Some authors argue that the apostrophe can be used to form plurals with abbreviations like cds and pcs or with words that are rarely used in the plural form like buts and ifs. And so youre gonna be, you know, this intelligentsia is going to be coming into contact with a lot of french, see the apostrophe being used this way and say, oh, thats awfully convenient. Oct 29, 2015 when you consider apostrophes, the first word that probably comes to mind is possessive because our gradeschool teachers taught us that apostrophes make things possessivemore specifically, apostrophes make nouns possessive. As far as i know the only reason to underline a book title would be to give it great meaning in a sentence or to show it in a highlighted fashion by. When youre first learning english, it is good to brush up on the specific rules of punctuation, especially that of the apostrophe because it is so often misunderstood we have put together this guide to the apostrophe to help you understand the different uses and rules when it. If the apostrophe appears before the letter s then it may denote that the possessive case is singular, i.
In formal writing, words are not usually shortened. Apostrophe is outside because james ends in an s 2 also apostrophes are used when quotation marks are needed in a quote. Since the 1980 s, the thomas s, both of whom have multiple phd s, have sold old book s and magazine s at the fair on saturday s and. In my opinion and bryan garners, haha, the only time when you can use an apostrophe to pluralize something is when its an abbreviation made up of lowercase letters. Im talking about the title of a brochure or book put out as a guide to visitors of a particular city or tourist. It can also sometimes be used to pluralize irregular nouns, such as single letters, abbreviations, and singledigit numbers. Visiters only joking as others have said, visitors book is fine. Im, hes, well, dont, cant, wont and oclock of the clock etc. While writing possessives, the position of the apostrophe depends on whether the noun is singular or plural.
How to use apostrophes common mistakes in business english. Jan 12, 2012 if the name of the book is in a sentence apostrophes are probably used. Since the 1980s, the thomases, both of whom have multiple phds, have sold old books and magazines at the fair on saturdays and sundays. No plural needed because it is a guide for each individual visitor who uses it. No plural needed because it is a guide for each individual visitor.
The apostrophe or character is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the latin alphabet and some other alphabets. An apostrophe is a punctuation mark that primarily serves to indicate either grammatical possession or the contraction of two words. The book doesnt belong to the visitors, it belongs to you. A visitors book is a book associated with visitors. Sometimes to indicate the structure of unusual words. As it describes an association with the following word rather than any direct ownership, no apostrophe is necessary. The apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to mark omissions and. Capital letters used as words, numerals used as nouns, and abbreviations usually form the plural by adding s. Jul 09, 2008 i would personally say drop it, for no other reason than visitors book does not have an apostrophe. In summary, the general rule for indicating possession is to add an apostrophe and an s at the end of the word. As someone with a surname ending in s, i usually add an apostrophe after the s to indicate possession.
The apostrophe is an often misused piece of punctuation. To show where one or more letters have been left out as in the abbreviation contraction of do not to dont to show the possessive case as in the cats whiskers. Continuing from the commercial breakthrough of overnite sensation 1973, this album is a similar mix of short songs showcasing zappas humor and musical. That is an inverted comma or quotation markspeech mark, which is used for opening quotations. The apostrophe has been partnered up with the letter s in a few different roles over the last 500 years, and as with many relationships the goalposts have shifted a little over time.
Apostrophes are often mistakenly omitted in common expressions such as at arms length and at wits end. No plural necessary, because it is a guide for every single visitor who uses it. In this example, the apostrophe is still used to indicate that letters are missing, but it has been done in an irregular way. We accept submissions on the understanding that there are no limitations. A guide to the possessive forms of nouns chrispearce52. Do you use an apostrophe in a surname when using it in the. The apostrophe probably causes more grief than all of the other punctuation marks put together. English language grammar point, the use of the possessive. Also, where there is no actual ownership, an apostrophe isnt usually used, such as visitors book, girls school and proofreaders marks, although usage can vary between countries. Know how to use apostrophes for acronyms and years.
May 27, 2019 know how to use apostrophes for acronyms and years. At last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your. Many common nouns end in the letter s lens, cactus, bus, etc. The only time an apostrophe should be used in a year is if its standing in for omitted numbers. When contractions are used, the apostrophe replaces the letter or letters. We use apostrophes to write about oprahs new recommendation, j. It depends if you are seeing the word as description of the book an adjective requiring no possessive apostrophe or a noun designating the book as belonging topertaining to the visitors. Jul 15, 2015 also, where there is no actual ownership, an apostrophe isnt usually used, such as visitors book, girls school and proofreaders marks, although usage can vary between countries. Traditionally, this is seen as an informal usage of the apostrophe. And so its around this time, around the early 17th century, late 16th century that were starting to see this apostrophe usage in english. Add an apostrophe after the s if the noun is plural and ends in s, and do not add another s girls ribbons. Apostrophe article about apostrophe by the free dictionary. Either way the usage is correct because the apostrophe is being used to show possession and not to form a plural.
Where to place the possessive apostrophe in a surname. To show possession with a singular noun, add an apostrophe plus the letter s. Visitors in visitors book is a noun masquerading as an adjective, so it wouldnt need an apostrophe. This defines the type of gallery, but not whether it belongs to visitors. Apostrophe is the eighteenth album by frank zappa, released in march 1974 in both stereo and quadraphonic formats.
The marking of the omission of one or more letters as in the contraction of do not to dont the marking of possessive case of nouns as in the eagles feathers, or in one months time. Also, it is plural, so the apostrophe comes after the s. An apostrophe looks the same as a single end quotation mark, so care must. Some people think that what the apostrophe is doing is going back to our old english roots. Apostrophe to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a word, whether unpronounced, as in oer for over, or pronounced, as in govt for government. Some people thought it was a mark of elision, so the kings book was a shortening of the king his book. If you are just seeing the name of the book alone it shouldnt be underlined or with apostrophes just the name of the book. At last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your apostrophe david marsh simon griffins irreverent pocketsized guide to a tricky piece of punctuation is the perfect stocking filler.
Where to place the possessive apostrophe in a surname by mark nichol you see them all the time during rural drives and suburban errands alike, those oldefashioned wooden shingles mounted on mailboxes or dangling from porches or fastened to walls. Visitor s note apostrophe s is a singular possessive. Use of the apostrophe proper usage of the apostrophe. For example, one hours respite means a respite of one hour exactly as the cats whiskers means the whiskers of the cat. Sep 15, 2011 but the book does not belong to the visitors.
Dec 04, 2015 at last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your apostrophe david marsh simon griffins irreverent pocketsized guide to a tricky piece of punctuation is the perfect stocking filler. For singular nouns ending in s, the possessive apostrophe is used. If, as a singular visitor, i have a guide, then its a visitors guide. The apostrophe is often used to indicate a connectionbelonging between two words. The high school does not belong to the girls, as they quickly discover.
Want to know when to use the apostrophe and when to skip it. Apostrophe remains zappas most commercially successful album in the united states. Visitors note apostrophe s is a singular possessive. The predepression era of the 20s was a time of social change and material excess. If the name of the book is in a sentence apostrophes are probably used. When you write a books name, do you use apostrophes or. Apostrophe simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The apostrophe is used to show that a letter is missing. If im talking about our family i would refer to the hodges perhaps not strictly correct but easier to say and write than hodgeses. I would personally say drop it, for no other reason than visitors book does not have an apostrophe. While that may sound simple enough, many people are baffled by the little squiggle. An apostrophe is commonly, but erroneously, used in numbers such as calendar decades or centuries instead of using the correct form, e.
Care must be taken to place the apostrophe outside the word in question. Note that the position of the apostrophe before or after the s depends on whether the word is a plural form ending in s. The apostrophe is seldom used to form a plural noun. An edited version of its leadoff track, dont eat the yellow snow, was the first of zappas three billboard top 100 hits, ultimately peaking at number 86. Apostrophes punctuation rules blue book of grammar. I firmly believe that there is widespread confusion about apostrophes and that the policy of some people and perhaps some businesses is to sidestep the issue by never using them. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity. From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from usage woes to grammar.
An apostrophe is also used to indicate the omission of the first two digits of a year or years. Written by editor and writer frances peck, these pieces take a thorough yet entertaining look at some of the most common errors, weaknesses and uncertainties that plague writers of english. If the noun is singular, the apostrophe goes before the s. The same logic goes for years instead of writing spandex was popular in the 1980s, use 1980s. The members of the class of 98 have all gone on to be successful. If the noun is singular, such as girl or dog, put an apostrophe after the last letter and add an s dogs balleven if the singular noun ends in s jamess car. Is it correct to say i write children books not possessive. The keep the apostrophe campaign has been launched after years of frustration with the software used by banks and airlines that remove them from irish names such as osullivan, oshea. A girls high school is a school for girls, or associated with girls. This guide was meant to be bought and used by visitors. Its idiosyncrasies aside, the apostrophe merits the support offered it by richards and his apostrophe protection society. The apostrophe is a punctuation mark used in writing.
And so its around this time, around the early 17th century, late 16th century that were starting to. Apostrophe in english on our examples pages you will see pictures of real life apostrophe abuse, many of which have been submitted by visitors to this site. Sometimes even native speakers have trouble with it. It is a diacritic a mark used with letters in english, it has two jobs. Oct 02, 2014 some people thought it was a mark of elision, so the kings book was a shortening of the king his book. In phrases such as drivers licence, travellers cheques and visitors book, the plural noun is descriptive rather than possessive. The smiths and the likestark reminders that possessives still throw many people for a. It was certified gold by the riaa on april 7, 1976 and peaked at number 10 a careerhigh placement on the billboard 200 chart in 1974. May 17, 2016 apostrophes are often mistakenly omitted in common expressions such as at arms length and at wits end.
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