Definition

A punctuation mark used to show that letters have been left out of a word, to indicate possession, or to form plurals of letters and numbers.

Example

In the word "it's", the apostrophe shows that the letters 'i' and 's' have been omitted.

Conversation

I always get confused about where to put the apostrophe in contractions.

Yeah, it can be tricky sometimes, especially with possessives.

Exactly! I just want to make sure I'm using the apostrophe correctly in my writing.

Practice makes perfect, and you'll get the hang of it soon!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Apostrophe → It is formed from "apo-" (meaning away from) and "strophe" (from Greek "strophē", meaning a turn or a bending). The word originally referred to a turning away, particularly in rhetoric when addressing someone not present.

Memory Tip

Think of 'turning away' ('apo-') from the main subject to address someone else ('strophe') — that's why an apostrophe is used to indicate possession or omission.

Visually Confused Words