Let's learn English! ~ Selena's Contributions

[Superlative 500]

Hello English community! Want to read one one our best works well here are some by our famous and most-skilled writer

Miss. .

 

 

 

Her works:~

 

 

 

Apostrophes, contractions and their common mistakes

 

This is a grammar article (don't groan) but I'll try and make it enjoyable  :).

So, the apostrophe - over the past years it's becoming one of the biggest pitfalls for not only those whose mother tongue is not English, but for native speakers as well. You see them everywhere in the language, but it's not so easy to know when exactly to use them. However, when in doubt, don't use them at all. You're more likely to be understood that way, even though an element is missing. Another thing to remember is that you shouldn't place apostrophes randomly. Always go through the logic when using them.

 

So, when aren't apostrophes used?

 

• For plurals.

 

This is the main problem - apostrophes are NEVER, EVER, EVER used for plurals. 

Sister - sisters.

Logo - logos.

Cinema - cinemas.

Player - players.

Tank - tanks.

 

No matter the word, whether or not it seems like a word which merits an apostrophe when pluralised, don't put one.

If you do use one, it looks like the sister is owning something, which she obviously isn't.

 

• For abbreviations.

 

Terms and Conditions, (often shortened to T and Cs) does not need an apostrophe either. If you think about it, it is: terms and conditionS. The s is already contained within the word, so there isn't a need for an apostrophe, just the added s (terms is also plural). Same with other abbreviations such as MUs (micro-upgrades), XPs (Hornet-Rail battles), DVDs, etc.

 

• For showing time spans in years.

That was a bit hard to categorise, so I'll explain what I mean. 

"I was born in the 1960s." 

1960s doesn't need an apostrophe, with the same logic as the point above. When written out in full, 1960s is "nineteen-sixties". See any apostrophe there? Nope - so no need for one when writing. It's also the same when demonstrating age - "I'm in my 30s now, going on to 40s". No one'll think you're saying that you're in 30 seconds. Another point would be with numbers - I have 100s of tanks - no apostrophe there either. Speaking of which, a company made that mistake in an advertisement. I wonder how it got so far with no one realising!

 

• Verbs

I know this is getting a little extreme, but now I've even been seeing people using apostrophes for verbs. In the third person singular, which usually ends in an s in the present tense, there shouldn't be an apostrophe.

 

He eats. Not he eat's, which doesn't make any sense.

She knows.

 

Not really much point in going on about this as it's a rare mistake, but I don't want anyone making it (:

 

 

Now, that's when apostrophes aren't used, but when are they?

 

• To illustrate possession

 

For nouns only - not pronouns (I, he, you, she, it)

The sister's book - the book belongs to the sister.

The man's heart - the heart belongs to the man.

 

Back onto the point of pronouns - they are a little different in English. Here's how they all go:

I - my

You - your

He - his

She - her

It - ITS 

We - Our

They - their

 

As we can see, there's something which doesn't quite follow suit. Its being the possessive?! Why is there no apostrophe?! Crazy English, right? Well, not really. It's is short for IT IS. And looking at the other examples, none of them have apostrophes, so why should its? Just remember whenever you're writing it's, it means it is.

 

• For contractions

I'd rather not get into contractions just yet since they will require quite a lot of attention, and I don't want this to become increasingly long.

 

That's it for now, but remember - no apostrophes for plurals or abbreviations (: 

My next article will be on contractions.

 

 

 

Other members' topic:

 

Let's learn English~ Blue's contributions

Edited November 4, 2014 by Superlative

[Meliora 1,652]

Contents:

• Apostrophes & how they work
• Guide to Contractions

 

 

And seriously guys, if you're not interested, say what you'd like me to write about, not just "boring", "rubbish" etc. (:

[Scientist 4,224]

Nice. Good to see you're back, Sel!

[Superlative 500]

Note: Her things are not rubbish and if you write anything you're a total ******* Note: I don't know what that word is or what that meant but it's Shift+8. :P

Edited November 2, 2014 by Superlative

[danilo8667 234]

Nice.

[Scientist 4,224]

Note: Her things are not rubbish and if you write anything you're a total ******* Note: I don't know what that word is or what that meant but it's Shift+8. :P

Nobody can say that as long as I'm alive.

[Superlative 500]

Nobody can say that as long as I'm alive.

:)

[unholycloak5 1,814]

Hello English community! Want to read one one our works well here are some by our famous and most-skilled writer

Miss. .

Correction. 

[blackopspaul 753]

Nice work!

[Promissory 569]

I actually read that, it's nice! :P

[Superlative 500]

Correction. 

Oops, I meant to write best in between "our" and "works". :P

[tiger_of_malaysia 271]

Well done, Sel! ^_^

[lordmostafa 3,821]

Nice work! I'd like to see more please :D

[canadarules 1,938]

i tkhin i dene hlep wtih ym lenhgsi

[Meliora 1,652]

i tkhin i dene hlep wtih ym lenhgsi

I think so too, Canada. Try looking at that first article, there'll be more coming.

[canadarules 1,938]

I think so too, Canada. Try looking at that first article, there'll be more coming.

;)

me learn westerners English...something the others hate

Edited November 2, 2014 by canadarules

[FaaiqBilal1 795]

I had the same concept about not using apostrophes to show possession. However, whenever I search the internet for the solution, they always say that you have to use apostrophes for showing possession. For example: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-apostrophes-to-show-possession.html 

[Reeco9 1,567]

Hello English community! Want to read one one our best works, well here are some by our famous and most-skilled writer

Miss. .

You might want to correct that, and perhaps add some punctuation.

[Meliora 1,652]

I had the same concept about not using apostrophes to show possession. However, whenever I search the internet for the solution, they always say that you have to use apostrophes for showing possession. For example: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-apostrophes-to-show-possession.html

I said that apostrophes are used for possession, unless it's a pronoun.

[canadarules 1,938]

i. wuld, like, to, learn, about, fa'a'i'q's, greatest ,s'k'i'l'l.?.!

[DarkOperative 5,580]

^ you've achieved complete sense m8, complete sense 

[canadarules 1,938]

Okay, thanks. :D

I have learned English from Selena. :D

[Superlative 500]

Hello English community! Want to read one one our best works well here are some by our famous and most-skilled writer

Miss. .

 

 

 

Her works:~

 

 

 

Apostrophes, contractions and their common mistakes

 

This is a grammar article (don't groan) but I'll try and make it enjoyable  :).

So, the apostrophe - over the past years it's becoming one of the biggest pitfalls for not only those whose mother tongue is not English, but for native speakers as well. You see them everywhere in the language, but it's not so easy to know when exactly to use them. However, when in doubt, don't use them at all. You're more likely to be understood that way, even though an element is missing. Another thing to remember is that you shouldn't place apostrophes randomly. Always go through the logic when using them.

 

So, when aren't apostrophes used?

 

• For plurals.

 

This is the main problem - apostrophes are NEVER, EVER, EVER used for plurals. 

Sister - sisters.

Logo - logos.

Cinema - cinemas.

Player - players.

Tank - tanks.

 

No matter the word, whether or not it seems like a word which merits an apostrophe when pluralised, don't put one.

If you do use one, it looks like the sister is owning something, which she obviously isn't.

 

• For abbreviations.

 

Terms and Conditions, (often shortened to T and Cs) does not need an apostrophe either. If you think about it, it is: terms and conditionS. The s is already contained within the word, so there isn't a need for an apostrophe, just the added s (terms is also plural). Same with other abbreviations such as MUs (micro-upgrades), XPs (Hornet-Rail battles), DVDs, etc.

 

• For showing time spans in years.

That was a bit hard to categorise, so I'll explain what I mean. 

"I was born in the 1960s." 

1960s doesn't need an apostrophe, with the same logic as the point above. When written out in full, 1960s is "nineteen-sixties". See any apostrophe there? Nope - so no need for one when writing. It's also the same when demonstrating age - "I'm in my 30s now, going on to 40s". No one'll think you're saying that you're in 30 seconds. Another point would be with numbers - I have 100s of tanks - no apostrophe there either. Speaking of which, a company made that mistake in an advertisement. I wonder how it got so far with no one realising!

 

• Verbs

I know this is getting a little extreme, but now I've even been seeing people using apostrophes for verbs. In the third person singular, which usually ends in an s in the present tense, there shouldn't be an apostrophe.

 

He eats. Not he eat's, which doesn't make any sense.

She knows.

 

Not really much point in going on about this as it's a rare mistake, but I don't want anyone making it (:

 

 

Now, that's when apostrophes aren't used, but when are they?

 

• To illustrate possession

 

For nouns only - not pronouns (I, he, you, she, it)

The sister's book - the book belongs to the sister.

The man's heart - the heart belongs to the man.

 

Back onto the point of pronouns - they are a little different in English. Here's how they all go:

I - my

You - your

He - his

She - her

It - ITS 

We - Our

They - their

 

As we can see, there's something which doesn't quite follow suit. Its being the possessive?! Why is there no apostrophe?! Crazy English, right? Well, not really. It's is short for IT IS. And looking at the other examples, none of them have apostrophes, so why should its? Just remember whenever you're writing it's, it means it is.

 

• For contractions

I'd rather not get into contractions just yet since they will require quite a lot of attention, and I don't want this to become increasingly long.

 

That's it for now, but remember - no apostrophes for plurals or abbreviations (: 

My next article will be on contractions.

 

 

 

Other members' topic:

 

Let's learn English~ Blue's contributions

This topic will be closed under request. Don't be sad, Sel will create her own.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Superlative

[shadewarttt 3,350]

Closed.

[MyLife_MyReign 256]

I already learned about apostrophes in school but this is way more informative than that.Good job Sel!

Edited November 4, 2014 by MyLife_MyReign