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Apostrophes are used for showing that letters have been taken out of a word or contraction (like in don't, the contraction of do and not, where the o in not has been taken out, or in get 'em, to show that 'em means them), or to show ownership or possession (like in Maxwell's hammer, where the 's shows that the hammer belongs to Maxwell, or in those girls' idea, to show that the idea belongs to those girls).

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Q: What are apostrophes used for?
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Related questions

Can Apostrophes and quotation marks can be used interchangeably?

Apostrophes and quotation marks can be used interchangeably.


How are apostrophes used in the Latin alphabet?

The apostrophes when used in the Latin language serve many purposes. These apostrophes are punctuation marks that sometimes serve as diacritic marks that show possession.


Apostrophes should be used to make certain plural words singular?

No! Apostrophes are only used with nouns to show possession.


Apostrophes are not used to show?

Possession. ommision of letters in contractions.


Are apostrophes and hyphens unnecessary punctuation marks?

No, apostrophes and hyphens serve specific functions in writing. Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or contraction, while hyphens are used to join words or to clarify the meaning of a word or phrase. Both punctuation marks are important for clarity and proper grammar.


Can Apostrophes and quotation marks be used interchangeably?

No they both have different uses.


How many words are contracted into apostrophes?

No words are contracted into apostrophes.


What is the rule for apostrophes?

Apostrophes are used to indicate possession: E.g. 'The dog's bone' = 'the bone which belongs to the dog'(except in his, hers, ours, yours (but including one's))Apostrophes are also used to show a contraction:E.g. 'I will not' = 'I won't''You have not' = 'you haven't''They would have' = 'they would've'(careful now it's = 'it is' or 'it has' whereas its= 'belonging to it' because 'its' is like 'his')Apostrophes are never used to make pluralssingular: Flowerplural: flowers (more than one flower)possessive: flower's (belonging to a flower)plural possessive: flowers' (belonging to multiple flowers)


Does inches have one or two apostrophes?

Inches is shown by two apostrophes (").


Does butterflies need an apostrophe?

As a plural noun, butterflies does not need an apostrophe. Apostrophes are not used to make nouns plural.As a possessive noun, butterflies does needan apostrophe. The plural form is butterflies' (the butterflies' wing). Apostrophes are used to show possession.


What are the correct usages of apostrophes?

Only use apostrophes in contractions, and to show possession


Do apostrophes indicate missing letters?

Yes, they can serve to indicate a missing letter in certain words such as "don't" (do not) or "I'll" (I will) These words are called contractions. Apostrophes can also be used to show possession when used at the end of a word with an s: as in Amy's answer. Hope that helps!