Page 1049 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 1049
The girls bikes had been left lying in the carport.
The bikes belong to the girls, but does the apostrophe go before or
after the s? Since there is more than one bike, there is probably also
more than one girl. The word bikes also ends in s. Does anything
belong to bikes? No, the word is simply a plural and is correct without
an apostrophe.
The girls’ bikes had been left lying in the carport.
Practice 28-6 Correcting Apostrophe
Errors
Underline the word missing an apostrophe in the following sentences
and supply the omitted apostrophe.
1. The cars windshield had been cracked by a grapefruit-sized
hailstone.
2. The judge imposed the maximum sentence because of the
thiefs lack of remorse.
3. The car lots no-haggle prices make it attractive to many
potential buyers.
4. The restaurants atmosphere was pleasing; candles glowed on
the tables and musicians played softly in the background.
