It is placed where the missing letter would be in that case. Apostrophe rules can be broken into four main categories. I went to the editorinchiefs house for dinner last night. Aug 08, 2019 grammar girl is part of the quick and dirty tips podcast network. The idea that theirs needs an apostrophe comes out of the fact that on virtually every other word, s indicates possession, so english speakers sometimes think theirs should be spelled theirs. Lynne truss wrote this book with a little bit of humor. Please let me know what is correct for each of the following. Punctuation is not grammar and doesnt follow grammatical rules. Apostrophes are one of the more confounding punctuation marks. In this interview about his book bad english, ammon shea explains the many ways people have been confused about apostrophes over the. If there are more than one errors, separate corrected words with a space and a hyphen as in the examples.
Apostrophes the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. Apostrophes and plurals grammar girl quick and dirty tips. I want to avoid having incorrect signage installed, especially in a school. Grammar girl book grammar girl s grammar girl ss grammar girl faq or faqs grammar girl apostrophe after z grammar girl grammar girl commas grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing pdf i am that girl book the senior girl s guide to girl scouting hidden girl book roller girl book dragon. Its arbitrary, and especially in the case of apostrophes, chaotic. English literature is replete with instances of apostrophe. In the first example, context makes it clear that moses is not plural as nobody who knows english well does not know that moses is a singular prop. Sometimes, its called the grocers apostrophe because of how frequently it is spotted in grocery store advertisements 3 oranges for a dollar. Apostrophes and plurals with grammar girl, mignon fogarty. Grammar book 1 is for beginners, while grammar book 2 is a followup for intermediate students. Many common nouns end in the letter s lens, cactus, bus, etc.
Mostly, folks overcorrect by using its inappropriately. Apostrophe rules english grammar lesson to improve writings skills punctuation marks duration. Weve all seen examples of people using apostrophes before an s to make a word plural, but. Apostrophe english grammar today cambridge dictionary. Everyone can be a great writer grammarly allows me to get those communications out and feel confident that im putting my best foot forward. Use an apostrophe to indicate possession with nouns a noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. A singular noun forms the possessive possessives show whose something is. The punctuation mark that most often gets mixed up with the apostrophe, by my estimation, is the single quotation mark. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Most genitives are formed with s the term genitive includes a larger range of relationships than possessiveownership my dog, temporary possession his cookie, a natural trait his tail, a family relationship his mom, origin his city, performer of an action his arrival, and more. Years ago, this used to be a style choice, and it was quite common for style guides to recommend using an apostrophe to make abbreviations plural, but as time went on, more and more style guides stopped recommending the apostrophe. I was taught that the s was only used if the noun was plural and ending in s and s was used for the singular so i would go for jamess even though it.
Like all the best grammar and language books, including my own, this one falls foul of muphrys law. We use apostrophes to write about oprahs new recommendation, j. However, this is always incorrect theirs is the only correct spelling. Classically, it is not correct to just add an apostrophe to a last name that already ends in s if it is singular possessive. We do not double the s or add apostrophe s after another s to indicate possession.
To show possession with a singular noun, add an apostrophe plus the letter s. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing wikipedia. My students linger over the pages of the book, pondering both the meaning and the artwork. Aug 12, 2019 mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Grammar girl people have been confused about apostrophes. The history of the apostrophe in this interview about his book bad english, ammon shea explains the many ways people have been confused about apostrophes over the centuries. The girl is the singular subject and the bicycle is the. If the cheese used to belong to a girl named jess, would it be jesss or jess cheese. She was on the show to answer a viewer question about the use of possessive apostrophes. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence. Nov 01, 2006 my head is spinning trying to remember and apply all the apostrophe rules that i learned 30 years ago. Find books like grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing from the worlds largest community of readers.
The logic is that all names should be treated the same. If the phrase refers to books as a genre, written or intended for girls, the books would be girls books no apostrophe by rule e. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Richard nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and english at georgia southern university and the author of several universitylevel grammar and composition textbooks. The most common use of apostrophes in english is for contractions, where a noun or pronoun and a verb combine. Dec 04, 2015 like all the best grammar and language books, including my own, this one falls foul of muphrys law. From grammar and spelling to style and tone, grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself. The apostrophe indicates that one bicycle belongs to one girl. My head is spinning trying to remember and apply all the apostrophe rules that i learned 30 years ago.
If the apostrophe appears before the letter s then it may denote that the possessive case is singular, i. As she does in previous volumesgrammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing 2008 and the grammar devotional 2009fogarty affects an earnest and upbeat tone to dissuade those who think a grammar book has to be annoying, boring, and confusing and takes on the role of grammar guide, intent on demystifying grammar. Whereas quote marks can face left or right, apostrophes only face one way. The history of the apostrophe grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Books similar to grammar girls quick and dirty tips for. Apostrophe in literature is an arrangement of words addressing a nonexistent person or an abstract idea in such a way as if it were present and capable of understanding feelings. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller.
I went to the editorinchief house for dinner last night. For example, the aardvarks pencil, where there is an apostrophes at the end of aardvark. Use an apostrophe to indicate a noun is possessive. I dont care whether its james or john, jones or smith. The simplest and most likely solution is to omit all apostrophes which dont convey any information, or questions like this wouldnt be asked and rely on syntax to distinguish the girls teams, and the boys teams, from the girls and boys team. I put an apostrophe in where i shouldnt have, and it was a very. Filled with funny illustrations, this book helps you understand the importance of using this symbol while writing. Learn english with lets talk free english lessons 70,293 views 11. With very few exceptions, apostrophes do not make nouns plural. Nicely illustrated, and the pictures are entertaining too. Girl books and i loved reading it despite not being a pedant about language, except for the apostrophe, of course. Grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for. To form the possessive of a singular noun that does end in s or an s sound, add an.
Apostrophe english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Aug 10, 20 apostrophe rules english grammar lesson to improve writings skills punctuation marks duration. You wont get arrested by the grammar police for using your brain. The girls like spaghetti is a book telling you the uses of using an apostrophe.
The girl s like spaghetti is a book telling you the uses of using an apostrophe. One major new use for the apostrophe was to indicate possession. To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Grammar girl book grammar girls grammar girl ss grammar girl faq or faqs grammar girl apostrophe after z grammar girl grammar girl commas grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing pdf i am that girl book the senior girls guide to girl scouting hidden girl book roller girl book dragon. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing is an educational podcast produced by mignon fogarty that was launched in july 2006 and the title of a print book by fogarty that was released in july 2008. In the case of a book belonging to cassius, we will use the chaucer rule to place the apostrophe. Using an unnecessary apostrophe to form the plural of a noun is a very common mistake. Possession johns car, a friend of mine english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. If you search for signs with grammar errors online, most of the results. Sometimes to indicate the structure of unusual words.
If smart or curly quote marks are toggled on, beware of employing a beginning single quote mark 6shaped to do the job of an apostrophe 9shaped. Aug 08, 20 mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Its i often see people crisscross the uses of these words. People sometimes get confused when a singular noun ends in the letter s. At last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your. Dec 27, 2018 if in that book, a group of mice share some cheese, you would write, mices cheese. Like fogartys grammar girl podcasts, the book is breezy and reassuring, yet. To form the possessive of a singular noun that does not end in s or an s sound, add an apostrophe plus s to the noun. Itll be ideal for those struggling with the structures of basic conversations. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. The rules about how to use them are complicated, and have evolved haphazardly.
If the phrase refers to a group of girls who purchased some books, then the books are the girls books by rule a because they own the books. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. A phenomenon named grammar girl outlines 9 ways to use an apostrophe but left me unclear whether its a girls school or girls school. The first book covers some of the most common english grammar topics, such as plurals, simple tenses, articles and questions.
I know there are varying opinions on which is correct, james or jamess. Its good for middle school too, because it is that engaging. Awardwinning picturebook author tony johnston presents the poignant story of a loving. Read on to discover all the apostrophe rules youll ever need to know. With singular nouns ending in s, add an apostrophe and s. Originally written as advice by a copywriter for designers wont to insert and remove apostrophes at will, for visual effect this is a lighthearted pocketsized guide to getting the fing things right. Roma many foreign names are assimilated into english and do not need translation. If in that book, a group of mice share some cheese, you would write, mices cheese. 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. Use an apostrophe to take the place of one or more missing letters in a contraction. Simply paste or write your text below and click check my writing to get feedback on your writing.
Because of that s, panic sets in and people wonder which rule to apply. Grammarly is like a little superpower, especially when i need to be at. Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and. Apostrophes quiz 1 the blue book of grammar and punctuation. Remember that the apostrophe is often replacing a letter that has been dropped. Girls locker room or girls locker room a locker room for a class or group of girls 2. An apostrophe is a mark of punctuation used to identify a noun in the possessive case or indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word. Other dormitorywithgirls movies are girls dormitory 1936 and bad girls dormitory 1985 the latter without the apostrophe but both without werewolves. Apostrophes with names ending in s, ch, or z grammar and.