Language term
Apostrophe
A punctuation mark showing possession or marking omitted letters in contractions.
What it means
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark with two main uses. First, it shows possession, indicating that something belongs to someone, as in the girl's book for one girl or the girls' books for several. Second, it marks the place where letters have been left out in a contraction, as in do not becoming don't.
A common error is confusing possessive its, which has no apostrophe, with the contraction it's, meaning it is. Using apostrophes correctly is a basic feature of accurate writing, and misuse is one of the most noticeable punctuation errors.
Why it matters in the exam
In every writing task, correct apostrophe use is part of technical accuracy. Errors are easily spotted and lower marks, such as adding an apostrophe to a simple plural or confusing its and it's. Because these mistakes are so common and so visible, getting apostrophes right is one of the clearest signs of careful writing.
Examiners reward consistent accuracy, so proofreading for apostrophes is always worthwhile.
Example
The dog's lead means the lead belonging to one dog, while the dogs' leads means leads belonging to several dogs. The apostrophe's position changes the meaning.
How to use it
Use an apostrophe to show possession. Place it before the s for a singular owner and after the s for a plural one. Also use it to mark missing letters in contractions.
Never add one to make a simple plural. When proofreading, check every its and it's, and confirm each apostrophe shows either possession or omission, not just an s ending.
Knowing the term is the first step. In a paid one-hour trial, a teacher helps your child use "Apostrophe" accurately in an answer.