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Oeditpus Rex

(43,094 posts) Wed Oct 8, 2025, 08:04 PM Oct 8

Any thoughts on why so many people misuse apostrophes? [View all]

Last edited Sun Oct 12, 2025, 02:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Not here; I have yet to see a post with, say, "the Obama's" in reference to the couple or the family. But, on Fascistbök and other forums, I must've seen thousands of people put apostrophes before the 's' in simple plurals (or "plural's" ).

It's pretty easy to understand someone leaving out a punctuation mark (except for not ending a question with a question mark), but adding punctuation where it doesn't belong? I just can't understand what makes people think "An apostrophe goes there (or "go's;" it isn't limited to plurals).

Update: Since I posted this, I've seen apostrophes used to pluralize twice on DU. Also, ironically, I just noticed I left the apostrophe out of "isn't" in the final sentence. Mea maxima culpa.

67 replies

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Any thoughts on why so many people misuse apostrophes? [View all] Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 OP

Its a mystery to me. n/t CincyDem Oct 8 #1

I see what you did there markodochartaigh Oct 11 #56

I have to admit i'ts pretty infuriating. unblock Oct 8 #2

I see IT'S used incorrectly here a lot (when it should be ITS) Skittles Oct 11 #51

Not even then unblock Oct 11 #55

ooh I didn't know that Skittles Oct 11 #59

😳 Rebl2 Oct 12 #63

Ignorance posing as correctness The Blue Flower Oct 8 #3

. yellow dahlia Oct 8 #5

One of my pet peeves. yellow dahlia Oct 8 #4

I'm an AP Stylebook guy Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #18

I'll check them out. Thanks! yellow dahlia Oct 8 #21

I've rid my writing of a few Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #22

I am a fan of the Oxford comma. yellow dahlia Oct 8 #24

As am I Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #25

Same here! bif Oct 12 #65

Ooohh, those sound like fun. I'll look for them. 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #26

I've owned a copy of it for over 30 years LogDog75 Oct 8 #33

Many times it's auto complete and they just leave it Blues Heron Oct 8 #6

That's the crux of the biscuit! JoseBalow Oct 8 #7

Maybe Nanook could rub 'em out (n.t.) Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #19

There is a pediatric dental practice in a business complex near our neighborhood named... 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #8

Yeah, that's my gut reaction Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #28

Another jaw clencher for me is "your guyses" for the plural possessive. 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #29

I'd imagine Rachel does that Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #41

I hope you're right, but I've heard her say it many times without... 3catwoman3 Oct 9 #44

illiterate people see an apostrophe in an abbreviation or the singular possessive DBoon Oct 8 #9

No, thank's Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #32

I'm a BIG reader buzzycrumbhunger Oct 8 #10

And you toe the line, not tow the line. 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #27

This is something I dislike heartily. biophile Oct 11 #54

My eyes don't like it either! 3catwoman3 Oct 11 #58

Hell, you don't even need a vanity press Oeditpus Rex Oct 8 #35

MAGAs tend to be as sloppy with their grammar as their facts. Doodley Oct 8 #11

And speaking of inappropriate apostrophes, this grammatic atrocity makes me grit my teeth... 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #12

I'se The B'y fargone Oct 8 #17

I think people write sloppier on their phones womanofthehills Oct 8 #13

Yeah, phones are a big part of it Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #37

My elementary school level stuck for me. Apparently the MAGAts didn't care, didn't "get" it. UTUSN Oct 8 #14

'70s for a time period Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #38

Some of it anyway, is that people don't read much anymore. CrispyQ Oct 8 #15

a combination of those that do not know - and those that do not CARE stopdiggin Oct 8 #16

Refuse, found in waterfront bars JoseBalow Oct 8 #23

And 'Meh, you know what I meant' Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #39

I suppose everyone should proof carefully before submitting, but I'm cool as long as point is worthwhile. Silent Type Oct 8 #20

And understandable? (n.t.) Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #40

This post on FaceBook has me howling with laughter. 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #30

As a violist (musician who plays the viola) I find the sub of "viola!) for "voila'" to be pretty funny. fierywoman Oct 8 #31

Seems like I've seen that a couple of times, too Oeditpus Rex Oct 9 #43

It's vs Its LogDog75 Oct 8 #34

I read further into the list of pet peeves from the link I posted in my reply #30... 3catwoman3 Oct 8 #36

That's f'n funny. nt Prairie_Seagull Oct 9 #45

Drives me nut's. Chipper Chat Oct 9 #42

"It should be easy to see WestMichRad Oct 9 #46

This message was self-deleted by its author Intractable Oct 10 #47

Because they are tiny and easily misplaced. Intractable Oct 10 #48

One of my favorite cartoons. area51 Oct 11 #49

I've seen this one before... 3catwoman3 Oct 11 #50

No, it isn't Raven123 Oct 11 #52

They no teacha grammar no more. bucolic_frolic Oct 11 #53

One especially annoying misuse markodochartaigh Oct 11 #57

I've seen that many times Oeditpus Rex Oct 11 #61

Sometimes I get lazy and dont use them Figarosmom Oct 11 #60

Well, a sizable number of people learned how to spell by using apps. OldBaldy1701E Oct 12 #62

While there's certainly much in what you say Oeditpus Rex Oct 12 #66

Yes, that is my point. OldBaldy1701E Oct 13 #67

They were Rebl2 Oct 12 #64