Apostrophes

The rules concerning the use of Apostrophes in written English are very simple:
1. They are used to denote a missing letter or letters, for example:
I can't instead of I cannot
I don't instead of I do not
it's instead of it is

2. They are used to denote possession, for example:
the dog's bone
the company's logo
Jones's bakery (but Joneses' bakery if owned by more than one Jones)

... but please note that the possessive form of it does not take an apostrophe any more than ours, yours or hers do

the bone is in its mouth

... however, if there are two or more dogs, companies or Joneses in our example, the apostrophe comes after the 's':
the dogs' bones
the companies' logos
Joneses' bakeries

3. Apostrophes are NEVER ever used to denote plurals! Common examples of such abuse (all seen in real life!) are:
Banana's for sale which of course should read Bananas for sale
Menu's printed to order which should read Menus printed to order
MOT's at this garage which should read MOTs at this garage
1000's of bargains here! which should read 1000s of bargains here!
New CD's just in! which should read New CDs just in!
Buy your Xmas tree's here! which should read Buy your Xmas trees here!

Note: Special care must be taken over the use of your and you're as they sound the same but are used quite differently:
your is possessive as in this is your pen
you're is short for you are as in you're coming over to my house

Posted By: Cannydc on November 21st 2007 at 15:16:38

Message Thread

Apostrophes (General Chat) - Cannydc, Nov 21, 15:16:38
- Hardly rocket science is it? (General Chat) - duke of york, Nov 21, 15:25:46
  - Err no, it's English grammar' (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Nov 21, 15:35:18
    - Very basic English grammar (n/m) (General Chat) - duke of york, Nov 21, 15:36:15
      - What about 5 lamb's kidneys (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:40:17
        
        no it doesn't (General Chat) - Charles21, Nov 21, 16:30:20
        
        There would be no apostrophe (General Chat) - duke of york, Nov 21, 15:41:45
        
        But the kidneys are those belonging to the lamb. (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:44:10
        
        Sorry, I'll shut up now. I'm such a l'o's'e'r' (n/m) (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:47:00
        
        Go on then, any chips going too? (n/m) (General Chat) - pants, Nov 21, 15:41:05
        
        Offal = bad (n/m) (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:44:33
      - Indeed but still not rocket science. (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Nov 21, 15:37:22
- The dog bones. (n/m) (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:19:21
  - Drury's Left Nut (General Chat) - Cannydc, Nov 21, 15:20:14
    - does it allow you to use apostrophes on registration? (n/m) (General Chat) - pants, Nov 21, 15:30:35
      - Apostrophe denied! (n/m) (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:37:35
      - I can't remember. I hope not because (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:33:43
    - My phrase is aprostrophely correct, thank you. (n/m) (General Chat) - Drurys Left Nut, Nov 21, 15:22:43
- and can I add (General Chat) - Stoopish, Nov 21, 15:18:40

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