Protecting the apostrophe since 2001

Since 2001, the Apostrophe Protection Society has championed the correct use of this small but essential mark of punctuation.

From shop signs to national media, apostrophe misuse is everywhere. We highlight it, explain it, and promote clarity and accuracy in written English.

Join the APS

It's free!

Membership is free, and open to anyone who values clear, correct English.

Join over 5,000 members worldwide, and you’ll receive updates, newsletters, and the satisfaction of supporting better standards in written communication.

Why Apostrophes Matter

Apostrophes may be small, but they carry significant meaning.

Used correctly, they show possession and form contractions. Used incorrectly — or not at all — they can confuse readers and weaken the impact of what's being written.

Careful punctuation helps ensure that meaning is conveyed precisely.

Learn the Basics

These are the essential rules of apostrophe use:

Contractions

Use an apostrophe to show that one or more letters have been omitted from the word.

Possession

Use an apostrophe to show that something belongs to someone or something.

Its / It's

"Its" means belonging to it. "It's" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction for "It is". It's as simple as that.

Never for plurals!

It's a simple rule - do not make a plural by using an apostrophe and "s"!

Refer to the Apostrophe Use pages to see more information on how to use the apostrophe correctly.

Latest News

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Apostrophe Watch

Apostrophe misuse is everywhere — and our members are spotting it every day.

Latest Apostrophe Watch

A recent example spotted by one of our members:

Added on

5 April 2026

Here's one from East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It needed an apostrophe, but not where they put it!

Spotted a rogue apostrophe?

Send us your photos of misplaced, missing, or unnecessary apostrophes — and we may feature them on the site. Email them to us at photos@apostrophe.org.uk

Explore More Examples in our Rogues' Gallery

Browse our growing collection of real-world apostrophe misuse, submitted by members and supporters from around the world.

See them in all their shocking detail in our Rogues' Gallery.

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About

Founded in 2001, the Apostrophe Protection Society was established to preserve the correct use of the apostrophe.

After a short closure at the end of 2019, it was revived in 2022 by its new chairman, Bob McCalden, and it continues to champion clarity in written English with over 5,000 members worldwide.

You can contact the APS by email at info@apostrophe.org.uk or through our Contact page.

"The little apostrophe deserves our protection.

It is indeed a threatened species!"

John Richards