QT 17 – Video Transcript and Bonus Info
Hey, everyone! Welcome to 2-Minute Tuesday and a QuickTake with Cate that has folks fighting over whose it is. Or is that who’s? When do we use apostrophes in words, and when don’t we? When is it its, and when is it it’s? When is it your, and when is it you’re?
To crack the case, let’s begin with pronouns. Pronouns, which are noun substitutes, have three cases: the nominative (or subjective), the objective, and the possessive case. Possessive case pronouns show ownership—something belongs to someone. Notice that the possessive case pronouns already exist. We never have to add an apostrophe to them. That’s right: NEVER.
We would write, “The car lost its bumper when it spun out,” and “That painting is your best.”
So if the possessive case pronouns never need an apostrophe, what is the word it’s? It’s, with an apostrophe, is a contraction—the two words it is pulled together (or contracted), with a letter dropped out, indicated by the apostrophe.
It’s = it is
You’re = you are
They’re = they are
Who’s = who is
Other common contractions are can’t (cannot), won’t (will not), shouldn’t (should not), they’ll (they will), could’ve (could have), would’ve (would have). Take note: There is no such word as could of. Then why do people write that? Probably because when we say the contraction, could’ve or would’ve, we hear the sound of. But the contraction is formed from the word have, not of.
It’s easy to become confused. So be sure you’re proofreading and that your proofreading skills are up to par. And one more thing: Never, never use an apostrophe to form a plural! It’s lions, tigers, and bears, CDs and ATMs, Smiths and Joneses.
Taking a play from Dreyer’s playbook, “For a modest monthly fee, I will come to wherever you are, and when, in an attempt to pluralize a word, you so much as reach for the apostrophe key, I will slap your hand.”
The rest of the story:
Some contractions can have more than one meaning. Consider these examples:
- What’s his name? (What is his name?)
- What’s she do for publicity? (What does she do for publicity?)
- What’s been going on? (What has been going on?)
- When’s the last time he visited? (When was the last time he visited?)
- Let’s look for the bus. (Let us look for the bus.)
To avoid confusion for your readers, consider writing out awkward contractions. Also be aware that adding an apostrophe s to a noun might trip up your reader. Consider these two examples:
· Mr. Roker’s coaching has resulted in a winning season.
– Mr. Roker’s is a possessive form.
· Mr. Roker’s coaching his team on free throws.
– Mr. Roker’s is a contraction for Mr. Roker is, but it could be initially misread as a possessive form.
It’s better to write out the two words: Mr. Roker is coaching his team on free throws.
Test yourself in the sentences below. Do we need the possessive form or the contraction? Answers below.
- The truck landed on it’s/its roof.
- Its/It’s not unusual to hit triple digits in May.
- The tornado uprooted every house except there’s/their’s/theirs.
- There/They’re/Their excited about their upcoming vacation.
- The coat belongs to the woman who’s/whose dog ran away.
- Whose/who’s coming to the party?
- I wonder what you’re/your lottery ticket numbers are.
- Your/You’re bound to win.
If you’re still having trouble, consult a good grammar book or university website for more exercises, such as The Gregg Reference Manual or A Writer’s Reference.
(1) its (2) It’s (3) theirs (4) they’re (5) whose (6) who’s (7) your (8) you’re