The Apostrophe: America's Most Misunderstood Mark
The apostrophe has a few useful applications!
1. Replace missing letters to form new words.
Examples:
As you can see, the apostrophe was used to replace letters and assist in combining two words into a new word.
Generally, most people understand the above use of the much maligned apostrophe.
2. Show possession.
This is the one that a large portion of the population struggles with. They don't understand the apostrophe, so they overuse it (often incorrectly). The same people, that don't understand the apostrophe, are often the same people, that overuse it's first cousin, the comma.
Bad examples of apostrophe use commonly observed on TBH:
The above examples are incorrect because the words with the apostrophes are simply plural words that have the apostrophe added. Take away the apostrophe...and the word is correct.
Correct example of apostrophes used to show possession:
There are additional rules that may apply when the word ends in "s", but I have to get back to work!
My investigator's have a lot of homicide's to investigate...and I have to make sure they are filing charge's, completing report's, putting suspect's in jail, and not taking long lunch's.
The apostrophe has a few useful applications!
1. Replace missing letters to form new words.
Examples:
- He is hungry. He's hungry.
- I would not do that. I wouldn't do that.
- She will be here later. She'll be here later.
As you can see, the apostrophe was used to replace letters and assist in combining two words into a new word.
Generally, most people understand the above use of the much maligned apostrophe.
2. Show possession.
This is the one that a large portion of the population struggles with. They don't understand the apostrophe, so they overuse it (often incorrectly). The same people, that don't understand the apostrophe, are often the same people, that overuse it's first cousin, the comma.
Bad examples of apostrophe use commonly observed on TBH:
- I have two Honda Foreman's for sale.
- Hunt includes all the varmint's you can shoot.
- No ATV's allowed.
- Waiting on my suppressor's
The above examples are incorrect because the words with the apostrophes are simply plural words that have the apostrophe added. Take away the apostrophe...and the word is correct.
Correct example of apostrophes used to show possession:
- That deer stand is Mark's. He put it up last year.
- That is Susan's bow.
- We are going to Tom's house.
There are additional rules that may apply when the word ends in "s", but I have to get back to work!
My investigator's have a lot of homicide's to investigate...and I have to make sure they are filing charge's, completing report's, putting suspect's in jail, and not taking long lunch's.
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