d when it comes to plural possessives. The basic rules are less complicated than you probably think:
- For plural nouns ending in “-s,” only add an apostrophe after the “s.”
- For every other kind of noun, add an apostrophe and “s.”
That’s it! Still confused? Let’s say your friends are going out to fly some kites. The kites belong to your friends, so they’re “your friends’ kites.” Your friend Chris doesn’t have a kite because his is broken. Chris is not a plural noun, so even though his name ends in an “s,” you would say “Chris’s broken kite.”
It only gets a little more complicated: Sometimes, you may see only an apostrophe after a singular name ending in “s.” This rule can vary depending on pronunciation, different styles of writing and how certain names are commonly said. For example, you may see “James’s kite,” but also “James’ kite.” However, if you just follow the two rules above in your own writing, you can be confident that it will generally be considered correct.
Two other points to remember about apostrophes:
- They’re also used for contractions like “it’s” and “that’s.” These words are not possessive, because they stand for “it is” and “that is.” If you’re ever unsure, just split up the contraction into the two words that make it up and see if it makes sense:
It’s raining outside. / It is raining outside.
- There’s no apostrophe in possessive pronouns. That means words like “his,” “hers” and “its” don’t need an apostrophe.
Even if you don’t remember these rules, just remember one thing: Plural nouns never take an apostrophe before the “s.” So when you’re turning a singular noun into a plural one, do not add an apostrophe!
3. Using too many commas.
Have you ever gotten so excited about something that your words all ran into each other?
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe he (or she) asked me out, this is the best day ever, I’ve been dreaming about this, I have no idea what to wear!”
Wow, slow down there! Commas are not enough to slow down this sentence. Without a real break between all those thoughts, the sentence becomes a run-on sentence. It’s a little like watching a bicycle racing out of control—you don’t know how to stop, and you come crashing into the end!
If you find yourself using too many commas in your writing, you might be trying to fit too many thoughts into one sentence. You might also be creating run-on sentences. Take a look at this example:
I’ve been dreaming about this, I have nothing to wear.
The comma here is splitting up two things that have nothing to do with each other. This is called a comma splice, and it’s a mistake that can lead to some major misunderstandings.
Luckily, there are two very simple ways to fix this common mistake:
- Replace the comma with a period.
I’ve been dreaming about this. I have nothing to wear.
- Add a connecting word after the comma. Words like “and,” “but” and “or” show the relationship between the two parts of the sentence. They can also add to the meaning:
I’ve been dreaming about this, but I have nothing to wear.
There are other ways you might be overusing the comma, but the comma splice is one of the most common (and confusing).
Including commas in the wrong spot can also completely change what you’re trying to say. For example, there’s a terrible practice of clubbing baby seals for their fur (that is, beating them with a stick until they die). It’s a serious topic—one that is completely changed if you add a comma in the wrong place, like in this example.
Instead of saying “stop clubbing baby seals,” that image says “stop clubbing, baby seals.” Here, the comma turns the “stop clubbing” into an introduction, and makes it sound like the poster is asking baby seals to stop clubbing (partying in clubs)!
For more about the often misused comma, check this page.
4. Not using enough commas.
First we say you’re using too many commas, then we say you’re not using enough? That’s right! Using commas where they don’t belong can lead to problems, but so can leaving commas out. Don’t forget to include a comma in these cases:
- When listing items.
I need to buy broccoli, kale, and 