Apostrophes

Apostrophes can be one of the most perplexing forms of punctuation. The basic idea is this: use apostrophes to show that one thing owns, or possesses, another. For example, in this sentence the company owns the logo:

We decided to change our company’s logo.

If you’re writing about a payment, you would say:

Ms. Brown’s payment is two weeks overdue.

The apostrophe shows that the payment belongs to Ms. Brown.
Which is correct?
a. Yesterday, I contacted Mr. Jones’ workplace, but he was not available.
b. Yesterday, I contacted Mr. Jones’s workplace, but he was not available.
Answer: Actually, a and b.Why: When a formal name ends in “s” you can choose either option. The most popular choice, in North America, anyway, is a. If you use b, some people may think you made a mistake. Never change a person’s name to accommodate a possessive, as in the incorrect “Jone’s.”
Which is correct?
a. We sold Peter and Terry’s cars at the fall sale.
b. We sold Peter’s and Terry’s cars at the fall sale.
Answer: It depends. If Peter and Terry owned the cars, then you write, “Peter and Terry’s cars,” with one apostrophe for both of them. But, say Peter and Terry owned several cars each, because they were dealers or collectors, then they each get their own apostrophe, “Peter’s and Terry’s.”Naturally, you don’t want to labor your writing with too many apostrophes. So, rather than write:

We looked up Kathy Brittle’s, Caron Savage’s, Marilyn Patterson’s, and Beverly Dickson’s files, then sent them to your office.

write:

We looked up the files of Kathy Brittle, Caron Savage, Marilyn Patterson, and Beverly Dickson, then sent them to your office.

Which is correct?
a. We tabulated the voters’ opinions and will announce the results at the meeting.
b. We tabulated the voters opinions and will announce the results at the meeting.
c. We tabulated the voter’s opinions and will announce the results at the meeting.
Answer: a.Why: When you have a plural noun that ends in “s,” such as “competitors,” “affiliates,” “meetings,” and most other nouns, add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.
Which is correct?
a. We would be glad to add your childrens’ names to your policy.
b. We would be glad to add your children’s names to your policy.
Answer: b.Why: Here you have a typical example of a plural noun that doesn’t end in “s” and so takes an apostrophe and “s” at the end. Other nouns of this sort are “women” and “men.”
Which is correct?
a. Remember your thank-you’s when speaking with customers on the phone.
b. Remember your thank-yous when speaking with customers on the phone.

Answer: Surprisingly, a.

Why: This one sneaks into punctuation rule books and is uncommon enough to cause confusion. When you write a word independent of its meaning, you can make it plural by adding either apostrophe and an “s” or just an “s.” Here are two more examples:
People want to know how our service will affect them, so put more you’s in the opening.

In his comments about the new brochure, he mentioned something about the greens and the blues.

Which is correct?
a. Three of our managers are former POW’s.
b. Three of our managers are former POWs.

Answer: a.

Why: Whenever you have an abbreviation, with or without periods, you can make it plural by adding an apostrophe and “s.”