Apostrophe Traditional Cache

• Example 1: It's been fun talkin'. [CORRECT]

The most common errors in this type of usage are skipping the apostrophe altogether or putting it in the wrong place, i.e. not where the missing letters were. People rarely make mistakes on contractions.

• Example 2: I cant go. [WRONG]
• Example 3: I shouldv'e gone. [WRONG]

There are no exceptions to this normal usage so far as I am aware.

Possessives
Rule 2: For singular nouns, form the possessive by adding apostrophe S at the end.

• Example 4: Tom's Room [CORRECT]

Errors are very common for this usage. People tend to put the apostrophe after the S instead of before it. If the singular noun ends in an S people often will drop the final S that is supposed to come after the apostrophe. There is no reason to do so (but see the exception).

• Example 5: Bobs' Room. [WRONG]
• Example 6: Russ' Room. [WRONG]
• Example 7: Russ's Room [CORRECT]

Exception to Rule 2: if the singular noun ends in TWO successive "ess" sounds then you drop the S that would normally come after the apostrophe. You neither pronounce nor add the third S. This exception is very, very rare.

• Example 8: In Jesus' name we pray. [CORRECT]
• Example 9: The narcissus' petals. [CORRECT]

Rule 3: For plural nouns, form the possessive by first forming the plural in the normal way (add -s -es or change the y to i and add -es) and then add an apostrophe after the final S. This is true whether or not the singular noun ends in S

• Example 10: Voters' choice [CORRECT]
• Example 11: The Joneses' house [CORRECT]

Exception 1 to Rule 3: If the plural does not end in S then treat it as a singular and add apostrophe S.

• Example 12: The children's playhouse. [CORRECT]

Exception 2 to Rule 3: the possessives of the personal pronouns have no apostrophes.

• Example 13: mine, ours, yours, theirs, his, hers, its [CORRECT]

Errors are rare on most of these, except for its. "It's" is always a contraction, not a possessive. "Its" is the only correct form of the possessive. Misuse or misspelling of "its" is the single most common apostrophe-related mistake. Note that this exception applies only to personal pronouns, not indefinite pronouns like one's and another's.

• Example 14: Give England it's due. [WRONG].

See how easy it is! Only three rules and three exceptions. So how do you log this cache? Find the cache. It's a magnetic micro. I wanted to put it closer to the "Womens Fitness" place to make the point, but I couldn't find a suitable spot that was any closer. Bring a pen, sign the log.

But when you log your find on this page, you must cut and paste an apostrophe misuse (or failure to use) from another cache page or log. Include in your log the original cache name and fully identify the log date or paragraph from the main text. You do NOT have to identify the name of the miscreant who butchered the language as long as the quote can be easily located if checked. It must be a cache within 25 miles of this one. You may NOT cite to your own cache page or own log. Someone else will find your mistakes for you. Bonus points for the first person to find one of mine. You also may not use an example that is already on the page - either in the text or someone else's log, but you may use another example from a previously used cache page. Failure to include the example and cite will result in your log being deleted. Like police everywhere, I am forcing you to rat out your buddies. Show them the error of their ways - or grammar at least. You may if you wish include a description or photo of a sign or other public apostrophe misuse, but you still must include the clip from another cache page.