By Emily Pomainville, Guest Blogger
A common mistake I see as an editor is incorrectly formed plurals and possessives. It can be easy to accidentally add an apostrophe where it’s not needed or leave one out where it is. Without knowing the grammatical rules for plurals and possessives, editing your manuscript can be challenging.
Let’s take a look at what plurals and possessives are and how to form them correctly.
Plurals
A plural is a form of noun that indicates more than one of something. Most plurals are formed by adding “s” or “es.” But there are also some irregular plurals that do not follow this rule.
For most words, you can just add an “s” to make them plural.
- Book → Books
- Cat → Cats
- Mug → Mugs
For words ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add “es” to the end of the word to make it plural.
- Glass → Glasses
- Watch → Watches
- Buzz → Buzzes
Words ending in -y are slightly different. To make these plural, change the “y” to an “i” and add “es.”
- Baby → Babies
- Party → Parties
If a noun ends in -o, how you make it plural depends on the letter that comes before “o” in the word. If it’s a vowel, add an “s,” and if it’s a consonant, add “es.”
- Studio → Studios
- Zoo → Zoos
- Potato → Potatoes
- Hero → Heroes
Finally, there are some irregular nouns that don’t follow a consistent pattern. You’ll have to learn to identify these through exposure and practice. Here are some common irregular plurals:
- Person → People
- Woman → Women
- Child → Children
- Foot → Feet
- Tooth → Teeth
- Mouse → Mice
- Sheep → Sheep
- Cactus → Cacti
Possessives
A possessive is a form of a noun that shows ownership or possession of something. Most possessives are formed by adding an apostrophe and an “s” to the end of the word. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule.
For singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an “s.”
- The writer’s book.
- The cat’s food.
You also add an apostrophe and an “s” to plural nouns that don’t end in “s.”
- The women’s room.
- The children’s books.
For plural nouns ending in “s,” add only an apostrophe.
- The writers’ books.
- The cats’ food.
For singular common and proper nouns that already end in “s,” rules differ by style guide and vary based upon different circumstances, like whether the name is classical and if the “s” is pronounced. When using these words, be sure to consult your chosen style guide.
Common Mistakes
Mistakes with plurals and possessives often come from misunderstanding when to use an apostrophe.
For example, writers might incorrectly use an apostrophe to form a plural:
- There are many book’s. (incorrect) → There are many books. (correct)
Or they might leave out the apostrophe when forming a possessive:
- The childs book (incorrect) → The child’s book (correct)
Perhaps one of the most common mistakes is confusing when to use “its” and “it’s.”
“Its” is the possessive form of “it.”
- The cat loves its food.
“It’s” is the contraction of it is.
- It’s a beautiful day.
Still struggling with plurals and possessives? They can be tricky, but getting them correct is essential for clear writing. For more grammar tips, check out the Aha! Editorial blog, and consider hiring a book editor to ensure your work is flawless.
Check out some of our other grammar mini lessons!
