double apostrophe

Full Answer

What does a double apostrophe mean?

What did he mean by “double-down”? Apostrophes (') are used less frequently in American English writing. They are used with an s to indicate possession by one person or thing ('s) or two or more persons or things (s'): Victor’s staff has been putting in too much overtime.

How to check your apostrophes are correct?

Introduction to apostrophes

• Apostrophes are used for two main jobs, showing possession and showing .
• Apostrophes for possession show that a thing belongs to someone or something. For example Anna’s book or the school’s logo.
• Apostrophes for omission show where something, usually a letter, has been missed out to create a contraction . For example, haven't rather than have not.

When do you use a possessive apostrophe?

The Possessive Apostrophe

1. Add apostrophe s to the end of a singular noun that does not end in s: the manager’s room
2. Add apostrophe s to the end of a singular noun, even if it ends in s (this practice may vary in some places): Doris’s scarf
3. Add apostrophe s to the end of a plural noun that doesn’t end in s the children’s bag
4. If the plural noun ends in s, just add the apostrophe

When to use possessive apostrophe?

• my sister’s friend’s investments (I have one sister and she has one friend.)
• my sisters’ friends’ investments (I have many sisters and they have many friends.)
• my sisters’ friend’s investments (I have many sisters and they have one friend.)
• my sister’s friends’ investments (I have one sister and she has many friends.)

What is a double apostrophe?

one of the marks used to indicate the beginning and end of a quotation, in English usu. shown as (“) at the beginning and (”) at the end, or, for a quotation within a quotation, as single marks of this kind, as “He said, 'I will go. '”

How do you use double apostrophe in a sentence?

Use double quotation marks (“”) around a direct quote. A direct quote is a word- for-word report of what someone else said or wrote. You use the exact words and punctuation of the original. Harriet Jacobs writes, “She sat down, quivering in every limb” (61).

What is the difference between single apostrophe and double apostrophe?

If you use single quote marks, you should use double speech marks for a quote within a quote. If you use double quote signs, you should use single quotation signs for a quote within a quote. Examples: "When I say 'immediately,' I mean sometime before August," said the manager.

What are double quotation marks used for?

Double quotation marks are used for direct quotations and titles of compositions such as books, plays, movies, songs, lectures and TV shows. They also can be used to indicate irony and introduce an unfamiliar term or nickname. Single quotation marks are used for a quote within a quote.

How do you make a double apostrophe?

People generally refer double quotation mark shortly as quotation mark while single quote is referred as apostrophe. On a standard English keyboard, double and single quotes appears on a same key. You need to press shift to type double quotes.

What's the difference between single and double quotation marks?

General Usage Rules In America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the general rule is that double quotes are used to denote direct speech. Single quotes are used to enclose a quote within a quote, a quote within a headline, or a title within a quote.

What are single quotation marks used for?

Single quotation marks are also known as 'quote marks', 'quotes', 'speech marks' or 'inverted commas'. Use them to: show direct speech and the quoted work of other writers. enclose the title of certain works.

What is the difference between single and double quotation marks UK?

'” British style uses single quotes (') for initial quotations, then double quotes (“) for quotations within the initial quotation. 'Economic systems', according to Professor White, 'are an inevitable byproduct of civilization, and are, as John Doe said, “with us whether we want them or not”'.

Should I use single or double quotes?

double quotation marksIn US English, you must use double quotation marks. Single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes. In UK English, it's most common to use single quotation marks, with double quotation marks for quotes within quotes, although the other way around is acceptable too.

What is wrong way to use quotations?

There are many ways to go wrong with quotation marks. They are often used ironically: She ran around with a bunch of “intellectuals.” The quotation marks around “intellectuals” indicate that the writer believes that these are in fact so-called intellectuals, not real intellectuals at all.

How do you properly use quotation marks?

We use quotation marks with direct quotes, with titles of certain works, to imply alternate meanings, and to write words as words. Block quotations are not set off with quotation marks. The quoted text is capitalized if you're quoting a complete sentence and not capitalized if you're quoting a fragment.

What is the difference between speech marks and quotation marks?

Quotation marks—sometimes called 'speech marks', or more colloquially 'quotes'—are used to indicate direct speech.

Apostrophe Use: Contractions and Omissions

A contraction is a shortened form of a word (or group of words) that omits certain letters or sounds. In a contraction, an apostrophe represents mi...

Apostrophes and Possessive Nouns

The rules about forming possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion. They vary a little bit, depending on what type of noun you are ma...

Apostrophes With Surrounding Punctuation

An apostrophe is part of the word it belongs to, so it should not be separated from the word by periods, commas, question marks, or any other punct...

When to Check A Style Guide

Sooner or later, you’ll come across a phrase that sounds fine out loud but looks weird on paper because of the apostrophes. Do’s and don’ts? Dos an...

What is an apostrophe in Wikipedia?

Apostrophe. ’. '. Typesetter's apostrophe. Typewriter apostrophe. The apostrophe ( ' or ’) is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets.

What does an apostrophe mean in a sentence?

An apostrophe is used in time and money references in constructions such as one hour's respite, two weeks' holiday, a dollar's worth, five pounds' worth, one mile's drive from here. This is like an ordinary possessive use. For example, one hour's respite means a respite of one hour (exactly as the cat's whiskers means the whiskers of the cat ). Exceptions are accounted for in the same way: three months pregnant (in modern usage, one says neither pregnant of three months, nor one month (')s pregnant ).

Why do we use an apostrophe in English?

The apostrophe is used in English to indicate what is, for historical reasons, misleadingly called the possessive case in the English language. This case was called the genitive until the 18th century and (like the genitive case in other languages) in fact expresses much more than possession. For example, in the expressions "the school's headmaster", "the men's department", and "tomorrow's weather", the school does not own/possess the headmaster, men do not own/possess the department, and tomorrow does not/will not own the weather. In the words of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage :

What is an apostrophe in a transliteration?

In transliterated foreign words, an apostrophe may be used to separate letters or syllables that otherwise would likely be interpreted incorrectly. For example:

Where did the apostrophe originate?

The shape of the apostrophe originated in manuscript writing , as a point with a downwards tail curving clockwise. This form was inherited by the typographic apostrophe, ’, also known as the typeset apostrophe (or, informally, the curly apostrophe ). Later sans-serif typefaces had stylised apostrophes with a more geometric or simplified form, but usually retaining the same directional bias as a closing quotation mark.

When to use apostrophes before plural?

The same use of apostrophe before noun plural -s forms is sometimes made by non-native speakers of English. For example, in Dutch, the apostrophe is inserted before the s when pluralising most words ending in a vowel or y for example, baby's (English babies) and radio's (English radios ).

When was the apostrophe first used?

The apostrophe was first used by Pietro Bembo in his edition of De Aetna (1496). It was introduced into English in the 16th century in imitation of French practice. Introduced by Geoffroy Tory (1529), the apostrophe was used in place of a vowel letter to indicate elision (as in l'heure in place of la heure ).

Do you need to be embarrassed about upside down commas?

However, there's no need to be embarrassed —these upside-down commas sometimes confuse even the most seasoned writers!

Do you use double quotes in English?

In British and Australian English, one typically uses single quotes. If you're writing in North America, double quote marks are typically used.

Do quotations have double quotes?

According to the convention being used, quotations within the block will have double or single quotes (British or American).

Do authors use double quotation marks?

However, sometimes a publisher's or even an author's style may take precedence over such general preferences. In Copy-Editing, Judith Butcher points out that some writers have their own system of quotation marks, e.g., double quotation marks for speech and single quotation marks for thoughts.

Should I Use Single or Double Apostrophes for Quotes within Quotes?

First things first: Decide whether you will use double or single apostrophes for the initial quote.

Why is it called the grocer's apostrophe?

Sometimes, it’s called the grocer’s apostrophe because of how frequently it is spotted in grocery store advertisements ( 3 orange’s for a dollar! ). Don’t do it! With very few exceptions, apostrophes do not make nouns plural.

Is an apostrophe a punctuation mark?

Apostrophes with Surrounding Punctuation. An apostrophe is part of the word it belongs to, so it should not be separate d from the word by periods, commas, question marks, or any other punctuation mark.

Is "grocer" an apostrophe?

Apostrophes and Plurals. Using an unnecessary apostrophe to form the plural of a noun is a very common mistake. Sometimes, it’s called the grocer’s apostrophe because of how frequently it is spotted in grocery store advertisements ( 3 orange’s for a dollar! ). Don’t do it!

Do you add an apostrophe to a possessive?

The rules about forming possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion. They vary a little bit, depending on what type of noun you are making into a possessive. Here are the rules of thumb: For most singular nouns, add apostrophe+s: For most plural nouns, add only an apostrophe :

Can you use possessive pronouns in joint constructions?

Using possessive personal pronouns in joint constructions often sounds awkward ( You have their and my gratitude ). Usually, the best solution is to rephrase the sentence to avoid the joint construction ( You have our gratitude or You have their gratitude and mine ).

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Do you add an apostrophe to a singular noun?

Style guides vary in their recommendations of what to do when you have a singular proper noun that ends in s. Some recommend adding only an apostrophe :

When to use double quotation marks?

The rule here is simple – the double quotation mark is used for any dialogue or speech, and whenever quoting from a text.

Can you use "which" without a comma?

It is also possible to use the word ‘which’ without a comma in a restrictive sentence when it is referring to a specific object.

Can punctuation be avoided?

Another very common punctuation mistake that can be easily avoided is forgetting the punctuation at the end of a person’s speech. Just remember, even if it feels as if the sentence flows straight on, even if the person is going to speak again in the same sentence, correct grammar use dictates that you must use a punctuation mark every time you close speech marks.

How to avoid double possessive in a sentence?

You can fix the problem by substituting one of two sentences depending on what you mean. If you mean Marie owns the portrait, then the double possessive makes it clear: "This is a portrait of Marie's." On the other hand, if it is a lovely rendering of Marie, "This is a portrait of Marie" will serve you well.

What does the double possessive mean in Marie?

If you mean Marie owns the portrait, then the double possessive makes it clear: "This is a portrait of Marie's.". On the other hand, if it is a lovely rendering of Marie, "This is a portrait of Marie" will serve you well.

Can you use "She is a relative of his" as a double possessive?

In fact, it’s impossible to avoid using a double possessive in cases such as “She is a relative of his.”. If you don’t like double possessives, you could reword such sentences by saying, “She is his relative,” “She is one of his relatives,” or, simply, “They are related.”.

Is "mine" a possessive?

She points out that it would sound normal to say, “He’s a friend of mine,” and "mine" is the possessive. Cathy's right, though you usually use only one possessive at a time. Many purists believe that double possessives should be relegated to informal and semiformal writing, if you use them at all.

Should you avoid double possessives?

We could clear this all up by stating that we should just always avoid double possessives. Perhaps that would make life easier. Instead of “a friend of my uncle’s” or “a car of Squiggly's,” maybe we should always say, “my uncle’s friend” or “Squiggly’s car.” For the most part, you can’t go wrong if you follow this advice. You should probably avoid the double possessive anyway if you’re using formal English.

Is "friend of my uncle" a possessive?

According to The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, for a double possessive to be legal, the object of the preposition “of” has to be “definite and human.”. In other words, it’s fine to say, “a friend of my uncle’s” but not “a friend of the museum’s.”. You have to say, “a friend of the museum.”. However, according to this rule, it would be OK ...

Is "the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom" a possessive?

On the other hand, it’s perfectly normal to say, “the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom” or “the United Kingdom’s Crown Jewels,” but it turns out that it’s ungrammatical to say, “the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom’s.” Here’s a clear-cut rule that helps explain this: When you’re talking about inanimate objects —objects that aren’t alive, such as “the United Kingdom”—you can’t use a double possessive (2). According to The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, for a double possessive to be legal, the object of the preposition “of” has to be “definite and human.” In other words, it’s fine to say, “a friend of my uncle’s” but not “a friend of the museum’s.” You have to say, “a friend of the museum.” However, according to this rule, it would be OK to say, “He's a friend of a friend’s,” but we’ve all heard the common expression “a friend of a friend.” I guess double possessives don’t always work. That should make some sticklers happy.

What is double possessive?

The double possessive, or double genitive, serves to separate the possessive genitive from other functions of the genitive. "A dream of Mabel" can demonstrate the genitive of association, but "a dream of Mabel's" ensures that it's the genitive of possession at work.

What is the possessive form of a name?

The possessive, or genitive, form in English is typically shown with an 's or ' tacked onto the end of a name or noun. A singular noun normally gets the 's, while a plural noun that ends in a /s/ or /z/ sound takes simply ':

What was Mabel's entry in the baking contest?

Mabel's entry in the baking contest was a lemon meringue pie. Each entry's tag listed only the ingredients used. Contestants' identities were to be entirely unknown to the judges. Possessive adjectives and pronouns can often be used instead of a name or noun: Mabel had made her pie by candlelight.

How did Mabel make her pie?

Mabel had made her pie by candlelight. No one knew that the pie was hers. A less common and more formal way to show possession is with of, which is normally used when it is a thing, rather than a person or animal, that has possession. Typically, that thing is not one that can be touched or held.

Is double possessive grammatical?

They 're perfectly grammatical. The double possessive, usually using both of and 's to demonstrate possession, is grammatical. While it is sometimes unnecessary, it can be helpful for differentiating when the possessive (or genitive) case is about association or ownership, such as in "a picture of my friend" vs. "a picture of my friend's.".

Is Harry's mustache possessive?

Grammatically, English sometimes gets doubly possessive —think "that mustache of Harry's," which could be revised to be singly possessive as "Harry's mustache.". It's a curious thing, when you think about it. Curiosities of the language being our specialty, we're taking a closer look at the matter here. First, a quick review of the grammatical ...

Overview

Non-English use

In many languages, especially European languages, the apostrophe is used to indicate the elision of one or more sounds, as in English.
• In Albanian the apostrophe is used to show that a vowel has been omitted from words, especially in different forms of verbs and in some forms of personal pronoun. For example, t'i: them (from të + i: them), m'i mori (from më + i mori). It is used too in some of the forms of possessive pronoun…

Usage in English

Typographic form

Informal use in measurement and mathematics

Unicode

Computing

See also