Ok this might sound very niave to some but here goes.
I was always lead to believe that an apostrope ' was used for the omissions of a letter. eg they're=they are etc.
Now alot of people seem to use it for plurals eg football's,mick's house etc
Is this correct?
2007-11-18 02:10:46 · 11 answers · asked by Jay 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Absolutely not!
Apostrophes are also used to show possession as in "Mike's book".
2007-11-18 02:18:49 · answer #1 · answered by kevin b 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
GRAMMAR is the correct spelling.
There are a lot of people who put an apostrophe before "s" at the end of every plural word. They do not understand the basic rules of apostrophes.
You use an apostrophe to show the omission of a letter in cases like they're (as you obviously know).
He's my friend. Jane's coming over tonight. We're having a party. etc. etc.
You also use an apostrophe to indicate possession - Mick's house, Dad's shed, the house's roof, the boss's desk, the man's shirt, etc.
You do not use an apostrophe just to make a word plural.
The team bought some new footballs. The houses in this street are old. Come and see the new puppies. I'm wearing Mum's shoes.
.
2007-11-18 19:06:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The plural of football is footballs (no apostrophe). Anyone who uses an apostrophe to make a noun plural is a dolt.
In your second example (Mick's house), you're not making a plural, you are indicating possession. This is the secon appropriate use of the apostrophe. "Mick's house" is another (correct) way of saying "the house of Mick" and is grammatically correct.
2007-11-18 10:58:00 · answer #3 · answered by jimbob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is correct. An apostrophe is used to show possession of a noun as in your example of Mick's house. I didn't understand the football example because it had no reference. This statement would be correct:
Football's Peyton Manning is an outstanding athlete.
2007-11-18 11:02:37 · answer #4 · answered by jonz4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it is grammAr! Secondly, apostrophes are used to show ownership: Mick's house, John's car, etc. Many do use it for plurals as in the Brown's (to stand for the entire Brown family). That is incorrect usage. It should be the Browns.
2007-11-18 10:16:09 · answer #5 · answered by Sherry K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apostrophes are used to show when a letter has been omitted as in 'they're' for 'they are'.
An apostrophe + s shows possessive singular 'The boy's book' (One boy)
S + apostrophe shows possessive plural 'The boys' book' - (two or more boys)
Nowadays so few people know or care about apostrophes that we might as well save time and ink by abandoning them. Pretty much the only purpose they serve is to let those who know how to use them show off to those who don't.
2007-11-18 10:39:26 · answer #6 · answered by vilgessuola 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mick's house would be fine since it is the house belonging to Mick. In this case the apostrophe is being used to show ownership (possessive).
Plurals don't use apostrophes.
2007-11-18 10:15:55 · answer #7 · answered by FourArrows 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is used for an omission as you mentioned in the words "they"re for they are. But an apostrophe is also used as a sign of a possessive noun such as Mick's place which means place of Mick
2007-11-18 10:17:22 · answer #8 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not for plurals but to show ownership. Mick's house does not mean there are two houses, but that Mick owns the house. As for the football's, that is "football is"
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Apostrophes
2007-11-18 10:15:36 · answer #9 · answered by TexasGirl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
mick's house means that the item is question is owned by mick.
people do not understand the possessive apostrophe and may be using it incorrectly
2007-11-18 10:25:10 · answer #10 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here an example. you know the Reese's candy bar?
well that apostrophe now makes it possessive - meaning the candy bar belongs to Reese.
2007-11-18 19:03:52 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋