CHAPTER 9 THE TAMING OF THE APOSTROPHE ‘ English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ ENGLISH FOR CAREERS, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical by Leila R. Smith Presentation design by Barbara Moran

Chapter 9 helps you place apostrophes where they belong and not where they don’t don’t belong. ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ “Untamed” apostrophes appear in the wrong places and are missing in the right places. The result is unclear or distracting writing. English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Before placing the apostrophe, decide whether the possessive noun should be singular or plural. If a noun should be plural, make it plural first, and t tt then make it possessive. ’

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Putting ’S after a REGULAR NOUN DOES NOT make the NOUN PLURAL The Smith’s and the Johnson’s are owner’s of the two store’s. WRONG! The Smiths and the Johnsons are owners of the two stores. RIGHT!

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ And DO NOT USE WITH ORDINARY PLURALS THAT ARE NOT POSSESSIVE. My uncles operate the business. (plural, not possessive) The Gomezes live next to the Smiths. (plural, not possessive) Several workers have new computers. (plural, not possessive) ’

To make a singular noun possessive add ’S The elf’s hatMr. Scrooge’s money English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Add J ust the’ If all of the following is true: The noun  is proper  has two or more syllables  ends with an S sound Mrs. Adams ’ son called today. Al Martinez ’ grades are outstanding.

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ When making a compound noun possessive, add the to the end of the compound. My brother-in-law’s appetite amazes me. My brothers-in-law’s appetites amaze me. I am amazed that my brothers-in- law have such huge appetites. ’

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Possessive plural nouns ending with S -- Add ’ only Two days ’ work is required. Nurses ’ uniforms are often white. The students ’ books are new. Ten minutes ’ notice is enough.

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Possessive Plural nouns ending with S Add ’S Men ’s clothing is expensive. The alumni ’s party is Tuesday. The children ’s toys are new.

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Do use apostrophes for contractions Place the apostrophe where letters were removed.  You’re doing well. (omitted a)a)  I’ve caught a cold. (omitted ha)  That’s the idea. (omitted i)i)  That isn’t necessary. (omitted o)o)  We’re leaving on Tuesday. (omitted a)a)  Wouldn’t you like to visit? (omitted o)o) In business writing avoid I’d or We’d (although they are OK for conversation) ’

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ s One, body, and thing pronouns ending with ’s may be possessives or contractions! It is anyone’s guess.  (possessive) Everybody’s going.  (contraction) It is everybody’s job.  (possessive) No one’s back here.  (contraction) No one’s back hurts.  (possessive) Something’s wrong.  (contraction) ’

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Do use apostrophes for various symbols in statistical reports and forms FFeet - 4 ’ 30 ’ Minutes - 4 ’ 30 ’ ’ ONLY when omitting the century for graduation years and decades TThe Class of ’ 95 had a reunion in II’ve always enjoyed music of the ’ 60s.

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Do Not use apostrophes with nonpossessive plurals The plural of numbers  The temperature is in the 90s.  There are several 8s in my address. ’ The plural of capital letter abbreviations (unless needed for absolute clarity, as in “John earned two A’s.” As is not clear in this case.)  John earned two Fs and is now on probation.  The hospital hired two M.D.s (MDs) today.  Do you know where the YMCAs are?

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Do use apostrophes with the plural of a lower case letter  There are four i’s in Mississippi. with possessive abbreviations  The PTA’s status is strong. with plurals of lower case abbreviations if it improves clarity  The secretary sent two c.o.d.’s this morning. ’

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Do use apostrophes when forming contractions  Place the apostrophe where the letter has been omitted. You’re doing well. (omitted a) Wouldn’t you like to study? (omitted o) ’ around a quotation within a quotation  Sue said, “Joe shouted, ‘Fire!’”

Plural abbreviations without apostrophes are suitable in such documents as invoices. 8 yds.6 gals. But spell out words that pertain to quantity in letters or reports. (yards, gallons) English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ Bill and Mary’s cars. (They both own both) Bill and Mary’s car. (They both own one) Bill’s and Mary’s cars. (They each own one) How does the meaning change based upon where the apostrophes are placed?

You have tamed the apostrophe! ‘ “Meow” English for Careers, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458