my regular reminder to the punctuationally challenged

[winterbadger]

You don't make the plural of anything--ANYTHING--by adding an apostrophe+s.

Santa's is not several Santas--it's something that belongs to Santa.

[insert ACRONYM]'s is not several [ACRONYM]s--it's something that belongs to [ACRONYM]

[abbreviation]'s is not several [abbreviations]--it's something that belongs to [abbreviation]

Please, apostrophes are a precious natural resource. When they are all used up, they will be gone. Don't misuse them; by doing so, you cheat future generations of their apostrophes. [Insert image of child with a single, glittering tear tracking down his/her cheek.]

Remember, fellow countrypeople--we're at war. Don't waste precious rare commodities that are needed for the war effort--conserve apostrophes! [Insert stirring WWII poster in which Tojo has been replaced with bin Laden.] Loose keyboards sink ships!

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I've heard that problem described as "an apostrophe doesn't mean 'here comes an s!'"

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

The one exception, of course, is with plurals of lower-case letters, as in "Mind your p's and q's."

[winterbadger]

Nope. Not an exception.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

According to the Purdue OWL, the Chicago Manual of Style, the Penguin Handbook, and the MLA Handbook, it is an exception.

[winterbadger]

Possibly, but not according to me. It's this sort of exception that makes people think all the other abuses of apostrophes are OK. You have to draw the line, and this is where I draw it.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

May I share this with a challenged friend? ;0)

[winterbadger]

Of course. :-)