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Apostrophes: Two Commandments
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Apostrophes Rules:
There are many different rules that deal with the terrible and often frustrating apostrophe, which is indeed the overall reason for its difficulty. It is unlike most of our other punctuation tool in that it is almost certainly one of the most versatile, yet it indubitably requires skill and excellent memory. I am, however, aware that some of you may already know most of the rules of the apostrophe, though I am also equally aware that being prudent and taking a casual glance just to make sure never hurt anyone.
With that said, let me introduce the two greatest rules of the apostrophe in an easy-to-learn and interactive tutorial.
1. CONTRACTION
The foremost and perhaps most recognizable use of the apostrophe is the use of it in a contraction. Usually a subject and a verb are meshed together, thus making the sentence quicker to say and much more informal.
We are going to the store.
Were going to the store. (with contraction)
I have no money.
Ive no money. (with contraction)
We do not need that right now.
We dont need that right now. (with contraction)
2. POSSESSION
The second yet most useful of the apostrophe is the use of it as possession. Possession is obviously quite important to everyone, from a persons shoes to a gods glory. We tack on an apostrophe + "s" or just an apostrophe to the end of a word or phrase to distinguish what something belongs to. This doesnt seem too difficult to some, but the intricacies of the possessive apostrophe can be extensive and sometime laborious to the common writer or student.
Showing possessive ending in (s):
Those are Dads doughnuts.
That is my dogs toy
The house is Dericks.
NOTE:
Sometimes a name ends in an s. I simply add an apostrophe to show the possessive, but some people prefer to add the apostrophe + s. Either is technically correct, but why waste more ink?
Jesuss or Jesus
Nicholass or Nicholas
Showing possessive ending in () aka: Plural Possession
There is the cats food
We should go to the Elis house. (family is a group, therefore, Elis is plural then add the possessive)
Give me the boys scarves, please.
How are the girls puppy faring, Jeff?
Special cases
Singular Noun Possession w/ more than one word ( + s) Subject is compound because of grouping of words -- usually a hyphenated subject
Let me see your friend-that-is-a-girls iPod. (friend-that-is-a-girl is a single subject)
Where is your daughter-in-laws new groom?
Plural Noun Possession w/ more than one word ( + s) --usually a hyphenated subject
Look for my two sisters-in-laws purses (noun: sister was pluralized)
Conjuncted Subject Possession ( + s) -- usually a noun combined with and
Jack and Jills hill is steep!
Josh and Amys dog is quite timid.
These two great commandments of the apostrophe and its subjective rules are clear, concise, and a must-know for any aspiring writer, or it can be a refresher for the expirienced author. Either way, I hope you enjoy this tutorial
There are many different rules that deal with the terrible and often frustrating apostrophe, which is indeed the overall reason for its difficulty. It is unlike most of our other punctuation tool in that it is almost certainly one of the most versatile, yet it indubitably requires skill and excellent memory. I am, however, aware that some of you may already know most of the rules of the apostrophe, though I am also equally aware that being prudent and taking a casual glance just to make sure never hurt anyone.
With that said, let me introduce the two greatest rules of the apostrophe in an easy-to-learn and interactive tutorial.
1. CONTRACTION
The foremost and perhaps most recognizable use of the apostrophe is the use of it in a contraction. Usually a subject and a verb are meshed together, thus making the sentence quicker to say and much more informal.
We are going to the store.
Were going to the store. (with contraction)
I have no money.
Ive no money. (with contraction)
We do not need that right now.
We dont need that right now. (with contraction)
2. POSSESSION
The second yet most useful of the apostrophe is the use of it as possession. Possession is obviously quite important to everyone, from a persons shoes to a gods glory. We tack on an apostrophe + "s" or just an apostrophe to the end of a word or phrase to distinguish what something belongs to. This doesnt seem too difficult to some, but the intricacies of the possessive apostrophe can be extensive and sometime laborious to the common writer or student.
Showing possessive ending in (s):
Those are Dads doughnuts.
That is my dogs toy
The house is Dericks.
NOTE:
Sometimes a name ends in an s. I simply add an apostrophe to show the possessive, but some people prefer to add the apostrophe + s. Either is technically correct, but why waste more ink?
Jesuss or Jesus
Nicholass or Nicholas
Showing possessive ending in () aka: Plural Possession
There is the cats food
We should go to the Elis house. (family is a group, therefore, Elis is plural then add the possessive)
Give me the boys scarves, please.
How are the girls puppy faring, Jeff?
Special cases
Singular Noun Possession w/ more than one word ( + s) Subject is compound because of grouping of words -- usually a hyphenated subject
Let me see your friend-that-is-a-girls iPod. (friend-that-is-a-girl is a single subject)
Where is your daughter-in-laws new groom?
Plural Noun Possession w/ more than one word ( + s) --usually a hyphenated subject
Look for my two sisters-in-laws purses (noun: sister was pluralized)
Conjuncted Subject Possession ( + s) -- usually a noun combined with and
Jack and Jills hill is steep!
Josh and Amys dog is quite timid.
These two great commandments of the apostrophe and its subjective rules are clear, concise, and a must-know for any aspiring writer, or it can be a refresher for the expirienced author. Either way, I hope you enjoy this tutorial
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Enjoy the tutorial.
Take a look at some of my other tutorials:
Colons, Semicolons, and Hyphens
Flashbulb Poetry: How to Write
How to Write Villanelles
How to Create Visual Poetry
The Acrostic Haiku
Take a look at some of my other tutorials:





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A great tutorial! 
