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The Apostrophe

The Apostrophe. That Annoying L ittle M ark of Punctuation That Causes So Much Fuss and Makes People Want to Stop Writing and Jump Off a Ledge Because Nobody Knows How to Use it Correctly Even Though It Is as Clear As Day. Ancient Meaning. From the Greek meaning “turning away” “Omission”

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The Apostrophe

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  1. The Apostrophe That Annoying Little Mark of Punctuation That Causes So Much Fuss and Makes People Want to Stop Writing and Jump Off a Ledge Because Nobody Knows How to Use it Correctly Even Though It Is as Clear As Day.

  2. Ancient Meaning • From the Greek meaning “turning away” • “Omission” • Taken out!

  3. Uses • To make contractions • To create dialect • To make nouns possessive

  4. 1) To Make Contractions • Did not = didn’t • Cannot = can’t • Would not = wouldn’t • Am not = ain’t • While logical, this breaks the rules of Standard Formal English

  5. 2) To Create Dialect • Dialect • A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary • A variety of speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists • Dialect is NOT to be confused with an accent. One can speak Standard English with an accent – that is NOT dialect.

  6. 3) To Make Nouns Possessive • Singular noun that own something • The boy’s hat • One boy owns a hat • The Tour de France’s winner • One winner of the Tour de France

  7. Singular Possessive • Take the singular noun and add an ’s

  8. Possessive Plural Nouns • Make the noun plural and then add one of two constructions: • If the plural form ends in an s = add just the ’ • Boys’ hats • Girls’ pants • If the plural does NOT end in an s = add the ’s a) children’s books b) women’s flowers

  9. Time or Quantity • While not truly “possessive,” it might help to think about it in this manner: 1) Two weeks’ time • I will give you my project within two weeks’ time • (As if the weeks own the time) 2) Give me four yards’ worth of fabric. • The yards “own” the fabric.

  10. Never…Never…Never… NEVER use the apostrophe to make a word plural!! That is the most incorrect usage of the apostrophe. This error is the most glaring mistake a writer can make. It shows a great immaturity by a writer.

  11. What do these Structures Mean? • Giant Kid’s Playground • Pant’s altered • Next week: Nouns and Apostrophe’s (BBC’s website advertising a grammar site for children!) • Pupil’s Entrance • Adult Learner’s Week • Bobs’ Motors

  12. More! • Mens Toilets • Citizens Advice Bureau • Cyclist’s Only

  13. More Silliness.. • People knew they needed an apostrophe, but didn’t know where! • Ladie’s hairdresser • Mens coat’s • Childrens’ education (In a letter from the head of education at the National Union of Teachers) 4) Freds’ Restaurant

  14. Plain Illiteracy… • Hot Dogs: A Meal in Its’ Self • Recruitment at it’s best • ….to welcome you to the British Library, it’s services and catalogs • Your 21 today! (On a birthday card)

  15. It’s Amazing!

  16. Umm…

  17. Yikes.

  18. Really…?

  19. Seriously…?!

  20. Let’s Practice • Get into groups of 3-4 • Think of a sentence where an “apostrophe issue” makes a sentence silly or changes its meaning

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