# This is a friendly pitting: Apostrophes and plurals **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 7, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880 "2010-07-07T18:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/1 "2010-07-07T18:07:21Z")
This is in the pit, because I can’t figure out a better place to put it, but consider it a friendly pitting. Among recent examples, [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12657430&postcount=2): > [@Hampshire](#): > > Every e-mail “contact” I have has space for phone numbers and address’. and [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12658081&postcount=2): > [@Si Amigo](#): > > The Goldman’s get them. The correct plurals in these cases are _addresses_ and _the Goldmans_. No apostrophe necessary. Joneses, Charleses, Jesuses, jumping Jehosaphats. Thomases, Congresses, penises, weenises, genuses, species. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/2 "2010-07-07T18:13:28Z")
[Bob’s Quick Guide to the Apostrophe](http://www.journalismcareers.com/gfx/apostropheposter.jpg) [Bob’s Quick Guide to “Its” and “It’s”](http://angryflower.com/itsits.gif) Those should help you with your futile, quixotic crusade. For the record, I feel exactly the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/3 "2010-07-07T18:18:22Z")
It’s = it is. Always\*. The possessive is its. How hard is that to remember? You’re = you are. Again, it always works like that. The possessive is your. _Okay, unless you’re discussing The Addams Family and somebody asks who played Cousin It’s part._\* \*\*Felix Silla. So now you’ll never have to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/4 "2010-07-07T18:37:37Z")
The crazy thing is that I remember the day in grade seven English class when they taught this. It took all of five minutes, and I’ve been perfect at it ever since. Was half of the English-speaking world sick that day or something? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/5 "2010-07-07T18:41:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Okay, unless you’re discussing The Addams Family and somebody asks who played Cousin It’s part._\* Actually, it’s _Itt_, with two of that letter, so this issue need never come up. > **[Cousin Itt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_Itt)** > > Cousin Itt is a fictional character in the Addams Family television and film series. He was developed specifically for the 1964 television series and is a regular supporting character in subsequent motion-picture, television and stage adaptations. > Cousin Itt is a diminutive, hirsute being, his visible form composed entirely of floor-length hair. He is often attired in bowler hat and round sunglasses, and speaks in a high-pitched gibberish that is understood only by his family. As he was created ... …unless you’re discussing things that belong to Stephen King’s **It**. Or _It! The Terror from Beyond Space_ or _It Came from beneath the Sea_ or \* It Came from Outer Space\* or… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/6 "2010-07-07T18:49:12Z")
Folks, it’s as easy as this: Apostrophes either indicate a contraction\* or possession. \*In a contraction, the apostrophe takes the place of letters. So it’s “y’all” not “ya’ll”. The apostrophe takes the place of the “ou” in “you all”. If you can’t figure out what letters are being replaced, don’t use the contraction. (Except for “won’t”, that stupid rebel.) ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/7 "2010-07-07T19:02:32Z")
The apostrophe shows that something is missing - sometimes used to denote brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/8 "2010-07-07T19:08:32Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Folks, it’s as easy as this: > > Apostrophes either indicate a contraction\* or possession. Obviously, this is the problem. Possessive personal pronouns don’t take an apostrophe. People get that “his” and “hers” and “ours” take no apostrophe, but they know they’ve seen “its” with an apostrophe, so they assume it should have it, or something. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/9 "2010-07-07T19:39:03Z")
But isn’t the apostrophe useful sometimes to aid legibility? Consider: He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his is and cross his ts. He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his i’s and cross his t’s. The second version seems preferable to me, rule or no rule. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/10 "2010-07-07T19:41:01Z")
He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his Is and cross his Ts. Wait, I see why the capital letters would look silly there. Still, that’s how I’d do it. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/11 "2010-07-07T19:45:50Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The second version seems preferable to me, rule or no rule. Still basically a contraction. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/12 "2010-07-07T19:47:49Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his i’s and cross his t’s. I’d go with either: He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his Is and cross his Ts. -or- He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his "i"s and cross his "t"s. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/13 "2010-07-07T19:55:19Z")
Remember, kids, an apostrophe does NOT mean, “Here comes an “s”!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/14 "2010-07-07T20:11:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s = it is. Always\*. The possessive is its. How hard is that to remember? > > You’re = you are. Again, it always works like that. The possessive is your. > > _Okay, unless you’re discussing The Addams Family and somebody asks who played Cousin It’s part._\* > > \*\*Felix Silla. So now you’ll never have to ask. > [@Munch](#): > > Folks, it’s as easy as this: > > Apostrophes either indicate a contraction\* or possession. The car, where is its or it’s ignition? Which is correct? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/15 "2010-07-07T20:15:14Z")
Its. If it ain’t “it is,” it’s its. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/16 "2010-07-07T20:28:03Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Its. If it ain’t “it is,” it’s its. OK, but doesn’t this break the rule? The car possesses the ignition. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/17 "2010-07-07T20:28:58Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > But isn’t the apostrophe useful sometimes to aid legibility? Consider: > > He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his is and cross his ts. > > He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his i’s and cross his t’s. > > The second version seems preferable to me, rule or no rule. This has been a common _exception_ to the rule, but this circumstance don’t come up all that often in writing. And even when it does, I’d argue that with the kind of writing technology we use today, the exception has become obsolete. He was a meticulous chap, always sure to dot his _i_s and cross his _t_s. And it was always possible to make this distinction in handwriting without the apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/18 "2010-07-07T20:48:38Z")
> [@](#): > > The car, where is its or it’s ignition? > > Which is correct? Follow my rule. It’s always means it is (or it was). So just substitute and see if the sentence makes sense. _The car, where is it’s ignition?_ becomes _The car, where is it is ignition?_. That doesn’t make sense, so don’t use it’s. Or try it with Munch’s sentence: _Folks, it’s as easy as this_ becomes _Folks, it is as easy as this_. As you can see, it’s works here. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/19 "2010-07-07T21:00:22Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > OK, but doesn’t this break the rule? The car possesses the ignition. It breaks **Munch** ’s rule, yeah. Like **needscoffee** said, that’s where the trouble comes from; it actually isn’t that easy because **Munch** ’s rule gives you the wrong answer with “it”: > [@needscoffee](#): > > Obviously, this is the problem. Possessive personal pronouns don’t take an apostrophe. People get that “his” and “hers” and “ours” take no apostrophe, but they know they’ve seen “its” with an apostrophe, so they assume it should have it, or something. And that’s where the “it’s always equals it is” rule comes in handy. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880/20 "2010-07-07T22:07:35Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > The car, where is its or it’s ignition? > > Which is correct? A secret I learned somewhere–when unsure, mentally substitute the word _his_. If the sentence still works correctly, use the same number of apostrophes (none). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-friendly-pitting-apostrophes-and-plurals/545880.md?page=2)