Comments on: 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/ Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:45:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Nick http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-480 Nick Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:45:31 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-480 There seems to be a bit of confusion over its and it's. Simple - if it's a contraction of it is and it is then it's it's! If it denotes posession as in: At university it's important to submit each assignment by its due date it's because its is a possessive pronoun indicating possession in the same way as: my: belonging to me your: belonging to you his: belonging to him her: belonging to her our: belonging to us their: belonging to them its: belonging to it There seems to be a bit of confusion over its and it’s.
Simple – if it’s a contraction of it is and it is then it’s it’s!

If it denotes posession as in:

At university it’s important to submit each assignment by its due date

it’s because its is a possessive pronoun indicating possession in the same way as:

my: belonging to me
your: belonging to you
his: belonging to him
her: belonging to her
our: belonging to us
their: belonging to them
its: belonging to it

]]> By: Dr. Marie http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Dr. Marie Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:10:12 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-463 I was teaching college, stuff such as neuropathology and the evolution of the brain. I filled out a form and said I had gotten all As in all my science courses, but Bs is some English courses, ones not related to report writing. The head of the English department came to my office to laugh his head off at me. He said, "No wonder I got lower grades in English." He showed me how to write A's and B's. I have looked this up in every grammar book I have picked up since (not all that many). The vote was half-and-half, about the same as the fight over the comma before the last in a list before the "and." How am I supposed to know what is correct? Why do you involve the rest of us in your battles. Fight it out and then let us know. I was teaching college, stuff such as neuropathology and the evolution of the brain. I filled out a form and said I had gotten all As in all my science courses, but Bs is some English courses, ones not related to report writing. The head of the English department came to my office to laugh his head off at me. He said, “No wonder I got lower grades in English.” He showed me how to write A’s and B’s. I have looked this up in every grammar book I have picked up since (not all that many). The vote was half-and-half, about the same as the fight over the comma before the last in a list before the “and.” How am I supposed to know what is correct? Why do you involve the rest of us in your battles. Fight it out and then let us know.

]]> By: Ballywick copywriting blog http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-311 Ballywick copywriting blog Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:34:15 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-311 [...] asked where I got my popular 12-step apostrophe programme. That I wrote it myself surprised [...] [...] asked where I got my popular 12-step apostrophe programme. That I wrote it myself surprised [...]

]]> By: Ballywick copywriting blog http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Ballywick copywriting blog Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:28:56 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-306 [...] a nod to the success of any good 12-step programme, read on for my official SEO Carbo-Loading programme. I welcome new [...] [...] a nod to the success of any good 12-step programme, read on for my official SEO Carbo-Loading programme. I welcome new [...]

]]> By: Becky http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Becky Mon, 04 May 2009 20:14:56 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-209 Finally got around to reading this! Hilarious! Keep up the good work! Finally got around to reading this! Hilarious! Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Ballywick copywriting blog http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Ballywick copywriting blog Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:18:12 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-122 [...] Are people going to score points on your blog or website? Seek help now. 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe. [...] [...] Are people going to score points on your blog or website? Seek help now. 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe. [...]

]]> By: Lauren http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Lauren Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:48:04 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-117 ...And we're all about honesty here, Gerran. Saluting you. …And we’re all about honesty here, Gerran. Saluting you.

]]> By: Gerran http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Gerran Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:25:41 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-116 DM, I think you meant to write: "...On behalf of those who suffer daily because of others' apostrophe abuse..." Yes: others', not others. Others', others', OTHERS'!!! Don't let plurals distract you from those pesky genitives. I would say I hate to be pedantic, but then I would be lying. DM, I think you meant to write: “…On behalf of those who suffer daily because of others’ apostrophe abuse…”
Yes: others’, not others. Others’, others’, OTHERS’!!! Don’t let plurals distract you from those pesky genitives.
I would say I hate to be pedantic, but then I would be lying.

]]> By: Ballywick copywriting blog http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Ballywick copywriting blog Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:42:26 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-110 [...] 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe [...] [...] 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe [...]

]]> By: Recommended links 17 April 2009 — Bad Language http://www.ballywick.com/blog/misc-writing/apostrophe-crime-12-step-programme/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Recommended links 17 April 2009 — Bad Language Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:21:15 +0000 http://www.ballywick.com/blog/?p=376#comment-93 [...] 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe on Ballywick [...] [...] 12-step programme: stop killing the apostrophe on Ballywick [...]

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