In English grammar and punctuation, understanding the correct placement of punctuation marks can sometimes be confusing, especially when dealing with sentences that include both apostrophes and question marks. Writers often find themselves wondering where a question mark should go when a word or phrase ends in an apostrophe, particularly in the context of possessives or contractions. This topic may appear minor at first glance, but correct punctuation plays a major role in clear communication, professionalism, and proper sentence structure. Let’s explore when and how to use a question mark after an apostrophe, and what grammar rules guide this choice.
Understanding Apostrophes
Before diving into question marks, it’s important to understand what apostrophes are and how they are used. Apostrophes serve two main functions in English
- To indicate possession(e.g., Sarah’s book, the dog’s tail)
- To form contractions(e.g., doesn’t, it’s, I’ve)
Apostrophes are not used to pluralize words. They are always a part of the word, not punctuation that ends a sentence. This distinction is critical when determining how to use other punctuation marks like question marks in relation to apostrophes.
Role of Question Marks
A question mark is used at the end of a sentence or clause that asks a direct question. The main rule to remember is that question marks are always placed at the end of the entire question, not in the middle of it. When apostrophes appear in a question, the question mark is generally placed after the full sentence or phrase is complete, regardless of the apostrophe’s position within a word.
Correct Placement of Question Marks
The question mark does not interact directly with the apostrophe in most cases. Here are a few examples to demonstrate
- Is that Sarah’s car?
- Didn’t you see the dog’s leash?
- Isn’t that John’s hat?
In each of these sentences, the question mark follows the full question. The apostrophe appears within the sentence, typically indicating possession or forming a contraction. The question mark comes at the very end because it marks the conclusion of the interrogative sentence.
Common Misunderstandings
Some writers mistakenly assume that punctuation must always follow immediately after certain grammatical marks, such as apostrophes. However, that is not the case with question marks. The question mark’s function overrides the visual placement of the apostrophe within the sentence. Even if the word that ends the sentence has an apostrophe, the question mark still comes after the word not after the apostrophe specifically.
Incorrect Examples
Let’s look at some incorrect uses for clarity
- Is that Sarah’s?← correct
- Is that Sarah’s’?← incorrect
- Didn’t you hear the baby’s’ cry?← incorrect
The apostrophe belongs to the word; it is not a separate punctuation mark that gets followed by a question mark directly. Therefore, inserting additional punctuation marks immediately after an apostrophe is not correct unless required by other grammar rules.
Possessives and Questions
When the possessive form appears at the end of a sentence, and the sentence is a question, the question mark still comes at the end. For example
- Whose jacket is this Mark’s?
- Are those the children’s toys?
- Is that the teacher’s comment?
These examples show that the question mark always goes outside the possessive word, no matter where the apostrophe is placed. The apostrophe is part of the possessive noun, and the question mark belongs to the sentence as a whole.
Contractions and Questions
When using contractions in a question, the apostrophe is embedded within the contraction and is unaffected by the presence of the question mark. The question mark still comes at the end of the sentence.
Examples with Contractions
- Can’t you see the sign?
- Isn’t it obvious?
- Why didn’t he call?
- Wouldn’t you agree?
In each case, the apostrophe is used to form the contraction, and the question mark is used to close the interrogative sentence. They serve different functions and do not overlap in placement.
Special Cases Titles and Quotation Marks
Things get a little more nuanced when apostrophes and question marks are used within titles or quotations. In these cases, the rules depend on whether the question mark is part of the quoted material or the overall sentence.
Examples with Titles
- Did you read The King’s Request?
- Have you seen Love’s End?
The apostrophe is part of the title, and the question mark comes after the title because it ends the question. The question mark is not part of the title unless the title itself is a question.
Examples with Quotation Marks
- Did she really say, It’s my sister’s?
- He asked, Is this your friend’s car?
In the first example, the question mark ends the full sentence, and in the second, it belongs inside the quotation because the quote itself is a question. Regardless, the apostrophe remains within the quoted possessive word or contraction and is not influenced by the placement of the question mark.
When Does Apostrophe Follow a Question Mark?
Almost never. An apostrophe should not follow a question mark unless you are dealing with an unusual construction, such as a pluralized abbreviation that ends in a question mark though this is incredibly rare and often awkward in formal writing. In standard English grammar, the question mark always comes last, closing the full sentence or clause. There is generally no case in which an apostrophe would naturally follow a question mark in conventional usage.
Summary of Rules
- A question mark ends the sentence or question, not the individual word.
- An apostrophe never replaces a question mark and vice versa.
- If the sentence is a question, the question mark goes at the end, even if the final word includes an apostrophe.
- Apostrophes are used within words (for possession or contractions) and are not punctuation marks that require further punctuation directly after them.
Mastering punctuation rules may seem like a small detail, but they significantly impact the clarity and correctness of your writing. When it comes to using a question mark after an apostrophe, the answer is clear the question mark comes at the end of the sentence, not directly after the apostrophe. Whether you’re writing about someone’s belongings or forming a contraction in a question, remember that the apostrophe is part of the word, and the question mark is part of the sentence structure. Keeping these grammar rules in mind will help you write with confidence and precision in any context.