# Eliminating the apostrophe would improve English **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150 "2018-03-06T21:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/1 "2018-03-06T21:20:31Z")
Eliminating the apostrophe would create a small amount of ambiguity in a small number of cases. But we already have ambiguity because a lot of people don’t know what an apostrophe is for. The meaning is usually very obvious in context, and we already have to determine said meaning when something is spoken. Other than the Trump “rapists” comment, I can’t think of any time such ambiguity has really led to debate. (If you want to rehash that one, there are plenty of other threads.) So, let’s kick that stupid punctuation to the curb where it belongs. (But if you come for my Oxford comma, I’ll cry.) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/2 "2018-03-06T21:21:29Z")
Its’ an interesting idea. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/3 "2018-03-06T21:32:21Z")
Also, the letter “h.” To ell wit it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/4 "2018-03-06T21:32:26Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > Eliminating the apostrophe would create a small amount of ambiguity in a small number of cases. But we already have ambiguity because a lot of people don’t know what an apostrophe is for. I’m not so sure. I agree many people don’t always use an apostrophe correctly, but I think almost everyone comprehends the meaning when one is used. How would we understand the following? _That’s his brothers boat?_ It is his brother’s boat or his brothers’ boat? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/5 "2018-03-06T21:36:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m not so sure. I agree many people don’t always use an apostrophe correctly, but I think almost everyone comprehends the meaning when one is used. > > How would we understand the following? > > _That’s his brothers boat?_ > > It is his brother’s boat or his brothers’ boat? How do you understand it if you hear it? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/6 "2018-03-06T21:40:09Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also, the letter “h.” To ell wit it. Hell make that happen too, wont he? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/7 "2018-03-06T21:42:17Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > How do you understand it if you hear it? Depends on how many brothers the guy has. I’m sure we could come up with hundreds of different examples where it is a useful punctuation. Whats the problem with it? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/8 "2018-03-06T21:44:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m sure we could come up with hundreds of different examples where it is a useful punctuation. Whats the problem with it? See here: > **[Kill The Apostrophe](https://www.killtheapostrophe.com/)** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/9 "2018-03-06T21:55:21Z")
Using apostrophes properly is pretty much a shibboleth for deciding whether somebody is worth listening to. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/10 "2018-03-06T22:02:08Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > … > > So, let’s kick that stupid punctuation to the curb where it belongs. > > … I’m currently reading The Damnation Game by Clive Barker. Now I’m not in any position to criticize his punctuation, he’s a professional, but when he’s shortening “telephone” he uses an apostrophe. 'phone I’m sure it’s proper, but it stands out, too. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/11 "2018-03-06T22:05:23Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m not so sure. I agree many people don’t always use an apostrophe correctly, but I think almost everyone comprehends the meaning when one is used. > > How would we understand the following? > > _That’s his brothers boat?_ > > It is his brother’s boat or his brothers’ boat? Or is it his own boat, used for hauling his brothers around? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/12 "2018-03-06T22:12:58Z")
What is to be gained by this elimination? I understand that it’s often unnecessary, but there are reasons for wanting written speech to be more precise than spoken speech. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/13 "2018-03-06T22:16:33Z")
Dear President Trump: There are too many punctuation marks these days. Please eliminate three. P.S. I am not a crackpot. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/14 "2018-03-06T22:24:36Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Depends on how many brothers the guy has. > > I’m sure we could come up with hundreds of different examples where it is a useful punctuation. **Whats** the problem with it? Respectfully, “What’s”. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/15 "2018-03-06T22:33:41Z")
> [@SingleMalt](#): > > Respectfully, “What’s”. Obviously, I was playing along. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/16 "2018-03-06T23:21:36Z")
It’s my wont to use apostrophes, so I won’t stop using them. But don’t eat the yellow snow. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/17 "2018-03-06T23:21:37Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > Dear President Trump: > > There are too many punctuation marks these days. Please eliminate three. > > P.S. I am not a crackpot. I think there’s at least one grownup in the administration who will demand you prove someone is using “3” as punctuation first. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/18 "2018-03-06T23:24:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Depends on how many brothers the guy has. Well, yes. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/19 "2018-03-06T23:35:02Z")
Many people misuse “there” and “their” (not to mention “they’re”). Should we spell all of them the same? That would probably cause less confusion than dropping the apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150/20 "2018-03-06T23:41:39Z")
They can be replaced with “thar”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-apostrophe-would-improve-english/810150.md?page=2)