I have another confession to make: I am a grammar snob. I don’t care if I am reading on teh intarwebz, if you claim to be a professional writer or to run a professional web site, I willthink less of you if I see major and repetitive grammar errors in your articles, blogs, and tweets. I care about spelling and punctuation, too.
My current pet peeve: writers who misuse possessives in the place of plurals. In other words: Put that apostrophe down if you don’t know how to use it!
With very few specific exceptions, ‘s attached to a noun denotes the possessive, NOT the plural. That is, if you mean “more than one of,” do not use an apostrophe. If you mean “belongs to,” add the apostrophe.
Simple Good Example:
Oranges cost $1 each.
Do Not Use:
Orange’s cost $1 each.
Complex Good Example:
That MILF’s boobs are huge!
Do Not Use:
That MILFs boob’s are huge!
Never, for any reason, use ‘s with a verb. If the verb form or tense you are using ends in s, write a punctuation-free word.
Correct Example:
Social media helps people waste whole workdays.
Do Not Use:
Social media help’s people waste whole workdays.
In doubt about using an apostrophe? Then don’t. It’s probably not necessary. And you’ll look less dumb omitting it; a missed apostrophe can be a typo, but one added where it doesn’t belong is a mistake.
As long as we’re being pedantic here, I am compelled to point out that “media” is plural. Your example should be “Social media help people waste whole workdays.”
My own pet peeve: quotes used as emphasis, not as true quotations. Example from distant past: a sign posted in a shop reading “No” Smoking.
By: FAH on July 30, 2009
at 10:47 am
I’ll see your pedantry and raise you a bookshelf filled with editorial guidebooks.
According to the AP Stylebook, you are correct. Media must always be used in the plural. Chicago 15 has little to say on the subject. Both Words Into Type and the Webster’s Unabridged allow me to use ‘media’ as either a plural or singular noun.
By: lizscott on July 30, 2009
at 2:03 pm
The corruption of the language continues apace! At least AP maintains SOME standards!
By: FAH on July 30, 2009
at 4:56 pm
If you are grammatically challenged, or let’s face it, a grammatical snob who will catch the grammatical error in the title of this blog, you owe it to yourself to check out these grammatical pet peeves and tips at Top 40 Grammar Pet Peeves
By: Mark Pennington on August 6, 2009
at 5:10 pm
Amen, Sister, on the apostrophes! I also have a recommendation for grammar lovers/questioners: “Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences” by Janis Bell, an SF professor. It’s like candy for language fans.
Keep fighting the good punctuation fight.
By: Wendy L. on August 14, 2009
at 7:46 pm