Phrases that you are using incorrectly...

[JessicaR]

She had another think coming

hee hee that was good!

 

[Sandy51]

One I hear all the time on TV, is "the phone rang at 6 a.m. in the morning". Yes, a. m. is in the morning. You don't need to say it twice.


(English teacher here)


Sandy

 

[mamacatnv]

My biggest peeve re correct usage is that there seems to be an epidemic lately of people who don't know the difference between the plural and the possessive, and so add an apostrophe to any word that ends in "s." I constantly have Facebook friends posting about their "kid's," and, for example, Jane Johnson will post something like "The Johnson's are going to Disney World!!" One friend even proudly posted a shot of the large new, custom sign she had made to go in front of her family's front door with their name painted on it, i.e., "The Smith's"

I actually received a solicitation email from a well-known firm of financial advisors informing me that "you're invited to a special event for professional's." I'm sorry, but if you can't distinguish between the plural and the possessive, there's no way in hell you're getting my money.

I have apostrophe anxiety, it leads to nightmares and profuse sweating I think I missed that section of grammar and it has forever haunted me. My hand shakes every time my fingers get near the apostrophe key

The one that follows the S is even more confounding

Is there a simple tool, rhyme or trick to remembering the use?

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I don't see any that i misuse, I see some that I never use though.

 

[Wendy31]

I have apostrophe anxiety, it leads to nightmares and profuse sweating I think I missed that section of grammar and it has forever haunted me. My hand shakes every time my fingers get near the apostrophe key

The one that follows the S is even more confounding

Is there a simple tool, rhyme or trick to remembering the use?

It's really pretty simple.

Basically, if the word is plural, you don't need an apostrophe.

If you are trying to show possession, you need an apostrophe.

The Smiths are going to Disney.

The Smiths' trip to Disney was cancelled.

The boys like their new coach.

The boys' coach is a former star player.

 

[ashley0139]

It's really pretty simple.

Basically, if the word is plural, you don't need an apostrophe.

If you are trying to show possession, you need an apostrophe.

The Smiths are going to Disney.

The Smiths' trip to Disney was cancelled.

The boys like their new coach.

The boys' coach is a former star player.

The only time it gets confusing is with "it's/its." Possessive "its" never has an apostrophe. "It's" is always a contraction for "it is," never possessive.

(Not that it's confusing, but often used incorrectly because possessive usually uses an apostrophe.)

 

[CupcakeKelly]

One I hear all the time on TV, is "the phone rang at 6 a.m. in the morning". Yes, a. m. is in the morning. You don't need to say it twice.


(English teacher here)


Sandy

What about when people use their PIN number at the ATM machine?

 

[ILUVALASKA]

As a teacher of English, I have to plug my ears EVERY time I leave the house. I am so tired of hearing, "Are you doing good?" or, " You did good." Let's add, "Where you at?" Our poor grammar and overuse of profanity are an embarrassment.

 

[mamacatnv]

It's really pretty simple.

Basically, if the word is plural, you don't need an apostrophe.

If you are trying to show possession, you need an apostrophe.

The Smiths are going to Disney.

The Smiths' trip to Disney was cancelled.

The boys like their new coach.

The boys' coach is a former star player.

I know I chant in my head "belongs too"

What is the rule for when the apostrophe comes before the S or is there one?

 

[Ember]

I always enjoy the people on the DIS who are going to renew their "vowels."

For me, I always have to pause and think before using "affect" or "effect." I know the difference, but I still have to think about it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

#22 makes me laugh. I've never heard it called the "feeble position."

The only one I've been guilty if is #4. Only figured it out a few years ago!

 

[ChrisFL]

I have apostrophe anxiety, it leads to nightmares and profuse sweating I think I missed that section of grammar and it has forever haunted me. My hand shakes every time my fingers get near the apostrophe key

The one that follows the S is even more confounding

Is there a simple tool, rhyme or trick to remembering the use?

I'm an apostrophe snob...meaning I HATE when I see apostrophes being used where they aren't supposed to be used.

There was actually a website all about "apostrophe abuse"

I've seen restaurant menus where anything that is pluralized they'll add an apostrophe.

"we have cake's, croissant's, pie's, etc."


Edited to add: one more thing I see incorrectly used is "worse". They never learned the concept of the word "worst", so they always talk about "the worse thing ever" or nonsense like that.

Worst is a WORD, look it up!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I know I chant in my head "belongs too"

What is the rule for when the apostrophe comes before the S or is there one?

Before the S is also possessive, but for a singular owner.

So, if I have one cat, and he owns a toy, I could say:

The cat's toy was under the sofa.

If I have two cats and they own a shared toy, I could say:

The cats' toy was under the sofa.

The placement of that apostrophe actually changing the meaning of the sentence (from one cat, to multiple cats)

If we are not talking about anything the cats own, but there are still two of them, then it is:

The cats were under the sofa.

(no apostrophe because there is no ownership).

Did I make sense? I haven't tried to teach this in 20 years

 

[CaliBear]

I think the author of that article underestimates most people's intelligence. Other than "I could care less", I don't hear many of those mistakes made, ever.

I take exception with "You've got another think/thing coming." Origin of the phrase aside, the phrase "you've got another thing coming" has become so embedded in our speech that it is a valid phrase.

p.s. now I have the song in my head.

 

[kaytieeldr]

When someone calls your home phone and asks for you by name - how do you answer?

Caller: May I speak to Mary?

Mary: This is she.

YES - this is correct. Not "This is her" - the she vs. her thing (and he and him).

I am more of a Disney freak than she. Yes, she! If you can follow it with "is" than you know you are correct. I am more of a Disney freak than she is.

This was a biggie for my Mom!

"There's no Mary here."

 

[kaytieeldr]

I take exception with "You've got another think/thing coming." Origin of the phrase aside, the phrase "you've got another thing coming" has become so embedded in our speech that it is a valid phrase.

What does it mean, though? What's the context?

 

[crashbb]

I know I chant in my head "belongs too"

What else does it do other than belong?

Sorry, I would have let it go, but in the spirit of the thread, I had to comment (I assume you mean "belong to").

I still have to really think about it when I'm using an apostrophe with a combination of people (e.g. Bert and Ernie). I know the rules, but really have to think about it.

 

[OceanAnnie]

What does it mean, though? What's the context?

Loosely, I think even thought "thing" is said it means you "think" this is going to happen but a person is predicting some"thing" else will happen.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

In the UK many people say 'He goes or she goes' rather than 'he said or she said' . It sounds awful. They also say 'I turned around and said' for everything they report to have said to other people. There is no physical turning around they just add it. So it sounds like they are constantly facing the wrong way lol...

One more petty detail.. When folk add very to a word when it is not required. For example 'It's very devastating' but the word holds a dramatic context anyway. It's very soul destroying...

How much more soul destroying can one get lol...

 

[Janepod]

One more petty detail.. When folk add very to a word when it is not required. For example 'It's very devastating' but the word holds a dramatic context anyway. It's very soul destroying...

How much more soul destroying can one get lol...

How much more soul-destroying? When people add "very" to "unique." Something is either unique or not unique. There are not degrees of uniqueness.