Have you ever found yourself staring at the word ‘apostrophe,’ wondering if you’ve spelled it correctly? You’re not alone! This seemingly simple punctuation mark can trip up even the most seasoned writers, and getting its spelling right is essential for clear communication. In this article, we’ll guide you through the ins and outs of ‘apostrophe,’ breaking it down letter by letter, providing its phonetic pronunciation, and even offering audio clips to help you master both spelling and pronunciation. So whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone keen to polish their language skills, keep reading to ensure you never misspell this important term again!
How Do You Spell ‘apostrophe’ in English?
Wondering how to spell and pronounce the word ‘apostrophe’ correctly? Here’s a simple breakdown to help you.
| a | p | o | s | t | r | o | p | h | e |
| eɪ | piː | oʊ | ɛs | tiː | ɑr | oʊ | piː | eɪtʃ | iː |
The word ‘apostrophe’ is spelled a – p – o – s – t – r – o – p – h – e, and the phonetic transcription of each letter is /eɪ/ – /piː/ – /oʊ/ – /ɛs/ – /tiː/ – /ɑr/ – /oʊ/ – /piː/ – /eɪtʃ/ – /iː/. The full phonetic transcription of the word ‘apostrophe’ is /əˈpɑːstrəfi/.
Listen to the Spelling of ‘apostrophe’
Want to hear how to spell ‘apostrophe’? Just press play below!
What Does ‘apostrophe’ Mean?
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark (‘) used to show possession or to indicate that letters are missing in contractions.
How to Use ‘apostrophe’ – Example Sentences
- 1. The teacher explained that the apostrophe is used to indicate possession, as in ‘the cat’s toy’ where the toy belongs to the cat.
- 2. During the editing process, I noticed several misplaced apostrophes in the students’ essays that changed the meaning of their sentences.
- 3. In poetry, an apostrophe can be employed as a figure of speech when a speaker addresses an absent person or an abstract idea, such as in John Donne’s lines directed at Death.
- 4. When typing on my phone, I often accidentally hit the apostrophe key instead of the quotation mark, leading to confusion in my text messages.
- 5. The sign outside the cafe read ‘Welcome to Bob’s Cafe,’ demonstrating how the apostrophe denotes ownership of the establishment by Bob.
Syllable Breakdown of ‘apostrophe’
The word ‘apostrophe’ can be divided into syllables as follows: a-pos-tro-phe.
Common Misspellings of ‘apostrophe’
Here are some of the most frequent mistakes people make when trying to spell ‘apostrophe’:
- 1. apotrophe
- 2. apostrophy
- 3. aposthrophe
- 4. apostrope
Avoid these incorrect versions to ensure your writing is accurate and professional!
Thanks for reading! Now you know exactly how to spell and pronounce ‘apostrophe‘.
From now on, you can be sure you’re using it the right way — whether you write it or say it!
Want to learn more? Check out other tricky words on our site!