Guide to spelling, punctuation and grammar

THE USE OF THE APOSTROPHE
The apostrophe (’) is frequently misused and some assessors get very
upset about this. One of the most common misuses is it’s (the
abbreviated form of ‘it is’) and its (meaning belong to it). It is amazing
how many public notices get these two mixed up. Look at these
examples of newspaper headlines:
Its a Record!
It’s Wheels Came Off!
In the first example, ‘its’ means ‘it is’ so there should be an apostrophe:
It’s A Record!
In the second example, ‘its’ means belonging to it so there should not be
an apostrophe: Its Wheels Came Off!
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RAMMAR AND ACCURACY

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Do not confuse it’s and its: it is a bad error.
Apostrophes are usually used to:
1) denote possession and 
2) show that a word has been shortened or words combined by the
omission of letters. 
My daughter’s education has been first class. The school’s
reputation is second to none. The head’s leadership has a lot to do
with it. 
In ‘daughter’s’, ‘school’s’ and ‘head’s’ the apostrophe denotes
possession: of my daughter, of the school, of the head. 
Note, however, that when you use possessive pronouns, no apostrophes
are required: 
Theirs is over there, yours is here. Ours is black, hers is blue. 
Abbreviated form require apostrophes as in don’t, weren’t, aren’t, isn’t,
won’t, can’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t.
P
LURALS AND THE APOSTROPHE
Sometimes students insert apostrophes in straightforward plural nouns:
this is another bad mistake:
Wild animal’s deserve to be protected from poacher’s. Government’s
and international bodie’s must cooperate to put a stop to these cruel
practices’. 
This should read:
Wild animals deserve to be protected from poachers. Governments
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OW TO WRITE ESSAYS

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and international bodies must cooperate to put a stop to the cruel
practices.
Plural nouns do not require apostrophes unless they are used
possessively:
Our friends’ houses are much more luxurious than ours. 
Politicians’ instincts are always directed towards winning popular
support.
Women’s rights must be protected.