What are the common errors in apostrophe usage in essays?

Some common errors in apostrophe usage in essays include:

1. Incorrectly using apostrophes to indicate plural forms: Apostrophes should not be used to make a noun plural. For example, "apple's" instead of "apples" or "student's" instead of "students."

2. Misplacing apostrophes in possessive nouns: Apostrophes should be placed before the "s" to indicate possession. For example, "John's book" instead of "Johns' book."

3. Using apostrophes with possessive pronouns: Possessive pronouns like "its," "yours," and "theirs" do not require apostrophes. For example, "The cat licked its paws" instead of "The cat licked it's paws."

4. Confusing "it's" and "its": "It's" is a contraction of "it is," while "its" is a possessive pronoun. For example, "It's raining outside" instead of "Its raining outside."

5. Using apostrophes in plural acronyms or abbreviations: Apostrophes should not be used to form plurals of acronyms or abbreviations. For example, "CDs" instead of "CD's" or "MP3s" instead of "MP3's."

6. Incorrectly using apostrophes in contractions: Apostrophes should be used to indicate contractions, such as "can't" for "cannot" or "don't" for "do not." However, they should not be used in possessive pronouns like "hers" or "theirs."

It is important to use apostrophes correctly to ensure clarity and accuracy in writing.