Do you understand how to use an apostrophe?

Question

Looking on this site makes me realise that many don't know how to use one and don't care.

I see standard plurals almost every day with misplaced apostrophes.

The ones who say they don't care are always the ones who don't understand how to use one! Noticed that?

So, I thought I would ask and see how many people understood what this poor abused mark actually means.

I appreciate that perhaps I am sad!

Answer 1

They can't use commas, apostrophes, capitilizations, prepositions, or even the bloody Spell Check.

Or differentiate between their, they're, there

Or your, you're

Answer 2

Oh, at last! A person after my own heart!
Sometimes I think I am the only person who understands what a misplaced apostrophe is!
Those awful signs outside pubs; soup's; salad's; dinner's...
Indeed, you are quite correct - the number of people who type questions on this site who can't spell, use grammactically correct sentences, basic punctuation, never mind an apostrophe, is mind boggling!
Sad? No! A thousand times no!
Long live good English!

Answer 3

Keith Waterhouse calls them 'abberrant apostrophes' which I think just about sums it up.

The problem is that the correct use of the apostrophe is no longer taught in schools, along with spelling and punctuation generally. It seems, therefore, that nobody is too bothered about this mauling of the English language. Just another nail in the coffin.

Answer 4

when showing that something has possession, there are two ways to use an apostrophe. If the word does not end in an s the 's is added, such as goat becomes goat's. If the word ends in s then an apostrophe is just added on at the end of the word, so Cross'.

Apostrophes can also be used to combine two words, called a contraction. So can not becomes can't. Are not becomes aren't. We are becomes we're.

Answer 5

Yes, I do know how to use apostrophes. It drives me crazy at times when I see them just dotted all over the place. Some people just have to see the letter s to use one!

Answer 6

Actually, even the people who should know get it wrong as well. For instance is it 'Kings Road', Chelsea or 'King's Road', Chelsea? Is it 'Earl's Court' or 'Earls Court'? Madame 'Tussaud's' or Madame 'Tussauds'? You'd find that both are used officially!

Just throwing in a different angle on things... (",)

Answer 7

Nutty girl I agree with your comment
when you have suffered a brain injury like myself you are just glad you can type & can use spell check
Didn't think Yahoo was a English correction lesson

Answer 8

Yes. It's important to realise the difference between it's and its.
It's is a short version of it is.
Its means of it.

the dog licked its lips.

There should not be an apostrophe in things like;

Potatoe's for sale, thing's to do.

There are more instances but I'm tired.I'm off to bed. Bye.

Answer 9

while i was working for this big retailer, we had to hand in leaflets which had the word "photo's" on it. oh the shame.
but yeah i know how to use apostrophes, unlike a lot of people it seems

Answer 10

The apostrophe is used to indicate an omitted letter, as in 'isn't' for 'is not'.
It is also used to indicate possession as in 'my brother's house'.
Previously for nouns and names ending with 's' the finally 's' was omitted, so that you wrote 'James' house' but these days it seems to be acceptable to write, and say 'James's house.'
Interestingly enough, when I put this through the spell checker it suggested 'Jame's house' instead of 'James's house'.