punctuation – Page 2 – ChanteSez.com

ChanteSez … Don’t get possessed by apostrophes

Posted by onthelookoutatlantaon June 18, 2014June 16, 2014in ChanteSez Tip of the DayLeave a comment

Will F. from @HighImpactMda suggested today’s ChanteSez grammar tip weeks ago — I appreciate his patience, and yours. Sometimes you see an apostrophe before an “s,” and sometimes after. What gives?

Here are a couple of examples:

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When you’re forming a possessive, and the item (or person) doing the possessing ends in “s,” you add the apostrophe to the end of the word.

Conversely, if the word doesn’t end in “s,” add one and put the apostrophe before it.

Here’s how to remember it: No “s,” add one. With “s,” needs none.

ChanteSez … Sometimes you have to go missing

Posted by onthelookoutatlantaon April 2, 2014April 2, 2014in ChanteSez Tip of the DayLeave a comment

Someone recently asked me where the (over)use of ellipses — or dot dot dot — came from. My guess is texting. Who has time to write out words on a small screen?

Here’s the lowdown on this punctuation fave:

Ellipses are formally meant to indicate missing words, or their intentional deletion.

More commonly, they’re used to signal hesitation, which is also an appropriate use.

The key is to leave enough context and content so the missing words don’t distort your message. So text and type away, and remember why you’re taking the missing route.