Questions tagged [apostrophe]

This tag is for questions about the usage of the apostrophe.

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2 answers
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confused about the usage of apostrophe

I was confused about the usage of apostrophe. Can you please answer which one is correct and why? Do you copy other's code? Do you copy others' code?
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1 answer
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Which is correct: any of humans' languages,OR 'any of human languages'?

I am currently working on my SAT book, and I encountered a question like this: The Golden Record contains a great cross-section of human civilizations, but that information still needs to be ...
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"two weeks' time" vs "two-week time"

I know that: (1) in two weeks' time - correct (2) in two-week time - incorrect But I don't know what will be without "in". For example (my own sentences): (3) Two weeks' time is enough for a ...
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What is the difference in using an apostrophe between UK and US?

cambridge.org: UK doll's house cambridge.org: US dollhouse cambridge.org: UK year end cambridge.org: US year's end In the first example, an apostrophe is typical for UK and not typical for US. In the ...
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1 answer
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When we refer to a 'Room key', is the room being used as an adjective here? can't I say 'Room's key' instead?

What I am trying to find out here is the etymology of the phrase "Room key". Surely, it must have been "room's key" first. When and how did it become "Room key"? and Can ...
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2 answers
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What does an apostrophe change, appearing instead of "g" in the ending "ing"? (doing → doin')

As far as I understand, if an apostrophe is in place of some letter, this letter isn't pronounced. For example: is not ['iz 'na:t] → isn't ['iznt] about [ə'baut] → 'bout ['baut] because [bɪˈkɑ:z] → '...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Should there be a possessive in "like that of a peacock('s)"?

She has great charm, even like that of a peacock's She has great charm, even like that of a peacock The comparison is not between the lady and the peacock. It is between the charms of the lady and ...
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2 answers
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for word ending with s/ or s sound, when do we omit extra s n when don't?

I've just started reading 'Writing in the technical field' by Thorsten Ewald and in it, it was written for the possessive of words ending with s( or s sound) you can choose to add s or not ( most ...
12 votes
4 answers
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Shouldn't there be a ('s) in "University of Texas('s) Basketball Coach"?

I came across this New York Times headline: University of Texas Basketball Coach Faces Felony Domestic Assault Charge Shouldn't there be a ('s) in this construction like, "University of Texas's ...
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1 answer
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Apostrophe with job titles

Do we use apostrophes when talking about a job position within a company? Example: IDB's director John or IDB director John Thanks
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1 answer
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What does “a'walking” mean?

The title of Elvis Presley’s song: The girl next door went a'walking. What does a’ mean?
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1 answer
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Bob Marley music or Bob Marley's music

Which of these sentences would you say? I think they're both idiomatic. What's the difference between them? I listen to Bob Marley music. or I listen to Bob Marley's music.
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Apostrophe on hours’ or not [duplicate]

Can someone tell me if “We can call out within 24 hours' notice or can arrange a day that best suits you.” Is grammatically correct with the apostrophe after the ‘s’ on the word hours? Or would there ...
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1 answer
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Title with apostrophe

If I say my title is: Vice President’s ServiceNow Developer This implies that I work for the vice president, as a ServiceNow developer, kinda like an assistant, right? My thought the experiment was to ...
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2 answers
107 views

Using 's for "ancestors"

Majumder grew up in the house of his _______. ancestors' ancestor Which one of these should I use?
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1 answer
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Is the apostrophe in the title "Demon's souls" misused?

The title for the game as advertised is Demon's Souls, which in my understanding translates to "Demon is souls" which is relatively wrong, I think. Rather it should be written like Demons ...
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0 votes
2 answers
396 views

If I want to avoid the possessive apostrophe, could I write "John his new tires are great" instead of "John's tires are great"?

How to rewrite a sentence to avoid the possessive apostrophe? Why? I have been told to avoid apostrophes altogether for international English as it's confusing. This is easily done for contractions ...
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1 answer
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Is it apostrophe-s or only the apostrophe for singular nouns ending in -s?

This page gives the following examples of correct punctuation showing possession for singular nouns ending in -s: Thomas's job the bus's arrival James's fiancée Steve Davis's victory VS Socrates' ...
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1 answer
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Apostrophe usage in job titles

Why is apostrophe not used in job titles such as "Production Assistant" or "Production Engineer". My understanding about these roles is that people are part or are members of the ...
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1 answer
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I was at my parents. Vs. I was at my parents'./I was at Chris. vs. I was at Chris's

I am wondering which sentences from the following sentences is correct: I was at my parents. or I was at my parents'. I was at Chris. or I was at Chris's.
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3 votes
1 answer
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What does the single quotation(') in 'bout mean?

More specifically, I want to know what is the single quotation(') in 'bout means. I know 'bout means about but does that mean we always can use a single quotation for words that start with a vowel? Or ...
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1 answer
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Apostrophe with company names [closed]

How do I say this? Zowie mice are better than Logitech. Zowie's mice are better than Logitech's. Zowies are better than Logitechs.
2 votes
1 answer
117 views

Rules for using possessive "s" to describe quantity

I'd like to know how to explain the rules for use of possessive "s" to describe the quantity of something, as in, "two hours' work" to an English learner. This answer at english....
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Should I keep apostrophes in this case?

Do I need to keep apostrophes in the following sentence?: Introduction of the four-day working week worked to everyone's advantage, both the employees' and the company's. Or can I simply drop them?: ...
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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 ...
2 votes
3 answers
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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?
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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 ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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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, ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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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. '
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1 answer
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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 ...
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1 vote
1 answer
27 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.
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1 vote
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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)?
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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 ...
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1 answer
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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.
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1 vote
1 answer
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“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?
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1 answer
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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 ...
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1 answer
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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 ...
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1 answer
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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 ?
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2 answers
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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) ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
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2 answers
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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 ...
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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 ...
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2 answers
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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,
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-1 votes
1 answer
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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?
user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
347 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 ...
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1 answer
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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
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1 vote
1 answer
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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?
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1 vote
1 answer
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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 ...
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1 answer
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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.
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2 answers
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Can I use apostrophe s to shorten "is"?

For example, I'd say: The interview's on Monday. Is that grammatically acceptable?