the apostrophe when the
noun ends in "s."
to show possession in compound words,
brother-in-law's car
names of business firms, and words
Johnson and Johnson's products
showing joint possession. Make only the
possessive.
last word
to show separate and joint possession.
Use an apostrophe with each noun to
Mary's and Margaret's dates
show separate possession
John's and David's families
Use an apostrophe on the final name
alone to show joint possession
Tom and Mary's house
to show possession for nouns ending in
for conscience' sake
ce, followed by a word beginning with s.
for acquaintance' sake
Continued on next page
2-42
Writing Mechanics and Composition
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