Writing skills success - LearningExpress 2009

Lesson 7. Apostrophes and dashes
Pretest

Many writers profess great exactness in punctuation, who never yet made a point.

—George Prentice, newspaper editor (1802-1807)

LESSON SUMMARY

This lesson will put you in control of tricky apostrophes (’) and dashes (—), two of the most commonly misused marks of punctuation.

Apostrophes communicate important information in written language. Dashes, when used sparingly, add emphasis. Before you begin the lesson, see how much you already know. Add apostrophes—and one pair of dashes—where you think they belong in the Problem column on the following page. Check your answers with the Solution column.

Problem

Marjorie is studying contemporary American history, and she is most interested in the history of the 50s and 60s. Shes taken most of the classes offered by her colleges history department, and she has only one semester to go before she graduates. In order to get her degree, however, she has to write a thesis, and shes having a difficult time deciding on the topic. She met with her advisor one of the leading experts on the Civil Rights Movement and she talked with him about the possibility of focusing on the Montgomery Bus Boycott that began in 55. She also met with the professor of her womens history class and came away from that meeting inspired to write about the Womens Movement. She thought that her history study group might help with her decision, but the members opinions were split. Two of them wanted her to write about civil rights and the other two urged her to pursue the Womens Movement. She finally decided that she should stop seeking outside advice since any additional feedback would only confuse her further.

Solution

Marjorie is studying contemporary American history, and she is most interested in the history of the ’50s and ’60s. She’s taken most of the classes offered by her college’s history department, and she has only one semester to go before she graduates. In order to get her degree, however, she has to write a thesis, and she’s having a difficult time deciding on the topic. She met with her advisor—one of the leading experts on the Civil Rights Movement—and she talked with him about the possibility of focusing on the Montgomery Bus Boycott that began in ’55. She also met with the professor of her women’s history class and came away from that meeting inspired to write about the Women’s Movement. She thought that her history study group might help with her decision, but the members’ opinions were split. Two of them wanted her to write about civil rights and the other two urged her to pursue the Women’s Movement. She finally decided that she should stop seeking outside advice, since any additional feedback would only confuse her further.

Apostrophes

To Show Possession

Use an apostrophe to show possession. The highlighted words in each of the following examples are possessive adjectives: They show to whom or what a noun belongs.

Apostrophes are not used to form plurals. When you’re thinking of putting an apostrophe in a noun that ends in -s, ask yourself whether you’re merely showing that there’s more than one thing. If so, there’s no apostrophe.

Examples:

There are a lot of potatoes in the refrigerator.

Cut out the potatoes’ eyes.

You can avoid putting apostrophes in words that are merely plurals by trying this formula: The ... of the ..., as in the eyes of the potatoes. If the words don’t fit in that formula, the noun doesn’t take an apostrophe.

Here are some special cases for the use of apostrophes to show possession.

■ When there is more than one word in the possessive adjective—for example, with a compound noun, a business or institution, or jointly possessed items—add the apostrophe - s to the last word of the compound.

Examples:

someone else’s problem mother-in-law’s visit board of directors’ policy Pope John Paul Il’s death Proctor and Gamble’s product Wayne and Judy’s log cabin

■ Words showing periods of time or amounts of money need apostrophes when used as possessive adjectives.

Examples:

day’s pay, month’s vacation, morning’s work two cents’ worth, dollar’s worth

■ A singular noun that ends in - s still takes apostrophe -s, although some writers omit the -s and include only the apostrophe.

Examples:

Roger Maris’s batting record

Lotus’s personal organizer

■ When a possessive pronoun (mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs) is used, no apostrophe is needed.

Examples:

The idea is theirs.

The flight plan is ours.

This manual must be yours.

Practice

From each set that follows, choose the option in which apostrophes are used correctly. You will find the answers to each set of questions at the end of the lesson.

1. a. The students’ weekly lunch special was supposed to include a piece of fruit and a drink.

b. The student’s weekly lunch special was supposed to include a piece of fruit and a drink.

2. a. Employees reward’s differ from an owners’.

b. Employees’ rewards differ from an owner’s.

3. a. Elaine has worked three years as a physicians assistant.

b. Elaine has worked three years as a physician’s assistant.

4. a. The puppies tail wagged eagerly when he saw Jason approach.

b. The puppy’s tail wagged eagerly when he saw Jason approach.

5. a. The companies’ sales force has doubled in recent years, and the credit is your’s.

b. The company’s sales force has doubled in recent years, and the credit is yours.

6. a. Her’s is the most ambitious plan I have seen yet.

b. Hers is the most ambitious plan I have seen yet.

7. a. The city’s mayor commended the surfers’ heroic efforts to rescue two swimmers caught in a dangerous rip tide.

b. The cities mayor commended the surfers’ heroic efforts to rescue two swimmers caught in a dangerous rip tide.

8. a. Pat and Janice’s proposal requires a month’s work.

b. Pat’s and Janice’s proposal requires a months’ work.

9. a. The computer supply store’s top-selling printer is the companies latest model.

b. The computer supply store’s top-selling printer is the company’s latest model.

10. a. Ms. Jones’s boutique sells the same products as Mr. Smith’s.

b. Ms. Jones boutique sells the same products as Mr. Smiths.

To Show Omission

Use an apostrophe to show that letters or numbers have been omitted.

Examples:

Morton doesn’t (does not) live here anymore.

The officer couldn’t (could not) give me a speeding ticket.

Who’s (who is) on first?

I just can’t (cannot) understand this memo.

My first car was a ’67 (1967) Chevy.

Grandpa tells stories about life in the ’40s (1940s).

EM = Dashes

A em-dash is a very specialized punctuation mark reserved for only a few special situations. However, many writers use it incorrectly in place of other marks. Em-dashes call attention to themselves. A careful writer uses them sparingly. Em-dashes are very effective if used correctly, but they lose their impact if overused.

Remember to distinguish an em-dash from a hyphen when typing. An em-dash is three hyphens.

■ Use an em-dash to mark a sudden break in thought or to insert a comment.

Examples:

Here is your sandwich and your—Look out for that bee!

I remember the day—what middle-aged person doesn’t—that President Kennedy was shot.

John is sorry—we all are—about your unfortunate accident.

■ Use an em-dash to emphasize explanatory material. You don’t have to use, but you may.

Examples:

Knowing yourself—your thoughts, values, and dreams—is the most important knowledge.

“The writer is by nature a dreamer—a conscious dreamer.” —Carson McCullers

We spend our summers in Canada—Ontario, to be precise.

■ Use an em-dash to indicate omitted letters or words.

Examples:

“Oh, da—, I can’t believe I forgot to mail that package!”

“Hello?—Yes, I can hear you just fine.—Of course—I think I can.—Good!—I’ll see you later.—”

■ Use an em-dash to connect a beginning phrase to the rest of the sentence.

Examples:

Honesty, integrity, tenacity—these are marks of motivated salespeople.

Nashville, Tennesse; Olympia, Washington; Oceola, Iowa—these are the prospective locations.

Practice

Choose the option in which em-dashes and other punctuation are used correctly in each of the following sets.

11. a. Beth’s new car—a sleek sedan—has an outstanding extended warranty.

b. Beths’ new car—a sleek sedan—has an outstanding extended warranty.

12. a. Her preference—just in case anyone asks, is to find an inexpensive Italian restaurant for dinner.

b. Her preference—just in case anyone asks— is to find an inexpensive Italian restaurant for dinner.

13. a. Mr. Jackson can be such an annoying, I suppose I should be careful about what I say.

b. Mr. Jackson can be such an annoying—I suppose I should be careful about what I say.

14. a. New York, Chicago, Atlanta—these are the cities on her itinerary.

b. New York, Chicago, Atlanta: These are the cities on her itinerary.

15. a. I’ve managed to misplace that d— memo that I wrote—Oh, it’s right on my desk.

b. I’ve managed to misplace that d— memo that I wrote, Oh it’s right on my desk.

Practice and Review

Check yourself with these sample test questions. These extremely difficult questions cover much of what you have learned about punctuation so far. Look at the items carefully. Which of the following options is punctuated correctly?

16. a. Although it may seem strange, my partners purpose in interviewing Dr. E.S. Sanders Jr., was to eliminate him as a suspect in the crime.

b. Although it may seem strange my partner’s purpose in interviewing Dr. E.S. Sanders, Jr. was to eliminate him, as a suspect in the crime.

c. Although it may seem strange, my partner’s purpose in interviewing Dr. E.S. Sanders, Jr., was to eliminate him as a suspect in the crime.

d. Although it may seem strange, my partner’s purpose in interviewing Dr. E.S. Sanders, Jr. was to eliminate him, as a suspect in the crime.

17. a. After colliding with a vehicle at the intersection of Grand, and Forest Ms. Anderson saw a dark hooded figure reach through the window, grab a small parcel and run north on Forest.

b. After colliding with a vehicle at the intersection of Grand, and Forest, Ms. Anderson saw a dark hooded figure reach through the window, grab a small parcel, and run north on Forest.

c. After colliding with a vehicle at the intersection of Grand and Forest Ms. Anderson saw a dark, hooded figure reach through the window, grab a small parcel and run north on Forest.

d. After colliding with a vehicle at the intersection of Grand and Forest, Ms. Anderson saw a dark, hooded figure reach through the window, grab a small parcel, and run north on Forest.

18. a. When we interviewed each of the boys and the fathers, we determined that the men’s stories did not match up with the boy’s versions.

b. When we interviewed each of the boys and the fathers, we determined that the men’s stories did not match up with the boys’ versions.

c. When we interviewed each of the boys and the fathers, we determined that the mens’ stories did not match up with the boys’ versions.

d. When we interviewed each of the boy’s and the father’s, we determined that the men’s stories did not match up with the boys’ versions.

19. a. Nathans’ college resume includes many outstanding achievements: academics, athletics, volunteer hours, and work experience— making him an excellent candidate for most colleges.

b. Nathan’s college resume includes many outstanding achievements—academics, athletics, volunteer hours, and work experience— making him an excellent candidate for most colleges.

c. Nathans’ college resume includes many outstanding achievements—academics, athletics, volunteer hours, and work experience; making him an excellent candidate for most colleges.

d. Nathan’s college resume includes many outstanding achievements, academics, athletics, volunteer hours, and work experience, making him an excellent candidate for most colleges.

20. a. James Autry, Stephen Covey, Madeline Hunter—these authors are responsible for my management style, a combination of Autry’s personnel philosophy, Covey’s process for prioritizing, and Hunter’s organizational principles.

b. James Autry, Stephen Covey, Madeline Hunter. These authors are responsible for my management style, a combination of Autry’s personnel philosophy, Covey’s process for prioritizing and Hunter’s organizational principles.

c. James Autry, Stephen Covey, Madeline Hunter—these authors are responsible for my management style, a combination of Autrys personnel philosophy, Coveys process for prioritizing and Hunters organizational principles.

d. James Autry, Stephen Covey, Madeline Hunter: These authors are responsible for my management style; a combination of Autry’s personnel philosophy; Covey’s process for prioritizing; and Hunter’s organizational principles.

Answers

1. a.

2. b.

3. b.

4. b.

5. b.

6. b.

7. a.

8. a.

9. b.

10. a.

11. a.

12. b.

13. b.

14. a.

15. a.

16. c.

17. d.

18. b.

19. b.

20. a.

TIP

Few people understand the rules of apostrophes and dashes fully. Advertisers are notorious for misusing both types of punctuation. Pay special attention to billboards and advertisements in newspapers and magazines. Look for places where apostrophes and em-dashes were used correctly. Notice places where they were omitted or added when they shouldn’t have been. If your job produces promotional material, examine some of your own literature to see if apostrophes and dashes have been used correctly.