Questions tagged [apostrophe]
This tag is for questions about the usage of the apostrophe.
140
questions
0
votes
0answers
10 views
Genitive plural opinions! Which is correct: Tomorrow the sister of a university friend of Clare and John is getting married. Or of Clare's and John's? [duplicate]
Native speaker here confused about genitive case.
Genitive plural opinions! Which is correct:
Tomorrow the sister of a university friend of Clare and John is getting married
Tomorrow the sister of a ...
3
votes
3answers
81 views
the use of possessive s with both words before the adjective
which one is correct? should we use apostrophe s with both nouns preceding?
I want to know teachers' and students' favorite movies?
I want to know teachers and students' favorite movies?
0
votes
0answers
13 views
possessive and adjective form of “the 1920s”
What's the possessive or adjective form of the 1920s? Is it the 1920s' (with an apostrophe following the s)?
Most books only talk about the plural form, which I think is a settled issue, but the ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Is the possessive of a name that ends in 's' pronounced differently if it refers to a group of people (like a band) instead of a single person? [duplicate]
How do you think names that have the plural "s" should be pronounced when they get the apostrophe? I researched this on the web and I couldn't find any very reliable results. For example, ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Sequential Possession
Why do we avoid sequential possession?
For example, why don't we write
'My friend's wife's necklace was stolen'
Instead we write, 'The necklace of my friend's wife was stolen. '
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Is it “nobody's business but the Turks” or “nobody's business but the Turks'”?
Is it nobody's business but the Turks (it's nobody's business, except that it is the business of the Turks); or is it nobody's business but the Turks' (it's nobody's business, except that it is the ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
can't understand why 's is in this sentence
In the sentence "Foreign visitors are only allowed one month's residence", why is 's used? I found this sentence in an old version of the Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary.
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Which is the correct way of writing years - '90-'91 or '90-91?
While writing years (like 1990 to 1991) with apostrophes, should the apostrophe come before both the years (as in '90-'91) or just the first one (as in '90-91)?
1
vote
0answers
31 views
The usage of the apostrophe
Does the usage of the apostrophe in this article headline only occur in formal writing? Because I only see it being used in an article headline. I'm sorry if I'm talking nonsense.
Always Sunny’s ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
January's schedule vs. January schedule
Is it January's schedule or January schedule?
I also get confused with whether to include an apostrophe before "bill."
This is my January bill or January's bill.
1
vote
1answer
37 views
“My friend’s actual job involves a lot of work” or “The actual job of my friend involves a lot of work”
These two sentences have same meaning.
But my question is which one of them is more correct?
-1
votes
1answer
26 views
Usage of apostrophe - “it's” versus “its”
Do you write print its value or print it's value?
It drives me crazy since I started learning advanced English (Native French speaker here)
My reasoning would be its because it is value isn't quite ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Is it correct to avoid using apostrophe in this situation?
I want to know whether it is possible to avoid using the apostrophe as suggested in the second option? or it should remain the same as it is in the first option?. Since it is the salute, I'm not sure ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Is it allowed to omit apostrophes after `s`?
In this question meaning of the s' explained, but what if I'll say my childrens toys (several kids), i.e. with no ' after s ?
0
votes
2answers
33 views
apostrophe or “of” to show possession
It is stated within my grammar textbook that, "for things, ideas etc., we normally use of to show possession". So for example:
The temperature of the water. (Not the water's temperature)
...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
Is this ad at a barber shop worded correctly?
Recently I saw an sign at a barber shop on which I read on bold letters:
"Men's only"
Is this a correct writing?
I think that it has to be "Men only" to make clear that it is a ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Which use of possessive is correct “I'm grateful for my mother's love” or “I'm grateful for the love of my mother”?
Which use of possessive is correct
"I'm grateful for my mother's love"
or
"I'm grateful for the love of my mother" ?
Or are they both correct, but carry different meaning? I ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Using the 'past tense' versus 'past perfect' - Apostrophes
When we are talking about the past actions in general; past tense, or a combination of past, and past perfect is more desirable?
Alt. 1
Since the symbolic buildings are the first things that come to ...
0
votes
2answers
519 views
Is it grasses' or grass's? Help with the possessive
I cannot understand where the apostrophe goes when using the possessive.
Is it grass's or grasses'?
Is it human's or humans'?
Thanks in advance,
-1
votes
1answer
47 views
That is house of my brother's classmate
Which one is correct to say?
That is my brother's classmate house.
That is my brother's classmate's house.
What's the grammar rule behind this? What's the correct use of apostrophe?
5
votes
2answers
296 views
How do I quote a word that ends with a possessive apostrophe?
What is the correct way to enclose within double quotes a word that ends with a possessive apostrophe?
For example:
The "professionals'" confidence was badly shaken by the market crash.
I used ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
In one hour’s difference or one hours difference
One hour’s difference or
One hours difference
My daughters teacher is saying the second but I believe she is wrong
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Possessive Apostrophe
Rorys approach was different, taking a leaf out of one of his favourite games. The game’s most memorable lesson for Rory was blackmail.
Is the apostrophe in this case correct?
1
vote
1answer
40 views
When is it okay to write “childrens” or “childrens' ” – language hack
Let's make a scenario in which there are two distinctively different entities which are both referenced as "child".
The first entity is a group of nodes that are named "children" from the parent ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Possession in English
Which is the subject and the verb in the following sentence?
This Beach's beauty is startling.
I'm reading a book of English grammar and I need to underline the subject and verb.
1
vote
2answers
730 views
Can I use apostrophe s to shorten “is”?
For example, I'd say:
The interview's on Monday.
Is that grammatically acceptable?
2
votes
1answer
165 views
“I’m a 90s kid/‘90s kid/90’s kid”
I am a 90s kid (or ‘90s kid or 90’s kid).
Which one is appropriate here in this sentence?
1
vote
1answer
44 views
possessive apostrophe and THE for academic phrases
I am applying for PhD. In university's site I have seen several possessive phrases which have completely confused me. Which of these are correct?
1- UCI EECS Department / UCI Department of EECS / UCI'...
0
votes
4answers
122 views
Are any possessive apostrophes needed here? “…headphones for their iPhones”
I am a new English learner and need some assistance with understanding when to properly use an apostrophe for showing possession.
I have an example sentence:
Sophie, Brock, and Hannah all own ...
-3
votes
1answer
589 views
Jeans' pocket vs jeans pocket
I always thought "jeans' pocket" was correct. Since you say, "the pocket of his jeans."
However, when I searched for "his jeans' pocket" on Google Books, the results returned the version without the ...
2
votes
1answer
25 views
“Titan Dahl's hedge fund's website” vs. “Titan Dahl hedge fund's website”
Titan Dahl's hedge fund's website"
or
Titan Dahl hedge fund's website
Methinks the second is correct. I need to know which of the sentences above is correct as I add plenty of references to an ...
1
vote
2answers
282 views
Saxon genitive: When to use the possessive apostrophe correctly
I know that If both elements are inanimated one can use the preposition of but not necessarily, example: "This is my car door" or "This is the door of my car" As far as I know, it would be wrong to ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“The Sergeant over there's wife” is correct?
The sentence below is a line from the movie Inglorious Basterds.
The Sergeant over there's wife just had a baby.
Is the use of the apostrophe correct?
As this is almost my first time seeing an ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Two weeks' overdue
I was reading an IELTS model response from the British Council and I saw this:
Congratulations! Your little bundle of joy has arrived at last! I had heard from our friend Christie that you were two ...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
When to use 's before noun
What is the rule to solve doubts such as:
International law view vs. International law's view
Kosovo declaration of independence vs. Kosovo's declaration of
independence
I have many ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
“Someone else's”, “Someone's else”, and “Someone else's one”
For example:
-- You should move your car out of the way.
-- This is not my car but someone else's car.
I want to get rid of the redundancy in the sentence which is presented by the second "...
1
vote
2answers
101 views
Use of possessive apostrophe with “every”
In the following sentence, can anyone tell me where the apostrophe should be placed please?
Every coders' worst nightmare
Every coder's worst nightmare
I have a feeling that the second sentence is ...
3
votes
1answer
23k views
Sister's vs. Sisters'
Question regarding the use of apostrophe/ownership in the case of twins.
Noun: The Night Sisters (who constitute a twin object).
Sentence: Mary tended John throughout the Night Sisters passing.
...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
..eating a pig's head..why not “pig head”?
In my grammar book, the following is stated:
2.5 animals
1. Use ’s when referring to the parts of the body of a living animal.
2. Use ’s when referring to the products of living animals.
3. ...
-1
votes
1answer
40 views
Where do you put an Apostrophe in this sentence
This position will play a key role in the Universities fundraising strategies.
1
vote
2answers
51 views
The Smith's paper vs the Parkinson's foundation
Following grammar rules I know (quoting):
The ’s is placed immediately after the last letter of the author (or
name, country, etc.). Note: do not use the before the name of the
author.
..
...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
Where does the apostrophe go in “participant(s) ratings”?
Which of the following sentences is correct? I'm unsure regarding the participant(s).
Figures showing the distribution of the participants' ratings on the math tasks.
Figures showing the ...
0
votes
2answers
28 views
Apostrophes and “of”
hello, I know that we cannot use "of" with names,
my book says " Tina's cat" is correct but "the cat of Tina" is not correct.
but what about the screenshot?
"the army of John Sena"
or
"the ...
0
votes
2answers
612 views
She's someone's sister vs. She's someones' sister
I recently found on a website a picture from a gathering. An individual had a sign saying She's someone's sister. As a non-native English speaker, I'm wondering why isn't She's someones' sister the ...
0
votes
1answer
478 views
Apostrophes in Time expressions with articles
Reading a book called "English for Academic Research" from A. Wallwork, he mentiones this:
The genitive is used when a time period is used adjectivally.
2. The genitive is not used when time ...
0
votes
2answers
129 views
sheep's opinion or opinion of the sheep
This is a famous game of thrones quote:
The lion does not concern himself with the opinion of the sheep.
what is the difference between this sentence and this sentence:
The lion does not ...
1
vote
2answers
355 views
“Your face looks like my sister's friend face” or “my sister's friend”?
Which sentence should I use to show that she has the same face and should I use feature instead of face?
"Your face looks like my sister's friend face"
or just
"Your face looks like my sister'...
3
votes
3answers
99 views
Parenthesis with apostrophe, how to order and how to space?
I have a very simple phrase:
I want to introduce Adam's kid
I want to insert a pair of parentheses for Adam, say, should be like this:
I want to introduce Adam (my friend)'s kid
But I'm not ...
0
votes
1answer
829 views
Where should the apostrophe go in “Cas's Cookies”?
My name is Cas and I make cookies to sell. I call my little enterprise Cas's Cookies. Is this the proper use of an apostrophe?
If I put the apostrophe after the second s then it changes my name to ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Professor of Botany's research - is it a weird apostrophe?
It was professor of Botany's research and not Biology's.
Can an apostrophe be used like that? Obviously, I'm talking about the research that was conducted by the professor of Botany and not Biology
...
