Aggravating Apostrophes

Do I use an apostrophe or do I just add an ‘s’. Where do I put the apostrophe? Do you ask yourself these questions when you’re writing? If you’re a good writer, or plan on being one, you probably do.  If you just want to chat online, probably not. So, this is for those of you who want and/or need to do it right.

Singular and Plural Possession.

Carole ate nine chips. (Chips – plural)

Carole’s chips were sea salt and pepper flavour. (Again chips is plural, but the ‘s on the end of Carole shows possession. They’re her chips.)

The women’s hockey team from Minto is going to play in Saint John Saturday night. (Again, ‘s shows possession. The word ‘women’ is already plural)

 

If the word ends in ‘s’ but isn’t plural, just add the ‘s the same as you would for the singular. If the word ending in ‘s’ is a plural, you add only the apostrophe.

James’s time machine was the worst thing he’d ever invented. (One James)

{Some editors prefer using just the apostrophe for names ending in ‘s’ as in James’. It’s not wrong, just a preference.}

The walrus’s tusk was broken in a fight. (One walrus)

The hockey players’ skates were all stolen. (Possession of the plural “players” skates).

Compare: All of the skates were stolen from the hockey players. (The skates still belong to the hockey players, but the wording of this sentence doesn’t put the players in a possessive place.)

The girls’ purses were both blue. (The purses of more than one girl).

Compare: The girls both had blue purses. (Again, the purses still belong to the girls, but in this form, who possesses the purses is separated from the item possessed).

Pronouns With or Without An Apostrophe ( ‘ )

Most pronouns don’t require an apostrophe, but indefinite ones do. Words such as “their(s)” and “your(s)” are possessive nouns but other words like “anybody” need to be made possessive with the apostrophe.

That table in the corner is theirs, the one right there is yours.

Their table is in the corner, your table is on the right.

Both the above sentences show possession.

Whether Edward will show up is anybody’s guess.

Let me remind you that this girl is somebody’s daughter.

The picture is clear in one’s mind when it’s described well.

The three above sentences show possession (of the guess, the daughter and the mind). Let’s rearrange them to compare.

Anybody can guess whether Edward will show up.

Now the guess isn’t in the possessive position.

Let me remind you that this girl is the daughter of somebody.

An awkward sentence, but in this case somebody is just a noun, not a possessive noun.

The picture is clear in the mind of one, when it’s described well.

Again, awkward and ambiguous.  Although “one” is unspecific the first sentence (possessive) is fairly clear. “In the mind of one”, although meaning the same as the first, its awkwardness questions “one what?”

His robot located its own missing arm. (Remember it’s is a contraction.  His robot didn’t locate it is own arm).

Clarity is the Exception

As with most rules, there’s an exception, sort of: clarity.

Dean knew his ABC’s before he entered kindergarten. *

Always remember to cross your t’s or they might look like l’s.

Lissa got two A’s on her report card and the rest were B’s.

Don’t use too many and’s, if’s or but’s in your essay.**

There is no possession here but compare:

Dean knew his ABCs before he entered kindergarten.*

Always remember to cross your ts or they might look like ls.

Lissa got two As on her report card and the rest were Bs.

Don’t use too many ands, ifs or buts in your essay.**

You could probably figure out what the words are without the apostrophes, but they just make it easier to read. It can be argued that using apostrophes in these instances are breaking the rules since they show pluralization and not possession. But it could also be argued that without the apostrophes, those words could be confused with common words or abbreviations. In this case, it’s pretty much your call, as long as you’re consistent. But if your editor asks you to change it, don’t be offended.

          *ABCs is clear enough without the apostrophe, but since both ways are correct, use consistency.

** Current usage doesn’t use the ‘s for these words. Watch the Chicago Manual or Dictionary.com for changes in trends.

Numbers and Acronyms

For numbers and acronyms it’s pretty clear without the apostrophe.

Derek had trouble learning his 1, 2, 3s.

Boy George was popular in the 1980s.

Put all of my CDs in that box in the corner.

Maci uses too many LOLs in her texts.

Hyphenated Words

For hyphenated words, it depends on what you want to say.

My brothers-in-law helped out when we moved. (There’s more than one brother-in-law, but there is no possession.)

My father-in-law’s dog ran away last night. (One father in law, possessing a dog.)

My sister’s-in-laws dresses matched, but they hadn’t planned it that way. (More than one sister-in-law, and possession of dresses.)

One Thing Owned By More Than One

When two or more nouns possess the same thing, placement of the ‘s depends on whether or not the possessed thing is shared.

Jenny and Jonny’s song became a number one hit. (Jonny and Jenny did the song together.)

Zak and Codie’s mother always walked them to school. (Zak and Codie are brothers, so have the same mother.)

Jack’s and Keith’s cars are black. (Jack and Keith have their own cars, they don’t share one.)

Patti’s and Dixie’s hairdressers met for the first time yesterday. (Patti and Dixie have different hairdressers.)

 

It can be difficult, even if you know the rules. Remember, think about what you want to say. If you want plural don’t use an apostrophe, just an ‘s’ or one of its forms (es, ies, etc). If you want possession, do use the apostrophe in the appropriate place (what is being possessed?). And don’t forget the exceptions.