Hold That Apostrophe
By Madonna Dries Christensen
Apostrophes are driving me crazy.
Yes, apostrophes.
An apostrophe is used to form a contraction (didn’t), or to show possession (Bill’s car). But the little curl often appears in unusual places. It’s as if some people believe that if the letter s appears at the end of a word, it calls for an apostrophe.
Here are examples of unneeded or misplaced apostrophes I’ve seen in highly regarded publications, in television advertising, and everywhere on the Internet.
In a Wal-Mart store: Storm preparations for you and your’s.
At a bank: We welcome back student’s!
….they are the one’s to blame.
Ad’s from the 30’s.
It will not fix it’s self.
Who are your hero’s?
Is there anything good about Monday’s?
I haven’t seen my friend’s for a week.
Remember our veteran’s.
See Lindsay Lohan and other stars as they bear (yes, bear) it all in bikini’s.
Here are some photo’s I took at the beach.
We need coins and one’s (on a cash register).
Big sale on stereos, radios, and TV’s.
Bill is fascinated with UFO’s.
If anyone add’s your name to the list ….
Disco music was popular in the 1970’s.
The Martin’s are on vacation.
Congress ok’s emergency spending measures.
The ‘ol curmudgeon.
The pro’s and con’s of bottled water.
… bailing out all the car company’s.
Who’s idea was this?
Jack hit two homer’s in one game.
The ship docked in it’s home port.
The ship docked in its’ home port.
The only word in the examples above that should have an apostrophe is ol, but the punctuation belongs at the end, where the letter d was omitted: The ol’ curmudgeon.
The last two examples are the most common abuse, the its and it’s syndrome. Remember, it’s is a contraction for it is, which makes the sentence read: The ship docked in it is home port. Putting the apostrophe at the end (its’ home port) is also incorrect. No apostrophe is needed in its to show possession. The ship docked in its home port. Its flag was flying. Its passengers went ashore.
Use an apostrophe in it’s when you mean it is. It’s a nice day today. It is a nice day today.
Writers and editors, control your apostrophes. They’re running amok.
●●●●●
Preserve Your Family History
By Madonna Dries Christensen
What's the best way to save your family's life? Preserve its collective memory in a written history.
Alex Haley, author of Roots, said, "Each of us needs a sense of where we belong. In every family someone should take the responsibility of becoming its historian. Interview the old people, comb the attic, then write up the information and circulate it."
Go ahead, elect yourself historian. It may be the most fascinating and rewarding writing job you ever undertake.
Begin with some pedigree charts (found at genealogy libraries). Start with yourself and work backward, listing parents, grandparents, and then greats-, great-greats, as far back as you can go.
Search for ancestors on census and other government records (National Archives, Washington, D.C. or Mormon libraries across the country). You might find relatives mentioned in city, county, or church histories.
Host a reunion. Take notes when someone says, "I remember ... " Interview relatives. Be nosy; ask questions that trigger memory: Why did you leave Italy and come to America? Tell me about the voyage.
Offer to straighten Grandma's attic. Ask to borrow bibles. journals, letters, recipe books, obituaries, birth and death certificates, photo albums.
Identify people in photographs and label them. Photos have little value if no one knows who the relatives were. If possible, add the date and location of each photo.
Keep all family material in one place. You'll be motivated to work on your history with everything at your fingertips.
Involve children. Ask them to write about a loved one. Let them draw a family tree and fill in names on the branches. Use their contributions in the book.
Leave blank pages in your completed book. As later events occur, record marriages, births, divorces, deaths, special occasions. Remember, the present generation will one day be someone's ancestors.
Alex Haley said, ''When an old person dies, it's like a library burning."
Don't let your precious libraries burn. Talk to your relatives, and save your family's life. Start writing it now.