-'s

alternative -’s · alternative nonstandard -s · alternative -s-

1. encliticA possessive marker, indicating that an object belongs to the noun or noun phrase bearing the marker.

   women's contributions to science

   4 more examples

   Jane's house is bigger than Sarah's.

   The cat bit the dog's tail. (the dog + 's)

   The cat bit the dog with the shaggy fur's tail. (the dog with the shaggy fur + 's)

   Before kick-off, a section of Chelsea's support sadly let themselves and their club down by noisily interrupting the silence held in memory of the Hillsborough disaster and for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B game on Saturday.

   2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC

2. encliticIn the absence of a specified object, used to indicate “the house/place/establishment of”.

   greengrocer's

   3 more examples

   We'll arrive at Jose and María's in time for dinner.

   I'm going to the butcher's for a steak.

   I bought it at Tesco's. (see s-form)

3. encliticIndicates a purpose or a user.

   people's

   3 more examples

   You need a driver's license.

   Alex can be a girl's name.

   That's a girl's toy. (A toy intended for use by girls.) — Homographic to: That's a girl's toy. (The toy of a specific girl.)

4. encliticUsed to indicate a quantity of something, especially of time.

   I took three weeks' holiday.

   1 more example

   The rocks lay at about a mile's distance from the shore.

5. encliticUsed to indicate various other kinds of relationship, such as source or origin, object of an action, subject depicted, etc.

   JFK Airport is among America's busiest.

   5 more examples

   She got angry at my niece's trying to lie to us.

   the doctor's help (help provided by the doctor)

   the King's capture (event of the King being captured)

   my father's portrait (portrait depicting my father)

   in Dublin's fair city (in the fair city of Dublin)

6. encliticAttached to a noun or noun phrase linked to a genitive of, forming a double genitive (Compare of mine, etc.)

   a friend of Sarah's

   2 more examples

   Have you heard this new idea of our boss's?

   NAy, but this dotage of our Generals Ore-flowes the meaſure: […]

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 340, column 1

alternative -’s · alternative nonstandard -s · alternative -s-

1. encliticproscribedsometimesUsed to form the plurals of numerals, letters, some abbreviations and some nouns, usually because the omission of an apostrophe would make the meaning unclear or ambiguous.

   You can buy CD’s in that shop.

   4 more examples

   There are four 3’s in my phone number.

   “Banana” has three a’s and one b. (apostrophe "s" used so that the plural of “a” is not confused with the word “as”)

   These are the do’s and don’ts. (apostrophe "s" used as “dos” may be misread)

   10’s; 100’s; A+’s; A.U.’s; don’t’s; s’s

2. encliticobsoleteUsed to form plurals of foreign words, to clarify pronunciation, such as “banana’s” or “pasta’s”.

   index’s

3. encliticproscribedUsed to form the plural of nouns that correctly take just an "s" in the plural. See greengrocer’s apostrophe.

   Apple’s 50p a pound