Do you know how to use apostrophes?

Former_MSE_Rebecca

How good are you at using apostrophes? Take the Oxford Dictionaries Apostrophe Challenge to find out (and let us know how you get on).

Anja

Terribly tricky ok but Devilishly difficult - just as it says on the can! I'm pleased I know my basic apostrophes tho'.

Nile

You scored: 10/10

All hail the apostrophe monarch! Give yourself a pat on the back.:D


Does MSE Badger have a spelling badge, please Miss?

mttylad

What has this got to do with gaming?

JayWalker

You scored: 10/10

Congratulations! You're the apostrophe champion!


(On Devilishly Difficult - though I have to confess, I guessed a couple.)

Fizzymartini

I may be having a completely dumb moment (its too early for me), but can anyone please explain to me why:

• Prince Charles' speech on green issues was welcomed by many.
• Grandma Moses' painting shows a rural farming scene.

but

• Charles Dickens's life was a tale of rags to riches.
• Mars's gravity is three-eighths that of Earth.

Aren't they all possessive proper nouns? Why does Dickens and Mars warrant extra s's?

russellelly

Fizzymartini wrote: »

I may be having a completely dumb moment (its too early for me), but can anyone please explain to me why:

• Prince Charles' speech on green issues was welcomed by many.
• Grandma Moses' painting shows a rural farming scene.

but

• Charles Dickens's life was a tale of rags to riches.
• Mars's gravity is three-eighths that of Earth.

Aren't they all possessive proper nouns? Why does Dickens and Mars warrant extra s's?

If the noun ends in 's' then the extra 's' is optional.

Martin's Money
Martin Lewis' Money
Martin Lewis's Money

So Dickens' or Dickens's, Mars' or Mars's etc. I assume the quiz accepted multiple answers for those questions?

Kayne

Actually they would all be s's as in Charles's, Dickens's etc

Personal names that end in –s

With personal names that end in -s: add an apostrophe plus s when you would naturally pronounce an extra s if you said the word out loud:

He joined Charles’s army in 1642.
Dickens's novels provide a wonderful insight into Victorian England.
Thomas's brother was injured in the accident.

Note that there are some exceptions to this rule, especially in names of places or organizations, for example:
St Thomas’ Hospital
If you aren’t sure about how to spell a name, look it up in an official place such as the organization’s website.

With personal names that end in -s but are not spoken with an extra s: just add an apostrophe after the -s:
The court dismissed Bridges' appeal.
Connors' finest performance was in 1991.

taken from: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/apostrophe

JimmyTheWig

Fizzymartini wrote: »

I may be having a completely dumb moment (its too early for me), but can anyone please explain to me why:

• Prince Charles' speech on green issues was welcomed by many.
• Grandma Moses' painting shows a rural farming scene.

but

• Charles Dickens's life was a tale of rags to riches.
• Mars's gravity is three-eighths that of Earth.

Aren't they all possessive proper nouns? Why does Dickens and Mars warrant extra s's?

Some people say that biblical and classical names ending in an "s" shouldn't have an extra "s" after the apostrophe but other names should.

PasturesNew

mttylad wrote: »

What has this got to do with gaming?

B*gger all

I got 10/10 though, so I don't care which forum it was posted/mis-posted onto.

roubiliac

100%
I was learnt proper.