[Jill Malcolm]

Self Test.

I have been editing a book and I keep coming across apostrophes where they shouldn’t be and none where they should be. Cruel treatment of these little chaps is common. I quote the Oxford Companion to English Literature: “There never was a golden age in which the rules for the possessive apostrophe were clear-cut and known, understood and followed by most educated people.”

For fun, ponder the following as see if you can work out where the apostrophe (if required) goes.

Wellington Girls College

Farmers market

Ladies bathroom

Womens bathroom

Its fine with me

Cyclists only

Bobs motors

The peoples princess

[Brian Morris]

If you scored 8 out of 8, celebrate with a cup of tea.

Anything less means keep your day job as a panel beater.

Or – keep reading READER’S DIGEST because you’ll never see the apostrophe misused there.

BM

[Contact NZIBS]

Wellington Girl’s College

farmer’s market

Ladies’ Bathroom

Women’s Bathroom

It’s fine with me

Cyclist’s only

Bob’s Motors

The people’s princess

[Jill Malcolm]

Hi Piers. All good fun.

Farmer market has no apostrophe as the market does not belong to the farmers. It’s a description.

The same goes for Wellington Girls College, although you will often see it written with an apostrophe.

Same goes for ladies bathroom and womens bathroom.  They are bathrooms for ladies and women, not owned by them…. usually.

Cyclists only doesn’t need an apostrophe.

The rest are spot on.

Regards,

Jill