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The retirement, at 96, of the founder of the Apostrophe Protection Society can hardly be the most surprising news, but it made a (slightly) interesting diversion from the usual doom and gloom, although John Richards himself was certainly disappointed to have conceded defeat in the war against the incorrect use of the mother tongue. A war that has been fought (fruitlessly) for centuries, and certainly since people like Samuel Johnson first compiled his dictionary.
In fact, if you take a look at the history of English, you’ll find that there really has never been a time when it was entirely settled. In Chaucer’s time, for example, day’s end would have been daies end (no apostrophe). Back in the sixteenth century, the apostrophe was used to indicate a plural in certain cases and the omission of a letter or letters in others – stolen from the French, in that case (l’heure – the hour).
So, does it matter much if the mythical greengrocer sells “tomato’s”?
No, it really doesn’t in my view.
Does it matter if Sainsbury’s prints up a thousand vinyl signs proclaiming cut price “video’s”. Yeah. That’s a different kettle of fish entirely.
When to use the apostrophe
In most cases, it’s pretty simple (“it’s” being a tricky one for many people).
An apostrophe can be used to indicate missing letters such as in “I’m” which is short for “I am”.
It can also be used to indicate possession (or, more accurately, an association, but let’s not muddy the waters).
Back in Shakespeare’s day, it might be “the dogges balle”, whereas now we’d use “the dog’s ball”.
If there’s more than one dog (and, in the interests of fairness also more than one ball), then the apostrophe gets added after the s. So, “the dogs’ balls.”
“It’s” means “It is”. If you want to indicate that something belongs to it, then don’t use an apostrophe – it’s the one exception I can think of. So, “The dog has lost its ball.” or, indeed “The dog thinks it’s its ball.”
So, it’s not rocket science unless you’re someone who earns their living by writing. In that case, you have to learn all the stylistic variations around the edges. So, for example, if Jesus owned a ball, would it be “Jesus’ ball” or “Jesus’s ball.”? Well, that depends on which style guide you follow.
I’ll confess to being a bit of a rebel (for example, I insist that “alright” is all right. This gives my editor hives, but there we are). So, where it’s a matter of style, I choose the one I prefer and stick with it. One day I’ll write a blog entry about the Oxford Comma. You have been warned.
When it matters and when it doesn’t
For me, as a writer, it always matters. But that’s because it’s my job.
For normal human beings in informal settings, it doesn’t matter. I would never correct a friend who used “it’s” when they should have used “its”. Unless that friend is a writer…
In formal situations – business letters, job applications, leaflets, posters, the sides of London buses, then yes, it does matter because to get it wrong suggests a lack of either professionalism or care.
This is almost never an issue of meaning. You really do have to tie yourself in knots to come up with a form of words that would be genuinely confusing. But getting it wrong in a professional situation does communicate something unwelcome.
So, farewell to John Richards. I hope he treated his campaign as a bit of fun because if he really thought he could correct modern usage he was wasting his time.
For myself, I try hard – really hard – to be relaxed about misuse of apostrophes. Sometimes, I even succeed.
I’m a die hard apostrophe user. And yes, I push the Oxford comma, too!
Long live the apostrophe!
I respect your devotion to both causes, Gregg 🙂
Completely agree. I never knew the apostrophe was in trouble. Long shall it live along with the Oxford comma.
There are better examples of ambiguity if the Oxford comma isn’t used. , but here goes. He humiliated his sister, cousin, neighbor and wife. Were three or four humiliated?
The Oxford comma is a matter of style. As a journalist, I was trained to use AP style (I think it was that one, anyway) where the OC isn’t used EXCEPT where it’s needed. That’s my approach. In your example, it is only ambiguous if he was married to his neighbour.
And that’s why it should have been his sister, his cousin, his neighbor & wife if you meant 3 & didn’t want to use the extra comma.
I think is very important to have the apostrophe!
In many cases, I agree, Peggy!
The apostrophe is definitely in in my life and so are commas.
I’m a stickler for proper spelling, pronunciation, and American English in general. I have no choice. Almost all errors jump out at me. Sorry 🙂
To those of us that write in the mother tongue, Patricia, American English is full of errors 🙂
I’m frequently amazed, when reading an article written by a “professional writer”, how frequently there are misspellings, use of incorrect homonyms, and poor punctuation.
Yes, a professional righter must get it write 🙂
I will not give up the fight for proper apostrophe use. I’ c’a’n’n’o’t’ l’e’t’ i’t’ g’e’t’ t’h’i’s’ f’a’r’.’ I also firmly believe that words like “Thomas” are pluralized as “Thomas’s” and not as “Thomas’.”
According to some sources, it would depend on whether you’re referring to the Biblical Thomas or not… It’s a minefield.
No, the plural is [Doubting] Thomases.
Misuse of the apostrophe sets my teeth on edge, especially when used to form the plural of a common noun. Like you, I try to overlook it in casual settings with friends, but people who attempt to make a living as a writer really should know better. Sadly, their proofreaders and editors often appear to suffer the same deficiency. I hold a similar view in favor of the Oxford comma. Press on with the good fight!
Chet, the difference is that the Oxford comma is a matter of style, not correctness. Personally, I think it’s ugly so I only use it on those incredibly rare situations where it matters to meaning.
Apostrophes are a MUST in the English language, and any reading material should always have the correct usage. Like Gregg Bender, I’m also an Oxford comma fan.
Just because some people are unable to use the apostrophe in the correct manner doesn’t mean that the rest of us should give up. ✌
I don’t think we should give up using them properly, Kay, but perhaps it’s a waste of effort to try to get everyone else to do it!
I absolutely champion the correct use of apostrophes and commas at all times. As another person above stated, that includes the Oxford comma. My decision on whether or not to buy a book, for instance, is often dependent upon proper spelling and punctuation in a preview glance (when allowed) or in the blurb (although that may not be fair due to different writers). Also, the misuse of to lie and to lay is a complete no-no. I make many grammatical mistakes myself, I know, but yes, I am a pedant. And I’m going to remain one.
But Martin, there is no “correct” use of the Oxford comma – it’s purely a matter of which style guide you follow. It does get people talking, however!
Like Stephen Fry I have been an apostrophe pedant forever. But also like him I have come to realise that really in the scheme of things it is not a big deal. However, I absolutely agree with you that in formal situations it is essential to get it right. Someone on Reddit commented that she was told that the reason she made the interview list was the fact that her CV was the only one without spelling or grammatical errors.
I agree with Stephen Fry on most things, including this.
I grind my teeth a lot.
In a previous life, I used to hunt down misplaced and missing apostrophes, correct them, and explain why to the culprit. The battle lost, that job was no longer required…
That said, my own OCD is no reason to take it out on others.
Yes Tony. We have to accept that there are bigger fish to fry 🙂
Without the apostrophe, written communication (as in without vocal tonality) would be ineffective. The intended meaning would be indecipherable.
I’m not so sure, Narelle. As I explain in the article, we never used to use them.
As an editor, proofreader, and life-long fan of the English language well-used, I take apostrophes pretty seriously. I’m also a big fan of the Oxford comma.
The apostrophe is very necessary – I also abhor the demise of the hyphen.
Yes I’m a fan too, of both but I still think we have to accept that English is a ‘living language’ so usage will dictate what stays and what goes.
Thank you for writing this. Now I know I can write off reading anything else you write.
Excellent reasoning!!
As a former journalist, editor, writer, reviewer, and critical reader, I am quite serious about apostrophes. The battle for the apostrophe must continue.
Save the apostrophe!!
If you’d seen my name you’d know how much I respect it.
This is something we discussed about the name of our band. I took the rebel’s view and there you have it… Morrigans Path was born.
It still makes me chuckle when the pesky little thing finds a way back in, thanks to the well meaning and far better educated bod than me!
Well I am a big fan of the apostrophe when used correctly. It is and it’s can be a problem but I find that the one that gets me is there, they’re and their. I am afraid that I am not actually sure what the Oxford comma is, I just know when I am reading something by a US author the number of commas (and incorrect spelling) that they use drives me a bit batty.
You can pry the apostrophe and the Oxford comma out of my cold, dead hands! I don’t enforce this rule for anyone but myself unless I’m editing for them, of course, because that would be rude. Wude, wude, wude! I will admit to looking askance at professional pubs which misuse the apostrophe.