Mastering the Apostrophe in Academic Writing
Lesson 6 of 20 Thesis Editing Tips
From the Examiner’s Desk
“I frequently examine theses in which years of excellent research are obscured by weak writing.”
Many writing guides focus on complex grammar.
This lesson focuses on one of the smallest punctuation marks in English.
Used correctly, the apostrophe helps your writing look professional and polished.
Used incorrectly, it creates an impression of carelessness that distracts readers from otherwise excellent research.
As a PhD examiner and thesis editor, I rarely see a thesis fail because of punctuation.
However, repeated punctuation mistakes create an impression of poor proofreading.
One of the most common problems is the incorrect use of the apostrophe.
Fortunately, apostrophe mistakes are easy to recognise and even easier to correct once you understand two simple rules.
What Does an Apostrophe Do?
The apostrophe has two main functions in English.
It is used:
• To show possession.
• To form contractions (shortened forms of two words).
It should not be used to make ordinary nouns plural.
Understanding this simple distinction will eliminate most apostrophe errors.
Showing Possession
Use an apostrophe when something belongs to someone or something.
Singular possession
✅ The student’s thesis
✅ The researcher’s conclusion
The apostrophe comes before the s because one person owns the item.
Plural possession
✅ The students’ assignments
✅ The researchers’ findings
Here, the apostrophe comes after the s because the item belongs to more than one person.
Apostrophes and Contractions
An apostrophe is also used when two words are shortened.
For example:
✅ it’s = it is
✅ don’t = do not
✅ can’t = cannot
Although contractions are common in everyday English, they are usually best avoided in formal academic writing.
Instead of writing:
❌ It’s important to consider sample size.
Write:
✅ It is important to consider sample size.
The Difference Between “Its” and “It’s”
This is one of the most common mistakes I see in theses.
Remember:
✅ its = possession
Example:
The company increased its production.
✅ it’s = it is
Example:
It’s important to repeat the experiment.
If you can replace it’s with it is, the apostrophe is correct.
If not, use its.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
Common Mistakes
Example 1
❌ The students results were analysed.
✅ The students’ results were analysed.
Example 2
❌ The company increased it’s production.
✅ The company increased its production.
Example 3
❌ Three PCR’s were performed.
✅ Three PCRs were performed.
An apostrophe is not used to make abbreviations or ordinary nouns plural.
Example 4
❌ The researchers analysed the patient’s records and the hospitals policies.
✅ The researchers analysed the patient’s records and the hospital’s policies.
Careful proofreading quickly identifies these small mistakes.
Why Examiners Notice This
A single apostrophe error is unlikely to affect the overall assessment of a thesis.
However, repeated punctuation mistakes create an impression that the document has not been carefully proofread.
Your thesis should reflect the same attention to detail that you applied to your research.
Small corrections contribute to a more professional final document.
Practical Editing Strategies
During your final edit:
• Search for apostrophes throughout your thesis.
• Check whether each apostrophe shows possession or forms a contraction.
• Remove apostrophes that have been used to make simple plurals.
• Pay particular attention to its and it’s.
These checks take only a few minutes but can significantly improve the presentation of your thesis.
Quick Editing Checklist
Before submitting your thesis, ask yourself:
✓ Have I used apostrophes only for possession or contractions?
✓ Have I avoided using apostrophes to make plurals?
✓ Have I checked every use of its and it’s?
✓ Have I proofread names, abbreviations and technical terms?
✓ Does my punctuation reflect the same care as my research?
Key Takeaway
Correct punctuation strengthens the professional appearance of your thesis.
Although apostrophe mistakes are usually small, repeated errors distract readers and create an impression of careless proofreading.
A few minutes spent checking apostrophes before submission can make a noticeable difference to the quality of your writing.
Need Professional Thesis Editing?
If you would like an experienced PhD examiner to review your thesis before submission, I’d be happy to help.
Whether you need a complete thesis edit, advice on improving clarity or feedback on a proposal, feel free to get in touch.
Dr Anastasia Apostolides
PhD Examiner • Thesis Editor • Proposal & Academic Consultant
Helping Master’s, MBA, DBA and PhD students write with clarity and confidence.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
📧 Email: info@uedit.org
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Continue Learning
This article is part of the 20 Thesis Editing Tips series.
Continue to the next lesson or explore the complete collection of free thesis resources to strengthen every stage of your academic writing.