Peter Trudgill writes a column about the origin of words in The New European and is the author of Dialect Matters: Respecting Vernacular Language. What he has to say about possessive apostrophes is therefore of interest, both etymologically and in regard to current usage. Forget the ‘grocer’s apostrophe’ – cucumber’s, carrot’s, etc – which is just plain wrong, doesn’t denote possession, and adds to the gaiety of life for many a pedant (including me). His interest is in how people use apostrophes to bring clarity to meaning, and whether even a properly used apostrophe is strictly necessary in all circumstances.
We can’t hear when an apostrophe is being used. For example, whether we are saying ‘dont’ or ‘don’t;’ ‘shes’ or ‘she’s; ‘James’s’ or ‘Jameses;’ there’s (theres) no special additional inflexion to show we have included an apostrophe. Unlike when we differentiate ‘he’ll from hell,’ or ‘we’ll from well.’
So, if we don’t need them when we are talking, why do we need them when we write? Or does it depend on how formal the writing is? After all, Twitter/X has become a virtually apostrophe-free zone as people try to keep their text under the character limit.
Trudgill argues that the overuse of the apostrophe in formal writing, often when dates are involved: the 1960’s for the 1960s etc; and in notices – see the ubiquitous grocer’s apostrophe – comes from the writer trying too hard to use the correct form. And, indeed, many people do struggle to get it right when it comes to the possessive apostrophe, despite the ‘rule’ that one is used before the ‘s’ to denote possession in the singular – Mary’s book, Thomas’s picture. Or after, for the plural – the girls’ table tennis team.
Trudgill is not in favour of rules, favouring listening to how English people actually speak, and taking it from there. Hence, he offers a rule of thumb for guidance in using a possessive apostrophe: if in doubt leave it out. But if you do use one, make sure you get it right. Maybe the same should apply to apostrophe use elsewhere too.
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