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PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES The English language first picked up the apostrophe in the 16th century. The word apostrophe is Greek and means “turning away”, and hence “omission” (to leave out). In classical texts , it was used to mark dropped letters and when English printers adopted it , this was still its only function. Shakespeare liked to innovate: he used the apostrophe as a fashion icon: “I am too much i’ the sun” says Hamlet explaining his mental unrest. This is a clear case of a writer employing a new–fangled punctuation mark entirely for the sake of it! PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR DUMMIES EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES We express ownership in 2 ways: At some point in the 17th century printers decided to add an apostrophe before the “s” in singular possessive cases (the girl’s dress) and from then on the whole thing has spiralled into madness! (Victor The French way Hugo:“English is just French pronounced badly”) The babies of older mothers are often ... The young people of Kelso ... The orbit of the moon around the earth ... The love of my life is ... English grammar. OR with an apostrophe Hint: think of the apostrophe as a little hand, holding onto an “s” to indicate ownership or possession. Older mothers’ babies are often ... Kelso’s young people ... The moon’s orbit ... My life’s love is ... English grammar. PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR DUMMIES EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES None of the possessive pronouns have apostrophes. They never do! Ever! Never Ever! POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS Singular Plural mine ours yours yours his/hers/its theirs Put it down, it’s mine! it is POSSESSIVE DETERMINERS It’s does not mean BELONGS TO IT. It’s IT IS (always followed by a noun) my our your your his/her/its their Put it down, it’s my book! it is PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR DUMMIES EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES Am I looking at my dinner or the dog’s? Am I looking at my dinner or the dogs? What is the difference in meaning? Correct punctuation matters: it helps the reader make sense of you’re writing and what you really mean. Can you spot the deliberate mistake above? PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe • Hot Dogs a Meal in Its’ Self (sign in Great Yarmouth) • Recruitment at it’s best (slogan of employment agency) • “ ... To welcome you to the British Library, it’s services and catalogues” (reader induction pamphlet) • “... Giving the full name and title of the person who’s details are given in Section 02” (on UK passport application form) • Make our customer’s live’s easier (Abbey National advertisements) PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe • Rewrite as necessary including apostrophes as required (not all do). • The cat heard the mouses squeaks and went to investigate. • The people listened to Christs words with amazement. • The runners muscles were tense as the starter raised his pistol for them to start. PUNCTUATION MATTERS The Apostrophe • Now, on a sheet of paper write a sentence using apostrophes incorrectly. • Pass the paper to the next person for them to correct. • Once corrected, write another sentence using apostrophes incorrectly. • ETC.