Describe the common errors in apostrophe usage in academic writing.

Common errors in apostrophe usage in academic writing include:

1. Incorrectly using apostrophes to indicate plural forms: Apostrophes should not be used to form plurals. For example, "student's" is incorrect when referring to multiple students; it should be "students."

2. Misplacing apostrophes in possessive forms: Apostrophes should be placed before the "s" to indicate possession. For example, "the professor's book" is correct, while "the professors' book" is incorrect.

3. Using apostrophes with possessive pronouns: Possessive pronouns such as "its," "yours," and "theirs" do not require apostrophes. For example, "The cat licked its paws" is correct, while "The cat licked it's paws" is incorrect.

4. Confusing "it's" and "its": "It's" is a contraction of "it is," while "its" is a possessive pronoun. For example, "It's a beautiful day" is correct, while "The dog wagged it's tail" is incorrect.

5. Using apostrophes in plural acronyms or abbreviations: Apostrophes should not be used to form plurals of acronyms or abbreviations. For example, "PhDs" is correct, while "PhD's" is incorrect.

6. Overusing apostrophes in expressions of time or measurement: Apostrophes should not be used to indicate plurals in expressions of time or measurement. For example, "in the 1990s" is correct, while "in the 1990's" is incorrect.

It is important to use apostrophes correctly in academic writing to maintain clarity and professionalism.