The apostrophe is one of the most misunderstood punctuation marks in the English language. Many people struggle with knowing when to use an apostrophe to make a word possessive or to show contractions. One of the most common areas of confusion is deciding whether to use “birds” or “bird’s”. Let’s break it down.
When to Use “Birds”
“Birds” is the plural form of the noun “bird”. You use “birds” when referring to more than one bird. For example:
- There are many different birds in my backyard.
- Birds can fly south for the winter.
- Those birds are chirping loudly outside my window.
As you can see, no apostrophe is used when referring to multiple birds. The word stays in its plural form without any punctuation.
When to Use “Bird’s”
The apostrophe is used in “bird’s” to show possession or ownership. You use “bird’s” when referring to something that belongs to a bird. For example:
- That bird’s nest looks messy.
- The bird’s feathers were brightly colored.
- I could hear the bird’s chirping from inside the house.
In each case, the apostrophe + s is added to “bird” to indicate that the nest, feathers, or chirping belong to the bird. This signals possession or ownership.
General Rules for Apostrophe Use
Here are some general rules to remember about using apostrophes correctly:
- To show possession for a singular noun, add ‘s – For example: the dog’s bone, the writer’s desk, the company’s policy.
- To show possession for a plural noun ending in s, add just the apostrophe – For example: the birds’ nests, the girls’ toys, the companies’ employees.
- To show possession for plural nouns not ending in s, add ‘s – For example: the children’s book, the people’s votes.
- To show contractions like can’t, don’t, or isn’t, use the apostrophe in place of the missing letter(s).
- Plural nouns not showing possession do not take apostrophes – For example: many birds, some companies, three girls.
There are some exceptions, but these basic rules cover most cases of apostrophe usage.
Helpful Ways to Remember
Here are a couple helpful tips to remember when to use “birds” vs “bird’s”:
- If you can replace the word with “it” or “he/she”, use ‘s to show possession – For example: The bird built its nest. The bird flapped his wings.
- If you are referring to more than one bird, no apostrophe – For example: Many birds migrate in the winter.
- If in doubt, say the phrase out loud – “the birds are chirping” vs “the bird’s feathers are colorful.” Hearing it aloud can help.
Practice Examples
Let’s practice distinguishing between birds and bird’s:
Sentence | Correct Version |
---|---|
The birds feathers were ruffled by the wind. | The bird’s feathers were ruffled by the wind. |
There nests were made of twigs and grass. | Their nests were made of twigs and grass. |
Many exotic birds live in the rainforest canopy. | Many exotic birds live in the rainforest canopy. |
The Falcon used it’s keen eyesight to spot prey. | The Falcon used its keen eyesight to spot prey. |
The bird’s were singing a lovely song. | The birds were singing a lovely song. |
As you can see, the tricky part is recognizing when the apostrophe is needed to show possession, and when it should be omitted to show plural birds. Listen carefully, consider context, and apply the general rules as needed.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes people make:
- Using ‘s to try to make a noun plural – For example: “birds’s” or “the girls’s toys”
- Putting apostrophes in pronouns like his, theirs, whose, its – For example: “the bird cleaned it’s feathers”
- Leaving out apostrophes in contractions – For example: “the bird cant fly south”
- Putting apostrophes in plurals – “the birds’ are migrating today”
Proofreading carefully helps avoid these errors. If an apostrophe doesn’t seem right, try rewording the sentence to double check.
Conclusion
The key takeaways are:
- Use “birds” when referring to more than one bird
- Use “bird’s” when showing possession for a singular bird
- Apply the general apostrophe rules – add ‘s for singular possession, ‘ for plural possession
- Listen carefully and rely on context
- Proofread to catch errors
With practice, noticing the difference between “birds” and “bird’s” will become second nature. Paying close attention to apostrophe use will improve your writing clarity. Understanding proper apostrophe usage takes time, but you’ll get the hang of it!