Amounts of time or money are sometimes used as possessive adjectives that require apostrophes. Correct: the Joneses' car. My personal preference is to use 'actress's'. [from 17th c.] 2011, "Not going quietly", The Economist, 27 Jan 2011: Court documents appear to show that Ian Edmondson, a senior News of the World journalist, had authorised Mr Mulcaire to hack phones belonging to Sienna Miller, an actress. Rule 2c. There is no right answer; the best advice is to choose a formula and stay consistent. English also has many irregular nouns (child, nucleus, tooth, etc.). So, there are specific rules for apostrophe which we need to learn to write better and free from error. Ano ang Imahinasyong guhit na naghahati sa daigdig sa magkaibang araw? The following examples are all in widespread use: Examples: Incorrect: I like that Beatles' song. If the compound noun (e.g., brother-in-law) is to be made plural, form the plural first (brothers-in-law), and then use the apostrophe + s. Rule 4a. Adjectives rarely if ever take apostrophes. They don't own the homes jointly. What is the rising action of faith love and dr lazaro? Correct: The Flannerys are coming over. The possessive singular of all English nouns is formed by adding-'s: actress's. NOTE: It’s and who’s are both contractions. Use an apostrophe after the s to show possession for plural nouns. Correct: two actresses' roles (actress + es + apostrophe) One method, common in newspapers and magazines, is to add an apostrophe + s (‘s) to common nouns ending in s, but only a stand-alone apostrophe to proper nouns ending in s. Regular nouns are nouns that form their plurals by adding either the letter s or es (guy, guys; letter, letters; actress, actresses; etc.). Incorrect: We've had many happy Christmas's. There are no hard and fast rules for these. In any case, the possessive plural is "actresses'. Examples: doesn't, it's, 'tis, can't, you'd, should've, rock 'n' roll, etc. Source(s): Retired English professor. Don’t do it! Use an apostrophe + s at the end of a compound noun to show possession. Just take a glance at street signs, advertisements, and store hoardings which will demonstrate that almost no one seems to know how to use this mark properly. However, with single lowercase letters, it is advisable to use apostrophes. The Writing Cooperative is a community of people helping each other write better. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer. Your email address will not be published. Apostrophes and Plurals. ", You do not need to add the s the apostrophe in this case stands instead. Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy. Why don't libraries smell like bookstores? Correct: The Wilsons are here. Correct: Talking to oneself in public is odd. Texas' weather. ... "Members'" is plural possessive. Never use an apostrophe to make a name plural. Rule 8. The material on this site can not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Multiply. To indicate the omission of letters or numbers. ; The marking of possessive case of nouns (as in the eagle's feathers, or in one month's time). The apostrophe may be considered the most abused punctuation mark in the English language. When you discuss plural nouns ending in s, … 's to give the s separation from the second period. Incorrect: the Jones' car Add an es to the end of regular nouns ending in s to make them plural. Rule 4b. Correct: I voted in ’08. Dismayed. Rule 2b. These nouns become plural by changing their spelling, sometimes becoming quite different words. 1 decade ago. What did we miss? When you are talking about separate things that belong to different people, make all the names possessive: When an apostrophe comes before a word or number, take care that it’s truly an apostrophe (’) rather than a single quotation mark (‘). You can handle it one of two ways, depending on which style guide you’re using or your editor’s preference. NOTE: Never use an apostrophe + s to make a regular noun or a proper noun plural. Regular nouns are nouns that form their plurals by adding either the letter s or es (guy, guys; letter, letters; actress, actresses; etc.). Incorrect: We visited the Sanchez's. In that sentence, the verb do is used as a plural noun, and the apostrophe was added because the writer felt that dos was confusing. the 90's. Another widely used technique is to write the word as we would speak it. If you need to show possession, do this by adding an (’s) e.g., • … Mrs. Chang's house. It looks like you have JavaScript turned off. Incorrect: Maribel and my home Before the Second World War, actresses who played Titania usually aimed at an ethereal, queenly elegance and beauty. She consulted with three M.D.s. It’s your, yours, hers, its, ours, their, and theirs, that tend to cause the confusion. Incorrect: The Flanneries are coming over. Correct: the teeth's roots. The plural is children, not childrens. Readers would see as and us, and feel lost. the 1990s Correct: Whose glasses are these? Thus, there’s no need for an apostrophe. Check out her book The Novel-Writing Training Plan: 17 Steps to Get Your Ideas in Shape for the Marathon of Writing or contact her at www.kathy-edens.com. In English, nouns frequently become adjectives. Incorrect: three days leave There are various approaches to plurals for abbreviations, single letters, and numerals. Many common nouns end in the letter s (lens, cactus, bus, etc.). Correct: guys’ night out (guy + s + apostrophe), Correct: two actresses’ roles (actress + es + apostrophe). What do you do about proper nouns that end in s? You can request verification for native languages by completing a simple application that takes only a couple of minutes. How do you think about the answers? : Much of the funding for this organisation comes from Hollywood actors and actresses. It's like this: The actress' limo pulled up outside the hotel. The Write Up delivers writing advice, encouragement, and challenges right to your inbox each month. For instance, if talking about a pen belonging to Mr. Hastings, many people would wrongly write Mr. Hasting's pen (his name is not Mr. Hasting).