If you’re still struggling with apostrophe use check out apostrophe.me for a series of flow charts and nicely explained graphics. Here are some of them. There are a couple more.




Here’s the golden rule of apostrophe use.

If you’re still struggling with apostrophe use check out apostrophe.me for a series of flow charts and nicely explained graphics. Here are some of them. There are a couple more.




Here’s the golden rule of apostrophe use.

Nathan runs St Eutychus. He is currently a student at the Queensland Theological College. In a previous professional life he worked in public relations for an economic development and tourism marketing organisation. He is married to Robyn. He likes coffee and the internet.
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Eutychus was a young man who fell to his death because the Apostle Paul preached for too long (Acts 20). I've decided to canonise Eutychus and make him the patron saint of my dalliances around the Internet.
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1Gordon Cheng
wrote on 5 November 2009 at 18:55
But the rule "Is it indicating possession? Use an apostrophe" is not sufficiently qualified in this chart.
So following that rule, I would right "hi's apostrophic flow chart didn't contain enough qualifications to make it's meaning accurate or clear."
Also, I quite like signs advertising "CD's and DVD's" because they remind me that the letters 'isc' have been omitted.
2queenstuss
wrote on 6 November 2009 at 10:09
The English language is far too stressful.
3Leah
wrote on 6 November 2009 at 2:34
There's an error on that flow chart.
It should be "90s' fashion" not "90's fashion" UNLESS you are talking about the specific year 1990, rather than the entire decade. But it's probably in reference to the decade, in which case it's denoting a plural -hence "90s"- and then a possessive of that plural, hence "90s' ".
4Nathan
wrote on 6 November 2009 at 3:42
I would think they are talking about 1990 – because Hammer pants weren't around for that much longer…
Also, the apostrophe after the s rule is not actually a hard and fast rule. It could be 90s's and still be correct.
Gordon,
There are a few more bits to the flow chart if you follow the link… but I would point out that for consistent use of the apostrophe in DVDs it should be D'V'D's. And that's not pretty, nor does it fit with any rules for acronymising words…
5Goannatree
wrote on 26 November 2009 at 14:55
Nathan, where did you get this from originally? I can't find the attribution link and i'd like to look at some of their other stuff. thanks.