Condition suffered by English teachers and others who see missing and misplaced apostrophes where they shouldn't (or is it "shouldnt"?) be.
See also: comma paranoia, spelling paranoia.
See also: comma paranoia, spelling paranoia.
I stared at that word for ten seconds before I realized that the apostrophe was actually SUPPOSED to be there. Apostrophe paranoia.
by suffisance July 30, 2010
Get the apostrophe paranoia mug.The most overused and underappreciated punctuation mark utilized in the writing of the English language. It is used to indicate the omission of a letter (elision) or letters in a word, to connect words pronounced successively (contraction), or to indicate possession.
Alternatively, and much less contemporary, is the use of the term "apostrophe" to indicate a short address by a character in a play or poem to an absent party or an inanimate object. The apostrophe in this sense allows the audience a look into the speaker's thoughts toward a person or object that cannot respond (similar to a soliloquy).
Alternatively, and much less contemporary, is the use of the term "apostrophe" to indicate a short address by a character in a play or poem to an absent party or an inanimate object. The apostrophe in this sense allows the audience a look into the speaker's thoughts toward a person or object that cannot respond (similar to a soliloquy).
-contraction-
Correct: It's movie night.
Incorrect: Its movie night.
Incorrect: Of it's own free will.
Correct: Of its own free will.
He's not the type to say "Don't do it."
-elision-
Ned is a ne'er-do-well.
"O'er the fruited plain..."
-possession-
That is Jack's grammar book.
Jesus' life lasted 33 years.
-in a literary sense...-
Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being:
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose!
I never thought to ask, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance, suppose
The self-same Power that brought me there brought you.
by Emerson (1839)
Correct: It's movie night.
Incorrect: Its movie night.
Incorrect: Of it's own free will.
Correct: Of its own free will.
He's not the type to say "Don't do it."
-elision-
Ned is a ne'er-do-well.
"O'er the fruited plain..."
-possession-
That is Jack's grammar book.
Jesus' life lasted 33 years.
-in a literary sense...-
Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being:
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose!
I never thought to ask, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance, suppose
The self-same Power that brought me there brought you.
by Emerson (1839)
by Brain November 22, 2004
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by Apostrophreak March 3, 2021
Get the Apostrophreak mug.1) Apocryphal Middle Eastern punctuation analog to the Oxford (or Harvard) comma; 2) a way to take the wind out of gasbags who think that "proper" punctuation is somehow an indicator of either intelligence or social worth; 3) an example of how different cultures use punctuation differently, but still correctly-in Marrakech, the apostrophe is used with all plurals but not with the possessive.
"I believe it is vital to use proper punctuation, like the Oxford comma!"
"Dude, the Marrakech apostrophe is even more important, otherwise the meaning gets fraked!
"Dude, the Marrakech apostrophe is even more important, otherwise the meaning gets fraked!
by Otter Dancing September 25, 2011
Get the Marrakech apostrophe mug.A bar shot created at random that turned out shockingly well. It consists of one part orange flavored rum, one part goldschlager and one part Southern Comfort.
by Lepidus August 3, 2007
Get the The Apostrophe mug.The highly unlikely, yet considerably dangerous state in which both the apocalypse, and a catastrophe, are simultaniously occuring.
Nigel: "oh shit... it's a zombie apocalypse, and a nuclear catastrophe! It's a nuclear zombie apostrophe!"
by nj412 December 13, 2010
Get the Apostrophe mug.The most butchered punctuation mark in the English language. Apostrophes are used
1) to
indicate contractions,
2) to indicate possession (in some cases), and
3) VERY occasionally to denote a plural (where otherwise the meaning of the sentence would be unclear).
The use of an apostrophe in the contraction "it's", (which means "it is"), but not in "its", (which is a possessive) causes problems for many people who didn't pass third grade.
1) to
indicate contractions,
2) to indicate possession (in some cases), and
3) VERY occasionally to denote a plural (where otherwise the meaning of the sentence would be unclear).
The use of an apostrophe in the contraction "it's", (which means "it is"), but not in "its", (which is a possessive) causes problems for many people who didn't pass third grade.
Incorrect: Screw you moran's. Go USA.
Incorrect: Its raining cat's and dog's.
Incorrect: Here come's the train. Grab it's cargo.
Correct: Don't go in that room.
Correct: The cat's litter box is dirty.
Correct: Mind your p's and q's.
(the above is one of the ONLY CORRECT USES OF AN APOSTROPHE TO DENOTE A PLURAL. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IF YOU'RE UNSURE, JUST LEAVE THE APOSTROPHE OUT.)
Incorrect: Its raining cat's and dog's.
Incorrect: Here come's the train. Grab it's cargo.
Correct: Don't go in that room.
Correct: The cat's litter box is dirty.
Correct: Mind your p's and q's.
(the above is one of the ONLY CORRECT USES OF AN APOSTROPHE TO DENOTE A PLURAL. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IF YOU'RE UNSURE, JUST LEAVE THE APOSTROPHE OUT.)
by supaDISC February 24, 2005
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