It’s really interesting as I’ve never used the forms of words, O’er and thro’. I’ve also never heard of apostrophe, the version: ‘words addressed to an absent person as if he were present or to a thing or idea as if it could appreciate them.’
This is day one of blogging from A to Z challenge and although A isn’t the first one I’ve written, (I’ve drafted 6 before this one) it will be the first one posted and I don’t want to completely put you off already. I want to learn something while doing this and while I’m sure I’m going to learn lots about myself too and how I write and, and, and… today I’ve learnt about apostrophe. I still need to find something out about when and how to use them so I can learn that too as I’m a bit pants at the use of ‘’s.
I nearly wrote about antifreeze. I have little to say about antifreeze, I like it in some places and dislike it elsewhere. I do like anniversaries.. nice anniversaries where I can celebrate with friends and family.
Then I saw ‘ and it had to be.
a pos trop he
‘sign (‘) used to show the omission of one of more letters, as in o’er for over, thro’ for through.’
ps here we go! only another 25 letters left…
I hope you liked A and you’re still with me for Z
lynnelives 
Very good. I still don’t know when to use one!
Yes that’s a flaw in my post.. I don’t really either.. might find out and add it in later.
Very good.I’m glad you didn’t write about antifreeze.
I think my tootsies could do with some today. nippy here!
Apostrophes get the best of me sometimes too. During revisions, I find places in my writing where I’ve switched it’s and its – yikes!
I struggle with when to use them on names. Like Lynne’s Lynnes Lynnes’.
I love apostrophes, they’re my favourite form of punctuation. Oh look, I just used one there.
They’re also fantastic for showing possession. I.E: Clare’s apostrophe!
Thanks for sharing.
thanks Clare. Yes I noticed Clare’s ‘ 😉
I love apostrophes and the way the word rolls o’er one’s tongue! I also curse their misuse or omission!!
oops! I hope I had all the ”s in the right place then! I love them yet hate that I don’t know enough about using them.
Apostrophe is a lovely sounding word and a worthy word for the first letter of the challenge
Thank’s John. Yes! Apostrophe’s a lovely sounding and worthy word. I’m so glad I chose it. I also think I’ve invented a new typeface! You saw it here first….
Much better than antifreeze! I struggled with apostrophes until my mid-20s, when it seemed to just click, but I’m glad I’m not the only one.
Thanks Sarah. If I do this next year A has to be Antifreeze since everyone’s so down on it 😉 I wonder if any of the 1600+ have used Antifreeze as their word?
I know who to come to for my ‘ advice then as I’m in my 50’s and it’s still not ‘clicked’!
Apostrophes are my favorite punctuation to check/proof read as some of my friends get confused when and where to put it.. 🙂
Glad I put this one on.
I’m gathering a list of who to go to when I don’t know if my ”s are in the right place or not 🙂
My pet hate is when people leave out the apostrophe in the contraction of “it is”. Come on, “it’s” and “‘its” are completely different!
J.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
ahh.. using ‘ for day one of a challenge where many of those posting are writers is interesting.
If I knew all the right uses for ”s I’d feel more conf’dent ’bout this blog or my comments 😉 I can’t ha’e a pet hate about the uses of ”s as I struggle with them myself 😉
The most misused punctuation in English 🙂
—Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
and I’m sure there’s misuse of ”s in this post.. I daren’t re-read it after these comments.. What was I thinkin’ 😉
My attention to grammar comes from my mother, who swiftly yanked a felt apostrophe from a handcrafted family name banner someone gave us – you know, the type of door hanging that says “The Diaz’s Home.” Or is it, “The Diazes Home” (Is it the home of a singular Diaz or the home of the collective family of Diazes??)
I still need to look up apostrophe use to get it right.
where to put the ‘ in names gets me all the time. I’m glad I’m not on my own.
The nuns beat the correct use of the apostrophe into my head. I still have issues, especially when words end in “s” or “x”, but I think I have it now. Good post.
Thanks John. No-one beat the correct use into my head. Must go find some nuns.
Great post. I stumble over when to use them too. Looking forward to reading more of your posts 🙂
Thanks Kela.
Pile on the pressure why don’t you.. 😉
I stupidly thought I was in the ‘ confusion box all on my own. Glad I have new mates to be confused with and others to run to for help.
Anti-freeze! That made me laugh. I love apostrophes. I know that makes me sound sad but there’s something very satisfying in using one and getting it right. I used to teach 10 year olds you see, so I know them back to front now.
I’m doing the A to Z Challenge too at A to Z of Nostalgia
Great to hear I made you laugh.
Know your ”s back to front now? ooh! That’s great to know. Next time I’m stuck with my ‘s I’ll tweet you if I may.
Good luck with your A to Z of nostalgia. I had trouble posting my comment on yours this if I recall. Been to so many blogs since then…. IT illiterate that’s me. Amazed I’m doing the AtoZ challenge at all! Blogging in the first place is a big challenge for me.
Loved watching the animals sing whilst wearing those bizarre outfits on your A post…
I’m a big’un fan o’ apostophes, ’cause they’se such useful thangs fer makin’ yer words sound interestin’ don’t ya know. 🙂
🙂
So much to say about apostrophe (glad you didn’t do antifreeze)! Looking forward to B 🙂
Thanks. I really want to do antifreeze now. the poor word’s had a rough time…. I’ll always stick up for the underdog.
Much better than antifreeze…..[giggle]. Looking forward to the rest of your letters!
Hmmm, guess it lost my previous comment…sometimes WordPress is strange on my computer. LOL!
Anyway, glad you didn’t choose antifreeze…this was much more interesting!
I think your comment was waiting for me to finish work and approve… It does that with the first time someone comments all your comments will now go through. Glad you liked my ”s I might have to write about antifreeze next month..
I’d never head of the first definition you listed for apostrophe – how interesting! It’s awesome that you planned your posts so that you’ll learn something this month – and so will the rest of us!
Best of luck with the challenge,
Jocelyn
Oops, sorry for the double post! Things went wonky when it made me log in, so I posted again not knowing the first one actually worked.
😉
I’d never heard of the first definition for apostrophe that you listed – how interesting. And it’s awesome that you planned your posts so that you learn new things this month – and so do we!
Best of luck with the challenge,
Jocelyn
Thanks Jocelyn.
I’m learning lots of ‘stuff’. Glad you are too.
You posted this twice..
Thanks for the luck. Same to you. We’ll get there and have fun too!!!