We feel sorry for the little apostrophe. It is so abused, so often made to do what it shouldnt and so often forgotten when needed. The apostrophe is a proud punctuation mark with specific purposes and does not deserve to be misused. Again and again we see the same two abuses of this punctuation mark, not just in the pieces we edit but all around us in the real world. Well discuss two of those abuses here, and well hope to restore some of the respect the apostrophe deserves.
Abuse #1: Plurals
To say it plainly: On the Apostrophe - Vox::
Today I bitched at Mr. James Poling for apostrophe abuse, and I have also a word ending in "s" by slapping an apostrophe on the end, but guess what?
http://kevinwolf.vox.com/library/post/on-the-apostrophe.htmlHOME |
dont use apostrophes to make plurals. Sentences like Get your hamburgers here are simply wrong. The little apostrophe was not meant to make one hamburger into multiple hamburgers. Here are a few other other samples of the apostrophe being pressed into the wrong service:
These papers need correcting.
This is a great goal. on eradicate the greengrocer's apostrophe on ::
I wondered if eradicating apostrophe abuse might already be a goal on 43 Things You are quite right that the apostrophe comes at the end of the word for
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/516916HOME |
Salon.com News | America's apostrophe catastrophe::
Why tag a gratuitous apostrophe onto the poor soldier? Putting an end to the scourge of punctuation abuse won't actually lead to any of those things.
http://archive.salon.com/news/col/huff/2002/12/17/apostrophe/HOME |
Two boys were bragging about their dogs.
Apostrophes are complicated.
Why do people do this to the apostrophe? The construction s Template:User Apostrophe Abuse/doc - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia::
This is a documentation subpage for Template:User Apostrophe Abuse (see that that end's with s need's an apostrophe and will remove misused apostrophe's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:User_Apostrophe_Abuse/docHOME |
is meant to show ownership (or a contraction, as in the second abuse discussed below), not a plural. Perhaps people abuse the apostrophe in this way because they dont know the difference between ownership and plurals. Perhaps they see this abuse occurring so often that they dont even realize it is wrong (much like using data as a singular noun although it is really a plural.)
Villainous sentences like People living in the 1990s bought a lot of CDs certainly dont promote virtuous use of the noble apostrophe.
Abuse #2: Contractions
To say it plainly: put the apostrophe in place of missing letters. The little apostrophe is very powerful. It can stand in for all the letters of the alphabet without breaking a sweat. Do you want to leave out part of a word? The apostrophe is on hand to take its place. The apostrophe is mighty in this way and should not be forgotten. Here are a few correct examples of the apostrophe doing what it should:
We dont forget the apostrophe in contractions. The apostrophe is filling in for the missing letter in not.
Heres the correct use of an apostrophe. The apostrophe is filling in for the missing letter in is.
Youre abusing the apostrophe again. The apostrophe is filling in for the missing letter in are.
This is also the rule that explains why you dont put an apostrophe in its when using its as a possessive, as in: The apostrophe can take its place. In this sample sentence, its isnt a contraction for it is so you dont use the apostrophe.
The rules for using apostrophes are very simple, so our editors are often surprised that many writers (not writers) make this mistake. The two cases where apostrophes are most often forgotten, in our experience, are in the words youre and theyre. Sometimes the apostrophe is there, but its in the wrong place.
End Apostrophe Abuse Now
Poor apostrophe. It can do so much for you when you use it correctly. In fact, knowing how to use apostrophes correctly is a sign of being a professional writer. Lets end apostrophe abuse and restore its dignity as a powerful and important member of your punctuation arsenal.
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End Apostrophe Abuse