| How should you use the apostrophe? | | | | competitor's products |
| It is one of those points you do not want to miss | | | | Note that: |
| in writing or translating to english. In fact a | | | | * In the plural the possessive apostrophe is placed |
| surprising number of english speaking people do | | | | after the -s:the dogs' bone (more than one dog), |
| not seem to know, as can be seen by the | | | | the companies' policies (more than one company) |
| number of mistakes in shop signs and | | | | * An apostrophe is not used with "it": |
| advertisements. Some of the worst culprits are | | | | This is in its best interest |
| allegedly greengrocers, hence the expression the | | | | It is its best offer |
| "greengrocer's apostrophe". Signs can frequently | | | | * What about names that end in -s? |
| be seen advertising tasty apple's , juicy pear's or | | | | There is no hard and fast rule here. It is usual to |
| the best banana's . However, they are not the | | | | add -'s after the first -s, for example: |
| only ones to get it wrong. Here are a few more | | | | Mr Jones's speech, St James's Street . |
| real-life examples of incorrect usage: | | | | However it has also become accepted practice to |
| Open Sunday's. | | | | simply add an apostrophe ( Dickens' novels ). |
| New CD's just in. | | | | An apostrophe is NEVER used when the -s simply |
| Ideal for heaters, lighting, TV's, radio's and other | | | | indicates the plural form of a noun! |
| appliances. | | | | Hence: the greengrocer sells "tasty apples, juicy |
| Menu's printed. | | | | pears and the best bananas ", and the other |
| There is even an association called The | | | | examples of incorrect usage given at the |
| Apostrophe Protection Society, set up in 2001 | | | | beginning of this article should read: |
| with the aim of tracking down examples of | | | | Open Sundays. |
| misuse and reminding people of the rules for using | | | | New CDs just in. |
| apostrophes. | | | | Ideal for heaters, lighting, TVs, radios and other |
| Perhaps it is hardly surprising that foreign | | | | appliances. |
| speakers have problems with the apostrophe, if | | | | Menus printed. |
| the British or American can't get it right! | | | | One last point: be careful when using your and |
| So what is the rule? It's really quite simple. | | | | you're. Confusion is easy, as they sound the |
| An apostrophe should be used in two cases: | | | | same. |
| 1. to indicate missing letters: | | | | Your is possessive: this is your pen |
| I don't know the answer (I do not know) | | | | You're is a contraction of "you are": you're right |
| I'm afraid I can't make the meeting ( I am afraid | | | | about that. |
| ... I cannot) | | | | And beware - hunting down examples of |
| It's really quite simple (it is) | | | | incorrectly used apostrophes can become quite |
| 2. to denote possession : the dog's bone, the | | | | addictive! |
| president's men, the company's policies, our | | | | |