Has the time come for the "apostrophe" lecture?

Note that all my apostrophes disappeared in the tags; so, to repeat myself; it’s, who’s, they’re, Gail’s possessions.

Oh Gail, sometimes I am just too lazy to correct my work before I submit. I know the rules, I think most of us do. Just allow me a little leeway okay? I often fluther late at night (1–2am); my mind isn’t always so sharp at those times.

I’m sorry if I use too many, it’s just that starting a new sentence makes me have to think a little. I’m sure we TALK with too many apostrophes. I’m just trying to write conversationally.

@Gail, I think a list of rules for the apostrophe as it is used in the words it’s and its, might be apropos here as well. Will you do the honors?

Oh crap! I was thinking COMMAS – disregard…

Whats wrong with Fluthers’ usage of apostrophe’s?

Again; it’s = it is.
who’s = who is.
they’re = they is are

@Lefteh; so young and such a wise guy.
@Tiny; it’s the slackers who annoy me and not the exhausted.

Some people throw that ’ around as tho it were pepper dropped from the grinder, helter-skelter.

@Gail: I’m okay with that characterization.

@gail…bless you for having the strength and conviction

A’m’e’n’!

My apostrophe pet peeves:

“I have 40 CD’s” should be “I have 40 CDs.”

“I was born in the 60’s” should be “I was born in the ‘60s.”

While apostrophes are important, commas save lives.

“Let’s eat, Grandpa!”
“Let’s eat Grandpa!”

Hahaha

Remember EATS, SHOOTS, AND LEAVES?

@PupnTaco: That is probably the worst grammatical pet peeve I have. I’m with gail on this one… yay apostrophes and their proper usage!

@lefteh: ROFL

My grammatical weakness is definitely (and obviously) the ellipsis. I can’t help it!

Maude, can I pepper ‘em in if I’m gonna try’n show my folksy side?

@H:Fur Shur. When’s the opening? What’s the name? M

Now mid September. (Don’t ask) Today it’s Brookvyn. cute?

Possesives and plurals are NOT mix and match, people!

seriously ? you guys care way too much about grammar.
If my phone or my browser does not correct it, i don’t bother fixing it.

@mirza: Someone on TV the other day lamented that the internet has reduced us to a “first draft” society. You should rely on technology, but still proofread. You’re too smart and good not to. Your university will expect better.

Here’s an nice little cheat sheet.

To reiterate, I know the rules, but that doesn’t mean I’ll always follow them. I’m a rebel like that.

@PandM, the ellipsis is a wonderful thing that cannot be over used…

I love the ellipsis almost as much as I love the fact that when “its” is used to show possession it does not have the apostrophe.

@supernutjob: I cannot resist pointing out that because your ellipsis was at the end of a sentence, there should have been four dots….

@Lefteh, I had never heard that rule! Thanks, I am huge, huge fan of the ellipsis and I owe it to this remarkable punctuation mark to always use it correctly.

@Lefteh…Can one use the ellipsis at the beginning of a sentence? And I, too, am a member of its booster club.

It is true that some of the rules of prose are out-of-date; viz; never split an infinitive. But the rest are there for clarity and comprehension. Sometimes I haven’t a clue what a querent means because of laziness, rebelliousness or ignorance (choose one.) Clear written English is a lot more complicated than correct grammar.

I have people here enraged at me – publicly and privately – but never because they don’t understand what I am saying or asking. It is hard enough to get the ideas clearly from the brain to paper, but if you muck up your mother tongue, you’re toast.

Me, I am addicted to the em dash.

Gail, the apostrophe lecture, the comma lecture, the period lecture, and the paragraph lecture are all welcome anytime and all the time as far as I’m concerned.

@La chica; thanks but you may find yourself in a lonely minority (along with me and several others, who are the keepers of a flame that may be extinguished soon.)

@Gail:

soon).

oh ho!

Right. Parens. enclose entire sentence and end punctuation. Got me!

I’m a Panda. Look it up! My favorite. Also: “Young man, where is your grammar?” “In the kitchen, makin’ cookies!” note idiomatic usage :^)

@Knot; why aren’t you on your hands and knees with sponges, mops and buckets?

It’s a seep, non-diluvian. Besides, today is the goy day of rest…
Oh, Ha-Olam Ha-Lo Yehudi, the joy.

(you may get argument from 7th Day Ad’s) (wondering if the use of apostrophe is proper for this abbreviation…just trying to keep thread on track)

That’s <—- true, whatthe. Point taken.

@whatthefluther: Nope. 7th Day Ads.

I can’t think of an example for an apostrophe being used for a plural.

@lefteh…thanks…I assume it’s a nonsecular rule

Seventh Day Adventists’ lease will expire soon at their church.

I meant I could not think of a case in which the apostrophe declares the plural. In that case, the s obviously declares the plural. I should have been more clear.

Gail, you know I always welcome grammatical advice. As such, here is some. You wrote: “It’s appropriate, given some recent questions. You’re tired of me preaching, you say? That’s a good point, but there are some tired eyes here.”

I would have said You’re tired of my preaching, not You’re tired of me preaching.

(Gerund form of the verb and such….)

@Brown;Ya got me. From http://www.cliffsnotes.com

“Possessive Pronouns with Gerunds

Use a possessive pronoun with a gerund, the verb form that functions as a noun. This rule is broken frequently, with many writers using the objective rather than the possessive case.
I didn’t like his going ( NOT him going) to New York without me.
Their smiling ( NOT Them smiling) irritated her.
Please forgive our intruding. ( NOT us intruding)”

@Gail…When used in abbreviation such as (not certain of proper placement in second and third, below):
fallin’ in love
Rock ‘N Roll
Lil’ Abner
is it still called an apostrophe and is there a rule for this utilization? Or, are we looking at improper usage by overly terse writers? Thank you very much.

WTF: I don’t know. I would guess that if you drop a final “g,” than fallin’ would be correct.

And Li’l Abner© is officially written thus – the ’ replaces the missing letters, sort of.

Rock ‘n Roll or (as Wikipedia says) Rock ‘n’ Roll;I don’t know what an editor would do with that. You expect too much of me….have pity.

The usual example; it’s = it + missing i + s

@whatthefluter: Yes, it is still called an apostrophe. One of the duties of an apostrophe is to indicate omissions.

@lefteh…Thanks. Contractions are fairly straightforward but it appears some liberty is taken with other words that employ the apostrophe for omitted letters.

’’’’ with that.