Todays guest biatch is Veggie Mama, methinks she was inspired by the comments in this post...
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In an attempt to live in an inappropriate-apostrophe-free zone, I have created this handy reference sheet for those of you who may be confused.
I understand many of you simply don’t care. That’s great.
Moving on.
If you want to say ‘you’re funny’, or ‘you’re a dickhead’, or ‘you’re doing my head in’, then it’s YOU’RE you’re looking for. Which means YOU ARE, but abbreviated.
If you’re concentrating on other people’s possessions, its YOUR: as in ‘your rusted tin can’, or ‘your ninja sword’ or ‘your mullet’.
If someone owns something, they get an apostrophe: God’s, Mom’s, Ronald McDonald’s.
If there is two of something, they don’t. Gods, Moms, Ronald McDonalds. (Ronald McDonaldseses is also acceptable. For that matter, so is colour-inerer.)
So just because something has an ‘s’ on the end, it doesn’t automatically need an apostrophe. Since when do the CDs own anything? Or DVDs for that matter?
Don’t get me started on Washer’s and Fridge’s… Just writing that made me ill.
Very good. You all get a scratch ‘n sniff sticker x
The Veggie Mama is where I write stuff about food and stuff. And make stuff. Mostly. I am found annoying people here and pretending I’m Mark Zuckerberg’s friend here.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I noticed a lot of people talking about their dad’s around Father’s Day (hmm… now is that Fathers’ Day or Father’s Day…the world cannot agree on that one) but the apostrophe that kills me the most is the one mistakenly placed in 60′s, 70′s, 80′s… etc.
… and in “DVD’s”. What could DVDs possibly own??!
so many people don’t know that one!
Now see I would have put scratch ‘n’ sniff because it’s abbreviating the d too. ME SO CONFUZZLED! Your to smart four me (oh, lordy, that was painful to write).
Ordinarily you’d be right, but it depends on the licensed brand name. The ones I had as a kid were spelled like that. If anything, I’m guilty of not capitalising the words, as it is a pronoun xx
Excellent post!! Rachel
Excellent comment! Stacey.
From my heart to your mouth! So many people seem to skip English class in high school. I understand the apostrophe confusion, most of us fall victim to it every now and again, but the you’re your business is ridiculous, it’s not that hard people! As well as they’re and their, and omg there. Great post x
haha so many they’re/their/theres! People inevitably choose the wrong one, and then I get heart failure xx
Now this is a little embarrassing as I am a teacher, but I always have trouble with apostrophes in the ‘its’. I know there’s one for the ‘it is’ contraction, and there’s one for possession but I have also seen ‘its’ written without an apostrophe, but I don’t know what the rule is in that case…any helpers??
yes! “Its” with no apostrophe is when there IS possession! Confusing, huh?
So it would be: “It’s great” (it is)
“The cat sat on its mat” (possession)
So usually, possession would take an apostrophe, but NOT if it is in “its”.
AUGH!
Just remember the its without the apostrophe is used like his and hers, it’s the same conjugation. What I mean is, if the cat in the above example was a boy, you would say ‘the cat sat on his mat’. so if you’re not sure pretend it’s a boy or a girl and you don’t need the apostrophe. Does that make sense?
Just remember the its without the apostrophe is used like his and hers, it’s the same conjugation. What I mean is, if the cat in the above example was a boy, you would say ‘the cat sat on his mat’. so if you’re not sure pretend it’s a boy or a girl and you don’t need the apostrophe. Does that make sense?
This makes me feel all warm and fuzzy
This makes me feel all warm and cosy and like everything’s right in the world.
Hooray! Someone else who agrees with me on the use of apostrophes!
Let’s not get started on the many people who use “then” when they should use “than”.
I went back and read all of yesterday’s comments……they just went on and on and on…..whew!
I’m trying so hard with my apostrophes and the more I try the more I get them wrong
but at least my friends know I’m trying and keep helpfully pointing out my mistakes so I can fix them.
Thanks to Kelley I’ve got loose / lose figured out and this morning I conquered brought / bought. Also stationery / stationary are under control.
Baby steps.