Campus’ or Campus’s? A Simple Guide to Possessive Forms

Understanding how to use apostrophes correctly can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to possessive forms. A common question is whether to write Campus’ or Campus’s. Don’t worry! We’ll break it down step by step and use a table to make it super easy for you.

What Does Possessive Mean

When we talk about possession, we mean showing ownership or a relationship. For example:

• The campus’s library means the library belongs to the campus.

Singular, Plural, and Possessive Forms

To understand the difference, let’s look at three main forms:

1. Singular
2. Plural
3. Possessive

Singular Form

The word campus is singular, meaning one campus.

• Example: This campus is beautiful.

Plural Form

The plural of campus is campuses, meaning more than one campus.

• Example: All the campuses have cafeterias.

Singular Possessive

When you want to show that something belongs to one campus, you add an apostrophe and an s.

• Example: The campus’s gym is new.
  This means the gym belongs to one campus.

Plural Possessive

If you’re talking about something belonging to multiple campuses, you add an apostrophe after the s.

• Example: The campuses’ facilities are excellent.
  This means the facilities belong to several campuses.

Quick Look: Table for Clarit

Form	Explanation	Example
Campus	Singular form	This campus is well-maintained.
Campuses	Plural form	The campuses are spread across cities.
Campus’s	Singular possessive	The campus’s library is spacious.
Campuses’	Plural possessive	The campuses’ resources are shared.

How to Decide Between Campus’ and Campus’s

When talking about one campus:

• Write campus’s (with an apostrophe and an s).
  Example: The campus’s mascot is a lion.

When talking about many campuses:

• Write campuses’ (with the apostrophe after the s).
  Example: The campuses’ students are participating in the event.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some mistakes people often make:

1. Confusing Plural with Possessive
   • Wrong: The campus’ have cafeterias.
   • Correct: The campuses have cafeterias.
2. Using Campus’ for Singular Possessive
   • While some style guides allow it, most prefer campus’s for singular possessive to keep it clear.
3. Forgetting the Apostrophe
   • Wrong: The campus library is new. (if you mean possession)
   • Correct: The campus’s library is new.

A Fun Way to Remember

Here’s a simple tip to remember:

• If it’s ONE campus, add ’s.
• If it’s MANY campuses, just add ’ after the s.

Think of the apostrophe as a tiny marker that shows who owns what!

Practice Makes Perfect

Let’s try a few examples. Fill in the blanks with the correct form:

1. The _______ cafeteria is closed for renovations.
2. All the _______ libraries are modern and digital.
3. This _______ name is written on the map.

Answers:

1. campus’s
2. campuses’
3. campus’s

Conclusion

Now you know when to use campus’s or campuses’! Apostrophes don’t have to be confusing if you break them into simple rules. Just remember:

• Singular possessive: Campus’s
• Plural possessive: Campuses’