Apostrophes/Hyphens

1. Apostrophes/Hyphens

2. Apostrophes - Possession • Used to show possession • After a word – use an apostrophe and an s

3. Ends in an s or a z • add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s): • the owner's car James's hat (James' hat is also acceptable. • For plural, proper nouns that are possessive, use an apostrophe after the 's': "The Eggleses' presentation was good." The Eggleses are a husband and wife consultant team.)

4. Plural forms that do not end in s • add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s: • the children's game • the geese's honking

5. Plural forms that end in s • add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in -s: • two cats' toysthree friends' lettersthe countries' laws

6. Compound words • add 's to the end of compound words: • my brother-in-law's money

7. In a series • To show possession of one item • add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object: • Todd and Anne's apartment • To show possession of singular items • Todd’s and Anne’s apartments (they each have their own)

8. Contractions • Apostrophes are used in contractions. A contraction is a word (or set of numbers) in which one or more letters (or numbers) have been omitted. The apostrophe shows this omission. To use an apostrophe to create a contraction, place an apostrophe where the omitted letter(s) would go. Here are some examples: • don't = do not I'm = I am he'll = he will who's = who is shouldn't = should not didn't = did not could've= could have (NOT "could of"!) '60 = 1960

9. Contractions in formal writing • This issue is a preference one - there is no right or wrong. You may have a professor that tells you not to, but I have seen it in academic writing. • Best advice – if you do not know do not use a contraction.

10. On Lowercase letters • Apostrophes are used to form plurals of letters that appear in lowercase; here the rule appears to be more typographical than grammatical, e.g. "three ps" versus "three p's." To form the plural of a lowercase letter, place 's after the letter. There is no need for apostrophes indicating a plural on capitalized letters, numbers, and symbols (though keep in mind that some editors, teachers, and professors still prefer them). • p's and q's

11. Don’t use for personal pronouns etc… • Don't use apostrophes for personal pronouns, the relative pronoun who, or for noun plurals. • Apostrophes should not be used with possessive pronouns because possessive pronouns already show possession—they don't need an apostrophe. His, her, its, my, yours, ours are all possessive pronouns. However, indefinite pronouns, such as one, anyone, other, no one, and anybody, can be made possessive. Here are some examples: • INCORRECT: his' book CORRECT: his bookCORRECT: one's bookCORRECT: anybody's bookINCORRECT: Who's dog is this?CORRECT: Whose dog is this?INCORRECT: The group made it's decision. CORRECT: The group made its decision.

12. More examples • INCORRECT: a friend of yours' CORRECT: a friend of yours • INCORRECT: She waited for three hours' to get her ticket. CORRECT: She waited for three hours to get her ticket.

13. IT’S versus ITS • ITS is the possessive form • IT’S is a contraction meaning it is.

14. Hyphens • Two words brought together as a compound may be written separately, written as one word, or connected by hyphens. For example, three modern dictionaries all have the same listings for the following compounds: • hair stylisthairsplitterhair-raiser • Another modern dictionary, however, lists hairstylist, not hair stylist. Compounding is obviously in a state of flux, and authorities do not always agree in all cases, but the uses of the hyphen offered here are generally agreed upon

15. Compound adjectives • Use a hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun:a one-way streetchocolate-covered peanutswell-known author • However, when compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated:The peanuts were chocolate covered.The author was well known.

16. Compound numbers • Use a hyphen with compound numbers: • forty-sixsixty-threeOur much-loved teacher was sixty-three years old.

17. To avoid confusion • Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters: • re-sign a petition (vs. resign from a job)semi-independent (but semiconscious)shell-like (but childlike) • Re-cover a couch • Re-create a scenario

18. Prefixes • Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex- (meaning former), self-, all-; with the suffix -elect; between a prefix and a capitalized word; and with figures or letters: ex-husbandself-assuredmid-Septemberall-inclusivemayor-electanti-AmericanT-shirtpre-Civil Warmid-1980s

19. Dividing words • Use a hyphen to divide words at the end of a line if necessary, and make the break only between syllables: • pref-er-encesell-ingin-di-vid-u-al-ist

20. Already hyphenated words • For line breaks, divide already-hyphenated words only at the hyphen: • mass-producedself-conscious

21. Ending in -ing • For line breaks in words ending in -ing, if a single final consonant in the root word is doubled before the suffix, hyphenate between the consonants; otherwise, hyphenate at the suffix itself: • plan-ningrun-ningdriv-ingcall-ing

22. Never put the first or last letter of a word at the end or beginning of a line, and don't put two-letter suffixes at the beginning of a new line: • lovely (Do not separate in a way which leaves ly beginning a new line.)eval-u-ate (Separate only on either side of the u; do not leave the initial e- at the end of a line.)

23. Never put the first or last letter of a word at the end or beginning of a line, and don't put two-letter suffixes at the beginning of a new line:lovely (Do not separate in a way which leaves ly beginning a new line.)eval-u-ate (Separate only on either side of the u; do not leave the initial e- at the end of a line.)

24. Examples of hyphens • cooking oil and cooking-oil • (The hyphenated version not only makes it stand out as a single entity but also makes it clear the oil is not cooking.) laughing gas and laughing-gas • (The hyphenated version makes it stand out as a single entity. It is also useful to show the gas is not laughing. The chance of this misunderstanding occurring is very low, but it's enough to warrant the hyphen. You're putting in the hyphen to eliminate the tiniest shred of ambiguity. If we're being honest, it's an academic exercise not a practical one.) water bottle and water-bottle • (The hyphenated version makes it clear the bottle is not made of water. Just like in the example above, it's not a very likely misunderstanding. However, even that level of ambiguity is enough to warrant the hyphen.)

25. With a preposition • Some compound nouns, especially those with a preposition and those made up of more than two words, are best written with hyphens to show they are one entity. For example:passer-by • hanger-on • sister-in-law • forget-me-nots • do-it-yourself