I keep meaning to entertain you with another frolic, but the serious stuff keeps getting in the way. I’m currently having a whale of a time writing a grammar book – albeit one which pays particular attention to usage. The book will be aimed at a non-specialist audience, and I’m trying my damnedest to make it as accessible as possible. I have just written a short usage tip on an error referred to as the ‘greengrocer’s apostrophe’. Even if you are not familiar with the label, you are likely to have come across the error itself. What is interesting is that, although the blunder is attributed to poor greengrocers, even educated folk stumble. I have thus illustrated this section with authentic examples taken from rather unexpected sources, and it is learning who the perpetrators are that will probably be of the greatest interest to readers. Then again, I might be wrong – what do you think? Here comes my piece.
I did not think these type of apostrophes would be so confusing for people and like you mention the examples of government boards and all. The hard ones for me, sometimes, are the plural possessive nouns. And I have to think twice or three or four times that the possessive ” its ” does not get an apostrophe, only if you are saying the contraction for it is, it’s.
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You are spot on again, Deborah: it’s incredible that even educated people make this error. And you are right again about the plural possessives of some nouns being troublesome – particularly the irregular ones (*“peoples’” – incorrect versus “people’s” – correct; *“childrens’” – incorrect versus “children’s” – correct). The confusion between “its” and “it’s” is a classic, of course. Thank you for another insightful comment. 🙂
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Some days I believe there is no hope 🙂
I have a photo of two shops in the next village who have used the grocer’s apostrophe in their large, bold shop-front signage. I cringe every time I drive past them and so far have resisted the temptation to go in and correct them.
What really gets me is how many sign companies do not proofread. They, at least, should be able to use grammar correctly, even if the grocers don’t… grocer’s dont’… um
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Couldn’t agree more, Jennie, but maybe, just maybe, there is a ray of hope: there are a lot of people out there who care (such as you). And grammar has finally regained its rightful place on the school curriculum. Granted, it will take time, but I am hopeful. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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Oh, I wish we could put this post out there everywhere! This misuse makes me insane! Am really glad to see this post and know that it will reach many just on here!
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Thank you, Torrie. You wouldn’t think the great and the good would make such a silly mistake – but they do! 🙂
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In my opinion, the apostrophe is the most abused punctuation in the history of English. A few years back I had started compiling examples of cringe-worthy usage of the apostrophe. In fact, I ran classes in a big company I used to work for at that time, just to get people using apostrophe correctly.
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Absolutely, Ankur! I have harvested hundreds of examples – apostrophe blunders are everywhere. Good of you to comment.
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