Punctuation

Apostrophes

Page 2721. After a year’s practice, Susan joined the high school

tennis team. 2. The players’ equipment is being kept in the coach’s

office.3. Jogging is Eric’s main interest right now.4. Have you ever gone swimming in the St. John’s River?5. The athletes’ records were astounding. 6. Ralph’s bowling average is 150.7. The coach’s office is located next to the gym. 8. Where can I play women’s softball? 9. Roberta will play on her sister-in-law’s team next

summer.10. At halftime the game’s score was 3-2.

Page 2731. committee’s2. Graves’3. women’s4. Cohen’s5. governors’6. tomato’s7. teachers’8. children’s9. sister’s10. boys’

11. monkey’s12. whale’s13. Sarah’s14. dogs’15. Boise’s16. city’s17. brother’s

Page 2751. Have you signed up for our town’s softball

team?2. The attorney-at-law’s office will sponsor the

team. 3. You can get your uniform at Rudolph’s

Sporting Goods.4. The newspaper’s front page featured the

new coach.5. Mr. Griffin will be the team’s coach this year.

Page 276 1. A. Someone’s art sketchbook is in my car.2. B. These are my notes, but which are yours?3. A. If this enormous project is going to

succeed, we need everyone’s cooperation. 4. A. Have you finished your history assignment

yet?5. B. My art easel cost fifty dollars, but hers cost

less. 6. B. Nobody’s supplies were forgotten on the

first day of school. 7. A. That trophy is theirs.

Page 277

1. Everybody’s short story was chosen for the school literary magazine.

2. Hers was the only letter to the editor about the chaperones a the school dance.

3. The team had its best season yet.4. Did he leave his notes on the bus again?5. The jacket left at the game last week could

have been anybody’s.

Page 2781. B. Rhonda’s and Kenneth’s great

performances saved the show.2. A. Kent and Martha’s old sofa was donated

for the school play.3. A. Troy’s and Jon’s acting skills contributed

greatly to the show’s success.4. B. These are Sophie’s and her costumes.5. B. Are these black gloves Ray’s or Gerald’s?

Page 279

1. Sandra purchased travelers’ checks for her trip.2. In a week’s time, she will be sailing to the Bahamas.3. The two days’ planning should enable her to be

prepared.4. Sandra needed three years’ savings to pay for the trip.5. Her mother bought her seventy dollars’ worth of clothes.6. A month’s vacation should help Sandra relax.7. There is not a centimeter’s worth of room left in my bag.8. A typical evening's activities includes dinner and dancing. 9. The first day’s itinerary is filled with tourist activities. 10. The last week’s schedule is the most relaxing of all.

Page 280

1. Did you remember to get sixty cents’ worth of stamps for postcards?

2. I brought along ten dollars’ worth of quarters for the washing machine.

3. An hour’s worth of work was all that I could stand on the night before vacation.

4. Did you check this morning’s weather report?5. Ten miles’ distance separates us from the

new airport.

Using the Apostrophe with Expressions of Time or Amount

The apostrophe is used with many expressions of time to show that the time period owns the other noun

• an hour's time; a year's holiday• Today’s specials are written on the board.• The sophomores raised one-hundred dollars’

worth of pennies.

Page 2821. My dog’s picture was in this morning’s Herald. 2. A year’s worth of hard work has finally paid off.3. The judge’s (or judges’) opinion was that my dog should

win.4. No one’s surprise was greater than mine.5. Greg’s Dalmatian was awarded second place. 6. Mandy’s poodles were disqualified after they bit a judge.7. Training dogs used to be considered men’s work, but now

there are many women trainers.8. During the month of March, everyone’s attention will be

on the Westminster Kennel Club and its annual dog show. 9. Due to budget cuts, the dog show’s entry fee will have to

be increased this year.10. Is the collie your brother’s or your father’s?

Page 283 1. you’re2. won’t3. hasn’t4. that’s5. we’ve6. isn’t7. I’ve8. they’re

9. don’t10. haven’t11. I’d12. I’m13. who’s14. let’s15. doesn’t16. it’s

Page 2841. Who’s driving? Whose is that car?2. Don’t let its looks deceive you; it’s a gem under the hood.3. You’re judging the car only with your eyes.4. Because they’re experienced mechanics, I asked for their

advice.5. There’s a trophy for their race team too. 6. It’s one of the most popular sports today because of its

excitement.7. Whose is the car we are looking for, and who’s going to be

driving. 8. There’s a finishing time. Is it theirs?9. If you’re wise, you’ll have your engine checked before the

race. 10. They’re going to introduce their new driver for the race in

Daytona.

Page 2851. If you’re going to race today, you’d better tell

the track steward. 2. It’s going to be a great race today. Don’t you

think it will be?3. I’ve been a fan of NASCAR for the past five

years.4. Who’s your favorite driver?5. I don’t want to miss any of today’s race.

When to use Apostrophes with lettersAlways use an apostrophe with lower case letters.

Make sure you cross your t’s and dot your i’s.

Only use an apostrophe with capital letters if the swill confuse it with a word such as:

How many A’s did you get this term.

If there was no apostrophe it would read:How many As did you get this term?

So unless the s makes a word--- don’t use theapostrophe.

NEVER use apostrophes……

when pluralizing numbers or words: There are too many ors and ands in that paragraph.

Young learners often have difficulty with 6s and 9s.

Helpful Hint: ALL OF THESE LETTERS, NUMBERS, AND WORDS ARE ITALICIZED. THE APOSTROPHEAND THE S ARE NEVER ITALICIZED

Page 2861. You shouldn’t use so many ands and wells in

your paper. 2. Bart never crosses his t’s or dots his i’s. 3. The ¶’s indicate where new paragraphs

should begin. 4. How many A’s are on that report card?5. Why do you make the l’s so big in your

name?6. I can never write Qs very well in cursive.

Page 2871. A. Do you remember what happened in ‘96?2. B. I think it was in ‘92 that Jennifer was born.3. A. It was in ‘64 that the Beatles came to

America.4. A. Did your brother graduate in ‘04?5. B. The class of ‘00 was highly regarded.6. B. The flood of October ‘98 was pretty bad.7. A. The ’03-’04 school year was an interesting

one. 8. B. Julia wants to be class president in ‘08.

Page 2881. Did you forget what happened in ‘97?2. The Empire Strikes Back was released in ’80, I

think.3. The ‘89-’90 school year was Mr. Thompson’s

first year of teaching. 4. The class of ‘08 will host a benefit for the

incoming freshmen.5. My sister got married in ‘98, and my niece

was born the following year.

Page 2901. In your report change some of those ands and

buts to althoughs, whens, becauses, or sinces.2. I think I’ve read somewhere that the mud in

beaver’s dams is held together by roots, leaves, and grasses.

3. Sybilla Master’s device for reducing corn into meal and Margaret E. Knight’s machine for cutting shoes are two important American inventions.

4. The class of ‘98 had its picture taken fro publication in the local paper.

5. Mom and Dad’s station wagon needs new tires before the vacation trips starts.

6. No one’s claims to the man’s enormous fortune held up in court.

7. The McDuff’s sons and the Smith’s daughters always manage to make the honor roll.

8. Gary’s house is just around the corner from Lee’s grocery store.

9. Aren’t there three r’s in the word preferred?10. Martina’s and his stories were read aloud in

class.

11. Is that striped blouse your mother’s or your sister’s?

12. In most tennis tournaments, the women’s play-offs are held before the men’s.

13. Due to the tax increase, the firefighters’ salaries were raised this year.

14. I told my parents that I’m going to try to make straight A’s during this school year.