Apostrophes

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P-5 Apostrophes Review
Multiple Choice
In each of the following sentences, replace the underlined words with words that use
apostrophes correctly. If the underlined words are correct, select “c,” No change.
1. Through Dr. Murphys lecture, we discovered that the brain has four lobes’: frontal,
parietal, occipital, and temporal.
a. Dr. Murphy’s; lobes
b. Dr. Murphys’; lobe’s
c. No change
ANS: a
REF: The correct answer is a.
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5d.
<http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/bullock2_readings_handbook_ebook/welco
me.asp?page=71>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5d.
<http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/p-5a.html>
<http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/p-5d.html>
2. Professor Saks’ discussion focused on the cerebellums functions of balance and
position.
a. Saks’s; cerebellum’s
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b. Saks’; cerebellum’s
c. No change
ANS: a
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.
me.asp?page=71>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.
3. Human anatomys’s a difficult course, but it’s content is essential for medical and
nursing students.
a. anatomys’; its
b. anatomy’s; its
c. No change
ANS: b
REF: The correct answer is b.
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b and P-5d.
me.asp?page=73>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b and P-5d.
<http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/p-5b.html>
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4. Most of us got As on our midterm, which is an improvement over class scores in the
1990s.
a. As; 1990’s
b. A’s; 1990’s
c. No change
ANS: c
REF: The correct answer is c.
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5c.
me.asp?page=73>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5c.
<http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/p-5c.html>
5. However, Mike and Jerry’s grades were among the lowest mens’ scores ever recorded.
a. Mike and Jerry’s; men’s
b. Mike’s and Jerry’s; men’s
c. No change
ANS: b
me.asp?page=71>

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6. Professor Saks emphasized that everybodys capable of achieving higher grades. Are
you ready to improve yours?
a. everybody’s; yours
b. everybodys’; your’s
c. No change
ANS: a
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5d.
me.asp?page=71>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5d.
7. By viewing a medical film on the TVs in the auditorium, we gained a better
understanding of the skeletal and muscular systems’ components.
a. TV’s; system’s
b. TVs’; systems
c. No change
ANS: c

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In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5c.
me.asp?page=71>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5c.
8. Student’s took detailed notes so that they wouldn’t fall behind in the course.
a. Students; wouldn’t
b. Students’; would’nt
c. No change
ANS: a
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b and P-5d.
me.asp?page=73>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b and P-5d.
9. Leah brought up her parents’s suggestion that we also watch the Department of
Educations’s films.
a. parent’s; Department’s of Education’s

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b. parents’; Department of Education’s
c. No change
ANS: b
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10. “Thats’ a good idea,” our instructors agreed, “the level of details’ astounding in those
films.”
a. That’s; detail’s
b. That’s; details
c. No change
ANS: a
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b.
me.asp?page=73>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b.
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P-5a Apostrophes for Possessives
Multiple Choice
Select the answer in which each possessive is formed correctly.
1.
a. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both appear in the movie Mystic River. Penn’s 2003
Oscar was for best actor in that movie; Robbin’s was for best supporting actor.
b. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both appear in the movie Mystic River. Penn’s 2003
Oscar was for best actor in that movie; Robbins’s was for best supporting actor.
ANS: b
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2.
a. Director Robert Zemeckis and actor Tom Hanks’s Oscars in 1994 were for Forrest
Gump.
b. Director Robert Zemeckis’s and actor Tom Hanks’s Oscars in 1994 were for Forrest
Gump.
ANS: b
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3.
a. Although members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences fall into
thirteen branches, all members’ votes count toward best film and the other categories.
b. Although members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences fall into
thirteen branches, all members’s votes count toward best film and the other
categories.
ANS: a
me.asp?page=71>
4.
a. Everyones’ Oscar votes are confidential throughout the polling process.

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b. Everyone’s Oscar votes are confidential throughout the polling process.
ANS: b
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5.
a. Some actresses claim that mens’ movie roles are more diverse than womens’.
b. Some actresses claim that men’s movie roles are more diverse than women’s.
ANS: b
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6.
a. Richard Dreyfuss starred in The Goodbye Girl; Dreyfuss’s performance earned him an
Oscar in 1977.
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b. Richard Dreyfuss starred in The Goodbye Girl; Dreyfuss’ performance earned him an
Oscar in 1977.
ANS: a
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7.
a. George Burns’s and Jason Robards’s Oscars in the 1970s were for The Sunshine Boys
and All the President’s Men, respectively.
b. George Burns and Jason Robards’s Oscars in the 1970s were for The Sunshine Boys
and All the President’s Men, respectively.
ANS: a
me.asp?page=71>
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8.
a. The awards’ popularity seems to have diminished over the years.
b. The awards’s popularity seems to have diminished over the years.
ANS: a
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9.
a. It’s anyone’s guess who will win Oscars in the coming year.
b. It’s anyones guess who will win Oscars in the coming year.
ANS: a
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10.
a. The Coen brother’s collaboration has resulted in several Academy Award
nominations, including a Best Picture nomination for Fargo.
b. The Coen brothers’ collaboration has resulted in several Academy Award
nominations, including a Best Picture nomination for Fargo.
ANS: b
me.asp?page=71>
P-5b Apostrophes for Contractions
Multiple Choice
In each of the following sentences, replace the underlined words with the correct
contractions. If the original sentence is correct, select c. No change.
1. Beth’s rushing to get ready for the party, but shes not sure she’ll be ready on time.
a. Beths’; shes’; she’ll
b. Beth’s; she’s; she’ll
c. No change
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ANS: b
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2. Her sisters’ ironing the dress, Deirdre’s polishing the shoes, and Jose’s waiting
impatiently for Beth.
a. sister’s; Deirdre’s; Jose’s
b. sisters’; Deirdres’; Joses’
c. No change
ANS: a
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3. “Wer’e going to be late,” Jose complained, “and wel’l never be invited to anyones’
party again.
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a. We’re; we’ll; anyone’s
b. We’re; we’ll; anyones’
c. No change
ANS: a
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4. “Im trying to hurry,” Beth emphasized, “but my hairs not cooperating, and I cant find
my purple earrings.”
a. I’m; hairs’; ca’nt
b. I’m; hair’s; can’t
c. No change
ANS: b
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5. “Why don’t you skip the earrings? Your’e looking good, and its already 9 o’clock,”
Jose replied.
a. dont; Your’e; its’
b. don’t; You’re; it’s
c. No change
ANS: b
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6. “Thanks, Jose,” Beth answered, “that’s nice of you to say. Maybe I shouldn’t be so
pokey; I’ll try to speed things up.”
a. thats; should’nt; I’ll
b. that’s; should’nt; Il’l
c. No change
ANS: c

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me.asp?page=73>
7. “Ive been waiting for an hour, so what’s a few more minutes?” Jose said dejectedly.
“The pizzas’ probably gone by now anyway.”
a. I’ve; what’s; pizza’s
b. Iv’e; what’s; pizzas’
c. No change
ANS: a
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8. “There’s no pizza tonight, Jose; the food’s catered in, and it’s going to be yummy,”
Beth informed him.
a. There’s; food’s; its
b. Theres’; foods’; its’

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c. No change
ANS: c
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9. “I suppose everybodys wearing fancy clothes—the women, anyway—and theyl’l all be
checking out what each persons wearing,” Jose commented.
a. everybody’s; they’ll; person’s
b. everybodys’; they’ll; persons’
c. No change
ANS: a
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10. “Youv’e got that right, my dear,” Beth said, as she finally put on her coat, “I even
heard that Rogers’ borrowing his buddy’s limo to pick up Celeste and another couple.”
a. You’ve; Rogers’s; buddys’
b. You’ve; Roger’s; buddy’s
c. No change
ANS: b
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P-5c and P-5d Apostrophes for Plurals and Possessives
Multiple Choice
Some of the following sentences contain errors in plurals or possessives. Select the
answer that has no such errors. If the original sentence is correct, select c. No change.
1. The comedy I Love Lucy won two Emmy’s more than fifty years ago, and the Ricardos
are still popular in reruns.
a. The comedy I Love Lucy won two Emmys more than fifty years ago, and the Ricardo’s
are still popular in rerun’s.

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b. The comedy I Love Lucy won two Emmys more than fifty years ago, and the Ricardos
are still popular in reruns.
c. No change
ANS: b
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5d.
me.asp?page=74>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5d.
2. During the 1990’s, membership in Parent Teacher Association’s (PTA’s) declined.
a. During the 1990s, membership in Parent Teacher Associations (PTA’s) declined.
b. During the 1990s, membership in Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) declined.
c. No change
ANS: b
In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5c and P-5d.
me.asp?page=74>
In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5c and P-5d.
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3. The girl’s on The Golden Girl’s hadn’t seen girlhood in many a year.
a. The girls on The Golden Girls hadn’t seen girlhood in many a year.
b. The girls’ on The Golden Girls’ hadn’t seen girlhood in many a year.
c. No change
ANS: a
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4. Some teachers encouraged us to get MA’s or PhD’s, making us strive for high grade-
point average’s.
a. Some teacher’s encouraged us to get MAs or PhDs, making us strive for high grade-
point average’s.
b. Some teachers encouraged us to get MAs or PhDs, making us strive for high grade-
point averages.
c. No change
ANS: b

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5. In The Soprano’s, Tony Soprano has an unusual family. How does it compare to
your’s?
a. In The Sopranos, Tony Soprano has an unusual family. How does it compare to
your’s?
b. In The Sopranos, Tony Soprano has an unusual family. How does it compare to yours?
c. No change
ANS: b
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6. Your uncle’s lottery number had three 2’s, three 3’s, and three 1’s. What did ours
have?
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a. Your uncle’s lottery number had three 2’s, three 3’s, and three 1’s. What did our’s
have?
b. Your uncle’s lottery number had three 2s, three 3s, and three 1s. What did ours have?
c. No change
ANS: c
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7. Gwen Verdon won a Tony Award for her work in the Broadway musical Damn
Yankee’s; it’s singers and dancers were superb.
a. Gwen Verdon won a Tony Award for her work in the Broadway musical Damn
Yankees; its singers and dancers were superb.
b. Gwen Verdon won a Tony Award for her work in the Broadway musical Damn
Yankee’s; its singer’s and dancer’s were superb.
c. No change
ANS: a

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8. After the graduation ceremony, several VCR’s and more than a dozen DVD’s were left
in the auditorium. My cousin is wondering which ones are their’s.
a. After the graduation ceremony, several VCRs and more than a dozen DVDs were left
in the auditorium. My cousin is wondering which ones are theirs.
b. After the graduation ceremony, several VCRs and more than a dozen DVDs were left
in the auditorium. My cousin is wondering which ones are their’s.
c. No change
ANS: a
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9. My sister saw the Broadway hit musical Jersey Boys, but it is not a favorite of hers.
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a. My sister saw the Broadway hit musical Jersey Boy’s, but it is not a favorite of her’s.
b. My sister saw the Broadway hit musical Jersey Boy’s, but it is not a favorite of hers.
c. No change
ANS: c
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10. When the boss asked if the employee’s would attend a weekly meeting after hours,
the no’s outweighed the yes’s.
a. When the boss asked if the employees would attend a weekly meeting after hours, the
no’s outweighed the yes’s.
b. When the boss asked if the employees would attend a weekly meeting after hours, the
no’s outweighed the yes’s.
c. No change
ANS: a
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1

P-5 Apostrophes Review

parietal, occipital, and temporal.

a. Dr. Murphy’s; lobes

b. Dr. Murphys’; lobe’s

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5d.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5d.

2. Professor Saks’ discussion focused on the cerebellums functions of balance and

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b and P-5d.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b and P-5d.

REF: The correct answer is c.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5c.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5c.

a. Mike and Jerry’s; men’s

b. Mike’s and Jerry’s; men’s

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

you ready to improve yours?

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5d.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5d.

7. By viewing a medical film on the TVs in the auditorium, we gained a better

understanding of the skeletal and muscular systems’ components.

REF: The correct answer is c.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a and P-5c.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a and P-5c.

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b and P-5d.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b and P-5d.

a. parent’s; Department’s of Education’s

b. parents’; Department of Education’s

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5b.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5b.

P-5a Apostrophes for Possessives

Select the answer in which each possessive is formed correctly.

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see P-5a.

a. Everyones’ Oscar votes are confidential throughout the polling process.

b. Everyone’s Oscar votes are confidential throughout the polling process.

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see P-5a.