This common misconceptions covers ⚠️ Three Apostrophe Traps within Apostrophe Usage for GCSE English Language. Revise Apostrophe Usage in AO6 Technical Accuracy for GCSE English Language with 10 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 5 of 5 in this topic. Use this common misconceptions to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚠️ Three Apostrophe Traps
Trap 1: Plurals always need an apostrophe
They do not. Dogs, students, ideas, decades — all plurals, none need an apostrophe. The apostrophe for possession is added after the plural form: the dogs' leads (multiple dogs, their leads). The apostrophe goes after the last letter of the possessor: one dog → dog's; multiple dogs → dogs'.
Trap 2: "it's" always shows possession because it has an apostrophe
Exactly backwards. it's = it is / it has (contraction only). its = belonging to it (possession, no apostrophe). The possessive pronouns — his, her, our, their, its — never take an apostrophe. Only contractions do.
Trap 3: Years and decades need an apostrophe
The 1990s is a plural — no apostrophe. The 1990's is wrong. Exception: if you are talking about something belonging to a decade — "the 1990s' most iconic fashion" — the apostrophe goes after the s.
Practice questions for Apostrophe Usage
Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
Which sentence uses 'its' or 'it's' correctly?