The apostrophe (’, ') is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. In English, the apostrophe is used for two basic purposes: …

If you tend to leave out apostrophes, check every word that ends in -s or -es to see if it needs an apostrophe. If you put in too many apostrophes, check every apostrophe to see if you can justify it …

Jul 28, 2025 · This grammar rule doesn't have to be confusing! Our easy-to-follow guide explains the rules for using an apostrophe—and when to avoid one.

Apostrophes can often be tricky to use. Find out how to become an apostrophe expert with this Bitesize KS3 English guide.

If the singular noun ends in s, you can choose whether to add ’s or just an apostrophe. It doesn’t matter which you choose, but you should be consistent throughout your piece of writing.

Occasions when you might think you need an apostrophe but you really don’t… Apostrophes are used to create possessive nouns—or more correctively to turn nouns into adjectives.

The apostrophe (') is the most troublesome punctuation mark in English, and perhaps also the least useful. No other punctuation mark causes so much bewilderment, or is so often misused.