28
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
taming the apostrophe
Apostrophes do NOT belong on signs like these in produce markets:
(wrong) "tomatoe's," "potatoe's," "banana's," and "grape's."
TOMATOES, POTATOES, BANANAS, and GRAPES are the
correct plurals of the fruits and veggies.
You'd use an apostrophe only if possession were involved.
v
The tomatoes' bright red color drew me to the roadside market.
v
The bananas' overripe smell reminded me of baby food.
Here are some words that DON'T need an apostrophe:
v
the plurals of names (all the Mikes, three Wilmingtons, 1996
Broncos)
v
the possessive pronouns YOURS, HERS, ITS, OURS, THEIRS,
WHOSE, ONESELF (it's means "it is"; who's means "who is")
Capital letters and abbreviations ending with capital letters are made
plural by adding "s" alone.
HMOs
IQs
M.D.s
Numbers written in figures are made plural by adding "s."
1990s (but if referring to the decade only, use '90s)
9s
B-52s
727s
Lowercase letters and abbreviations not capitalized are made plural
by adding an "apostrophe-s."
c.o.d.'s
p's and q's
When in doubt, Mrs. B advises you to use your common sense.
In the case of more than one SOS, make it SOS's.
