QuickenBrain

Possessive apostrophes

Punctuation and spellingRule 4 of 5

The rule

Add 's to show who owns something: "the manager's office". For a plural noun that already ends in -s, put the apostrophe after the s: "the employees' lounge". Irregular plurals still take 's: "the children's toys".

Wrong and right

  1. Wrong The managers office is on the second floor.

    Right The manager's office is on the second floor.

  2. Wrong The companys policy changed last month.

    Right The company's policy changed last month.

  3. Wrong The childrens' toys are everywhere.

    Right The children's toys are everywhere.

  4. Wrong It's Marias birthday today.

    Right It's Maria's birthday today.

  5. Wrong The employees's lounge is being painted.

    Right The employees' lounge is being painted.