Apostrophes and Quotation Marks
Apostrophes show possession or contraction; quotes show speech.
About this topic
Apostrophes show possession (the girl's book; the girls' books) and contractions (don't, it's = it is). Don't use them for plurals ("apple's") and remember its (possessive) versus it's (it is). Quotation marks enclose direct speech and quoted material, with punctuation placed inside in American style, and in British style depending on whether it belongs to the quotation.
For possession, singular nouns add apostrophe plus s (the boy's coat, James's book), while plural nouns ending in s add only the apostrophe (the boys' coats). Irregular plurals take apostrophe plus s (children's toys). Possessive pronouns such as hers, ours, yours and theirs never take an apostrophe. Use single or double quotation marks consistently, and start a new paragraph when a new person speaks.
Worked example: "She said, 'I can't find Maria's keys,'" includes a contraction, a possessive and a quotation. When quoting inside a quotation, alternate the marks. Titles of short works (poems, articles, songs) go in quotation marks, while longer works are italicised.
Common mistakes include writing the 1990's instead of the 1990s, using your and you're interchangeably, and adding an apostrophe to verbs (she run's). A good trick is to expand the word: if it's cannot be replaced with it is, you need its. For quotations, make sure you copy the words exactly and credit the speaker.
Key ideas
- its vs it's
- Plural vs possessive
- Punctuation inside quotes (US)
Quick check
Use cases: where Apostrophes and Quotation Marks helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Apostrophes and Quotation Marks before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Apostrophes and Quotation Marks without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Apostrophes and Quotation Marks changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Apostrophes and Quotation Marks in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Strong reading and writing are needed in every subject, job and exam.
Frequently asked questions
What is Apostrophes and Quotation Marks?
Apostrophes show possession or contraction; quotes show speech.
What will I learn in Apostrophes and Quotation Marks?
its vs it's. Plural vs possessive. Punctuation inside quotes (US).
Is Apostrophes and Quotation Marks part of English?
Yes. It is one of 60 English topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Apostrophes and Quotation Marks lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Apostrophes and Quotation Marks?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.