Save the Apostrophe!

Which is why I’m on a one-woman crusade to save the apostrophe.

I’m losing.

The apostrophe is absolutely the most misused punctuation mark, and the most common error is the use of “it’s” for “its.” Fortunately, the distinction is fairly easy to master.

“Its” means “possessive” or, to put it in non-grammar-school lingo, “its” refers to something that belongs to something or somebody else. “The box was missing its top.” The top belongs to the box.

“It’s” means “it is.” “It is warm outside” translates to “it’s warm outside.” The apostrophe takes the place of the letter “i” in “is.”

How can you remember this? Two ways.

First, Barbara Lewis of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan points out that “its” is similar to the other possessives (“his” and “hers”), which do not take apostrophes either.

Second, just read the sentence replacing “its” with “it is.” If it makes sense, add the apostrophe. If it doesn’t make sense, omit the apostrophe.

Note: this rule only works for the “its” and “it’s” distinction. All other “possessives” need apostrophes. So it’s “the company’s product” (not the companys product).

More Tips

With only one exception, plurals do not need apostrophes, whether the plurals are figures (“the 1990s”), multiple letters (e.g., “ABCs,” “PDAs” and “CDs”) or words (e.g., “menus”).

Use an apostrophe if you’re abbreviating years (e.g., “the ’90s”) and to make a single letter plural (e.g., “p’s and q’s”). Otherwise you risk having the letter misunderstood as a word. It is the Oakland “A’s,” not the Oakland “As.”

And, for additional information, the Apostrophe Protection Society has the “specific aim of preserving the correct use of this currently much-abused punctuation mark in all forms of text written in the English language.” For more information, visit http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk.

©2004, Communications Plus

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—Kay Paumier, Communications Plus