Punctuation for Dummy's: When to Use an Apostrophy?

Apostrophy Catastropy, Their Not Alone.

needle felted dogs
Are you confused where to put an apostrophy, or maybe apostrophe? Here's a poem to help you remember, or just some confusing, bad advice, filled with misspellings and apostrophe abuse. When should an apostrophe be used? Do you use an apostrophe in a plural or in a pluralized abbreviation? This poem doesn't tell you when, it asks why?

Do you use an apostrophe when pluralizing a date correctly? Is it in the 1960s (plural) or 1960's clothing (1960 possessive) or 1960s' clothing (1960-1969 plural possessive)? A humorous poem filled with typographical errors and other nonsense, as in Dummy's for dummies. A dummy's guide to punctuation for dummies:

Plural's possessives,
extra added to Ss,
where did that apostrophy go?
Pages and pages of typeo, tpyo, or typo...
before after an o?
Its punctual elation
overused in erroneous abbreviations,
and trophys vacation's
(no awards if you notice
but perhaps less pleasing to read).
If your filled with greed
copyright apostrophies',
inserted between s and a zero?

like all of my poems and articles on AC,
Copyright: needle felted dogs

Published by needle felted dogs

I'm an artist. Shown in my avatar is one of my mini sculptures, in the palm of a hand. I have knowledge & interest in animals & art, a degree in animal behavior & have worked with animals all my...  View profile

3 Comments

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  • Vincent Summers1/5/2011

    I'm pretty good with apostrophes. I only misuse them (on purpose) when engaging in genealogy on mailing lists.

  • David A. Reinstein, LCSW1/2/2011

    I often still (mistakenly but automatically) insert an apostrophe to represent the letter "i" in a misinformed contracted attempt like David's older... intending what I should have said, "David is older." Possession is the ket.... David's many years ...

  • Michele Starkey1/2/2011

    Very witty! cheers :)

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