Are you an apostrophe stickler?

[Wesley Dodds]

I know I am. A few minutes ago I was writing something and I thought: "Hang on, is there an apostrophe when you contract 'it has'? Would that be 'its' or 'it's'? I... must... know!"

But, that's me: apostrophe Nazi and proud of it. My hobbies include Lebensraum and fighting Comma-unism.

And that's the poll: are you an apostrophe Nazi -- or filthy, filthy Frenchman?

[Deadpooligan]

Isn't it just "it's"? I've been an apostrophe aficionado for years now, but it only masks my true grammatical state;

SEMICOLON WHORE.

[Wesley Dodds]

Isn't it just "it's"? I've been an apostrophe aficionado for years now, but it only masks my true grammatical state;

SEMICOLON WHORE.

I didn't know, either. So I asked The Beatles.

It's been a hard day's night --

Well, that clinches it.

[TheLazy]

I'm an anargramaticalist, down with the miss-punctuation

[morna]

more of a spelling Nazi really, I tend to go all Occam's razor on punctuation - drives Gary nuts.

but I do try to get the contractions right. I guess I see them as a spelling issue.

[Joe Grendel]

When in doubt, check Grammar Girl's Web site.

[Frodo-X]

I think I am. And when I come to writing one and don't know how it should be, I won't contract it.

So, in your example, if I didn't know how it should be, I'd just write 'It has' to be safe. :o

[Spike-X]

Nothing pisses me off more than people who use apostrophe's on word's that are plural's.

Like that. That actually caused me pain to type.

[Erebus]

I didn't know, either. So I asked The Beatles.

It's been a hard day's night --

Well, that clinches it.

Technically, that says, "It is been a hard day's night."

[Michael P]

Technically, that says, "It is been a hard day's night."

"It's" can be a contraction of either "it is" or "it has."

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/it's

[Pinnacle]

I always told my students never to use a contraction in formal writing. I don't in my own papers as I was taught it was informal. This was a very foreign concept to my students who liked to use "text messaging language" in their papers.

On a related note, my former colleagues used to get very upset when students called "" parentheses. I sometimes found myself making the same mistake. I know how to use a quotation mark but I have trouble remembering the name for it. I was lucky to only be an English teacher for one year so I didn't get the blame for causing this mix-up. Evidently someone at the local middle school had the same problem that I had.:D

[Tadhg Adams]

I'm going with the tilda appeasing since I use it in work more.

[Gilda Dent]

I try to be careful about apostrophes, but occasionally I'll find one sneaking in unbidden.

[howyadoin]

I thought it was "tilde", not "tilda".

[Michael P]

I thought it was "tilde", not "tilda".

You thought correctly.

[howyadoin]

You thought correctly.I guess Wesley's just a third-world dictator, then.

[Serik]

I can tolerate typos and the like, but dammit, I hate it when apostrophes are misused. Nothing says unprofessional/sloppy like using the wrong form of "it's" in the subject line of an email that's being sent to 15 people in the office.

[morna]

Technically, that says, "It is been a hard day's night."

what about the day's doesn't that say '... hard day is night '

[K'Nort]

It jumps out at me but I don't correct people on it.

Although once in a while I can't resist editing a post that I'm quoting.

[Gingold]

I get paid to be pissed off about poor grammar, mechanics, and usage 9 months of the year. I let it slide in the summertime.

[Matt Algren]

I hesitate to use the word 'Nazi', so I didn't vote, but yeah, misplaced apostrophies, bad spelling, and general grammar trouble raises my blood pressure, especially when I see them at businesses. I see things like "Employee's Only" everywhere. Every once in a while I'll bring it to someone's attention, and their eyes glaze over.

[Matt Algren]

But what does Strong Bad think about (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail89.html) it (http://www.hrwiki.org/mirror/sb_itsits.mp3)?

[mgs]

I like the elegance of it is or it has, but I feel the apostrophe is necessary only for longer documents which need help with space (trying to make things as short and concise as possible).

[howyadoin]

I hesitate to use the word 'Nazi', so I didn't vote, but yeah, misplaced apostrophies, bad spelling...Okay, that's just funny.

[Matt Algren]

Thank you. I was afraid nobody would catch it.

[Fenris]

Notice it, yes. I try not to mention it unless the writer is actually using me as a spell-checker.


õ
Which humans still do better than computers, darn it!

[stealthwise]

I always told my students never to use a contraction in formal writing. I don't in my own papers as I was taught it was informal. This was a very foreign concept to my students who liked to use "text messaging language" in their papers.

On a related note, my former colleagues used to get very upset when students called "" parentheses. I sometimes found myself making the same mistake. I know how to use a quotation mark but I have trouble remembering the name for it. I was lucky to only be an English teacher for one year so I didn't get the blame for causing this mix-up. Evidently someone at the local middle school had the same problem that I had.:D

Damn rights. Instructors unite!

[howyadoin]

Damn rights.What's with the s?

[TheLazy]

I can tolerate typos and the like, but dammit, I hate it when apostrophes are misused. Nothing says unprofessional/sloppy like using the wrong form of "it's" in the subject line of an email that's being sent to 15 people in the office.

The worst part is that the new working generation (that I am a part of too) is going to be the first that really has no motivation to fix their errors thanks to magic like Word. I'd got to a point now where if I don't know how to type a word Ill just spell check it or use a similar word and find an synonym of it until i get the word I want.

[Spike-X]

What's with the s?
And why is there not an apostrophe preceding it?

[Matt Algren]

The worst part is that the new working generation (that I am apart of too) is going to be the first that really has no motivation to fix their errors thanks to magic like Word. I'd got to a point now where if I don't know how to type a word Ill just spell check it or use a similar word and find an antonym of it until i get the word I want.
Synonym. You'll find a synonym.

[Tadhg Adams]

Synonym. You'll find a synonym.

He should have looked for the antonym of antonym.

[howyadoin]

The worst part is that the new working generation (that I am apart of too)You're a part of it, or apart from it?

[Matt Algren]

He should have looked for the antonym of antonym.
You just blew my mind.

[TheLazy]

Synonym. You'll find a synonym.

My point exactly:D

[TheLazy]

You're a part of it, or apart from it?

A part of it, I need a new god damn keyboard

[Night]

Cant say that Im really that picky unless its some formal-type writing thing youre talkin about; then the little mark has it's importance.

[Wesley Dodds]

Heil stickler!

[UniqueFrequency]

while i am a stickler for aprostrophes, i don't expect most people to know how to use them properly

people who confuse your and you're are more annoying. it even happens in comic books! people who are supposed to be educated in how to write!

[Matt Algren]

Heil stickler!
http://www.seannwscott.net/gallery/albums/AW/normal_americanwedding16.jpg

[Dreadstar]

In fact I test people, by asking them to punctuate "Mr. Davis" as having a possession.

All who fail are fed to the chihuahuas.

[Wesley Dodds]

All who fail are fed to the chihuahuas.

I thought Chihuahuas only ate tacos.

[Jeff Brady]

In fact I test people, by asking them to punctuate "Mr. Davis" as having a possession.

All who fail are fed to the chihuahuas.

Are they Mr. Davis' chihuahuas?

[Dreadstar]

Are they Mr. Davis' chihuahuas?

Them's th' ones!

[Dreadstar]

I thought Chihuahuas only ate tacos.

Starvation is a great motivator.