| We feel sorry for the little apostrophe. It is so | | | | To say it plainly: put the apostrophe in place of |
| abused, so often made to do what it shouldn't, and | | | | missing letters. The little apostrophe is very powerful. |
| so often forgotten when needed. The apostrophe is | | | | It can stand in for all the letters of the alphabet |
| a proud punctuation mark with specific purposes and | | | | without breaking a sweat. Do you want to leave out |
| does not deserve to be misused. Again and again we | | | | part of a word? The apostrophe is on hand to take |
| see the same two abuses of this punctuation mark, | | | | its place. The apostrophe is mighty in this way and |
| not just in the pieces we edit but all around us in the | | | | should not be forgotten. Here are a few correct |
| "real" world. We'll discuss two of those abuses here, | | | | examples of the apostrophe doing what it should: |
| and we'll hope to restore some of the respect the | | | | We don't forget the apostrophe in contractions. The |
| apostrophe deserves. | | | | apostrophe is filling in for the missing letter in not. |
| Abuse #1: Plurals | | | | Here's the correct use of an apostrophe. The |
| To say it plainly: don't use apostrophes to make | | | | apostrophe is filling in for the missing letter in is. |
| plurals. Sentences like Get your hamburger's here are | | | | You're abusing the apostrophe again. The apostrophe |
| simply wrong. The little apostrophe was not meant | | | | is filling in for the missing letter in are. |
| to make one hamburger into multiple hamburgers. | | | | This is also the rule that explains why you don't put |
| Here are a few other samples of the apostrophe | | | | an apostrophe in its when using its as a possessive, |
| being pressed into the wrong service: | | | | as in: The apostrophe can take its place. In this |
| These paper's need correcting. | | | | sample sentence, its isn't a contraction for it is, so |
| Two boy's were bragging about their dog's. | | | | you don't use the apostrophe. |
| Apostrophe's are complicated. | | | | The rules for using apostrophes are very simple, so |
| Why do people do this to the apostrophe? The | | | | our editors are often surprised that many writers |
| construction 's is meant to show ownership (or a | | | | (not writer's) make this mistake. The two cases |
| contraction, as in the second abuse discussed below), | | | | where apostrophes are most often forgotten, in our |
| not a plural. Perhaps people abuse the apostrophe in | | | | experience, are in the words you're and they're. |
| this way because they don't know the difference | | | | Sometimes the apostrophe is there, but it's in the |
| between ownership and plurals. Perhaps they see this | | | | wrong place. |
| abuse occurring so often that they don't even realize | | | | End Apostrophe Abuse Now |
| it is wrong (much like using data as a singular noun | | | | Poor apostrophe. It can do so much for you when |
| although it is really a plural.) | | | | you use it correctly. In fact, knowing how to use |
| Villainous sentences like People living in the 1990's | | | | apostrophes correctly is a sign of being a professional |
| bought a lot of CD's certainly don't promote virtuous | | | | writer. Let's end apostrophe abuse and restore its |
| use of the noble apostrophe. | | | | dignity as a powerful and important member of your |
| Abuse #2: Contractions | | | | punctuation arsenal. |