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Common Errors Workbook |
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Punctuation and mechanics |
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35. Possessive forms of personal pronouns never take the apostrophe |
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Do not use an apostrophe in a possessive personal pronoun. These forms include hers, its, ours, yours, and theirs.
Identify the personal pronoun. Is it a possessive pronoun? If so, it should not have an apostrophe.
Example: There are three cars in the driveway: Shawna brought hers, we brought ours, and the Masons brought theirs.
None of the personal pronouns in this example—hers, ours, theirs—needs an apostrophe. Each one is functioning as a possessive personal pronoun.
Be aware that its can function in two ways: as a possessive pronoun or as a contraction or it is. When used as a possessive pronoun, its does not take an apostrophe. When used with an apostrophe, it's always stands for it is.
Example: It's obvious that the driveway is filled to its capacity.
The first occurrence of it's stands for it is, so the apostrophe is correctly use. The second occurrence does not need an apostrophe since it is a possessive pronoun.
Remember: Do not use an apostrophe in a possessive personal pronoun. Use it's only to stand for it is.
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