A quality piece of writing has the power to capture and hold a reader’s attention. Unfortunately, a reader can easily be distracted by punctuation mistakes. That’s why it’s important to learn when to use apostrophes. In short, knowing the apostrophes rules will allow a writer to convey his or her message without punctuation errors.

The first occasion concerning when to use apostrophes is when a writer is dealing with possessive words. Possessive apostrophes are used to indicate ownership of something. Ownership can apply to a great number of things. Some examples of possessive apostrophes:

• There is my friend’s house. This apostrophes examples conveys that the friend is the owner of the house.
• That is my dog’s collar. Who possesses the collar? The dog.
• We brought our child’s suitcase.
• That is the city’s motto.
• The book is hers. In this example, the possessive word is hers and has no apostrophe with it. The words hers, its, ours, and yours don’t contain apostrophes, but are still possessive.
• We studied Jesus’ teachings. This apostrophes after s example is also an exception to the basic rule. There is no additional s after the name of Jesus, but the word is indicating possession of the teachings.
• There is Thomas’s car. In this apostrophes examples, an apostrophe is added after the s along with an additional letter s. The use of apostrophes after s is often seen in conncection to common names.

The next opportunity relating to the use of apostrophes occurs when there’s a contraction. In a contraction, an apostrophe stands in for a word. Not surprisingly, many authors use contractions in an effort to make their writing flow better. Some examples of apostrophes used to make contractions are:

• That’s my new swimming pool. The word that’s is a contraction with an apostrophe that stands in for the words, “that is.”
• We’re going to the amusement park. The word we’re is a contraction that stands in for the words, “we are.”
• They’re going to visit a relative. The word they’re is a contraction that means, “they are.”
• It’s twelve o’clock midnight. The contraction it’s stands for the words, “it is.”

A writer must take care to use a contraction only in appropriate situations. For example:
• Incorrect: A cat cleans it’s fur. This sentence means, “A cat cleans it is fur.” Certainly, that statement would confuse a reader.
• Correct: A cat cleans its fur. There is no need for an apostrophe in this sentence.

Misusing apostrophes rules can change the meaning of a word. Furthermore, it can confuse a reader as to the writer’s intentions. Consequently, it’s helpful to know when it’s appropriate to use this punctuation. The proper use of punctuation can improve the clarity of a piece of writing.

There are a number of easily confusable words in English, sometimes in speech and often in writing. The differences between aide and aid is very clear once you know it, and the same goes for adopt and adapt.

Aide and aid are often mistaken for one another, simply because they are pronounced the same way and spelled so similarly. However, they are very different, and when you know their definitions the debate of aide vs aid will be nonexistent. Aide is a noun, meaning a helper or assistant. Aid, on the other hand, can either be a verb, meaning to give help or assistance; or a noun, referring to help or assistance given. A nurse’s aide (noun) will give aid (noun) to a patient; she can also aid (verb) in relief efforts.

Adopt vs adapt is a little more subtle, as both are verbs. Adapt can either mean to take something and make it suitable for one’s needs or circumstances, or to alter oneself in order to be better suited for circumstances.
For example, a recent immigrant who fits in to his new culture can adapt, ie. change his actions or speak a new language, or a monkey can adapt a stick to use as a tool.
Adopt means to take something as one’s own. A couple can adopt a baby, or a convert can adopt a new set of religious beliefs.

Although it is easy to see why these words are confused, it is equally easy to tell them apart when you know what they mean.

The English language has thousands of words in it. Many of which can become confused. Whom vs who and lie vs lay are two excellent examples of this.
In order to fully understand using who/whom, one must also understand whether the word is being used as the subject of the verb or the verb’s object. Whom being the objective form, who being the subjective form. “Who is the best student in the class?” is the correct way to use who. “To whom are you referring?” is the correct way to use whom. The confusion between the two arises more in a question because the word order is reversed. If you are not sure which to use, use who.
Lie vs lay grammar is even more confusing to most. The word lay means to put or to place. “Lay the book on the table.” This sentence is telling someone to put the book on the table. Lie means to recline. It is an intransitive verb meaning it has no object. The action stays with the verb. An excellent example of this would be a nurse telling you to “lie back”. People become confused because the past tense of lie is spelled the same as the present tense of lay. “He went to lay in bed,” is a sentence in which the past tense of lie is used.