The modern-day curse of apostrophe mis-use (English Grammar and Punctuation)

Member Name: GentleGenius

Product:	English Grammar and Punctuation
Date:	19/11/08 (619 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None...it just looks daft

Disadvantages: Mis-use of apostrophes makes nonsense of what the perpetrator is trying to convey

The heading on this article could be interpreted as covering many or all aspects of English grammar and punctuation, but my intent is just to concentrate on the use and mis-use of apostrophes.

This hopefully is a very short article, and it's me preaching, right up there on my soapbox. Feel free to view this with as much offense as you wish.....none is intended, but I don't blame you if you take umbrage, and I thus offer my apologies.

How many of you out there get very frustrated with the mis-use of apostrophes? It's something which I don't know if some people have blinked and missed the concept of, or if it's just something they have never been taught.

Apostrophes signify either possession, or an indication of accepted word shortening. There is absolutely no need to use an apostrophe when merely adding an S to the end of the word just to make it plural.

For example:

1) Possession indicator

Jack's television = correct (Jack is a single person)
The girls' television = correct (the girls are more than one person)
Children's society = correct (children is the singular of a collective)

2) Abbreviation indicator

It's raining outside = correct (the apostrophe denotes the omitted letter 'i', and shortens the phrase 'it is raining outside' to 'it's raining outside')

Give the dog its dinner = correct (no apostrophe needed, as no abbreviation occurs)

Give the dog it's dinner = incorrect. The addition of an apostrophe makes nonsense of the phrase, because it turns it into....'Give the dog it is dinner'.

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SPOT THE ERRORS..........

Fish and chip's
1960's
P's and Q's
Fun and game's
Orange's and lemon's

Tonights the night
Lifes for living
Mines a gin
Tomorrows another day
Peters coat is blue

CORRECTIONS:

Fish and chips
1960s
Ps and Qs
Fun and games
Oranges and lemons

Tonight's the night (e.g. Tonight IS the night)
Life's for living (e.g. Life IS for living)
Mine's a gin (e.g. Mine IS a gin)
Tomorrow's another day (e.g. Tomorrow IS another day)
Peter's coat is blue (e.g. The coat belonging to Peter is blue)

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There is a section on the BBC website where you can test your knowledge of apostrophes, and if anybody fancies testing theirs, the link is:-

www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/punctuatio n/apostrophes/

Even if you are good with apostrophes (as opposed to apostrophe's!!!!), it's a fun quiz to do.

I hope the above hasn't (= has not!! lol) come across as too arrogant or preachy, and thanks (not thank's lol) for reading!

Wow how on earth do I star-rate this article? I'll (= I will) give it just the one, in sympathy with those who have problems understanding apostrophe mis-use.

EDITORY FOOTNOTE: In the word 'punctuation' which appears in the above link, there is a space.....this space only appears when I submit the article - not on my original draft.

Summary: Apostrophes are only necessary when they are