Apostrophe for Ambiguous Singular or Plural Possessive
The Apostrophe
Rulebase Summary
Some possessives defy the label singular or plural. Use a dictionary as often as needed, and if that fails, try to be logical. Different dictionaries may give different preferences.
Examples
A. The United State's policy on trade was debated.
A. The United States' policy on trade was debated.
United States ends in s but is singular in meaning — use the apostrophe after the s and consult a dictionary if unsure.
A. The species survival was at stake.
A. The species' survival was at stake.
Species is both singular and plural — add just the apostrophe. When in doubt, use a dictionary and logic.
Transcript Notes
For most words, the singular possessive, the plural, and the plural possessive are pronounced the same — they are homophones with different spellings. The correct form is determined by context and usage. Do not insert an apostrophe by rote — always determine what form the sentence requires: singular possessive (one owner), plain plural (more than one, no ownership), or plural possessive (more than one owner).
Style Guide References (4)
Morson's
BGGP
BGGP
BGGP