Two pound's of potatoes, please: The apostrophe

Q. A quick definition

A. From the Greek apostrepho, to 'turn away', the apostrophe is used in two ways in English: first, to show where letters or numbers have been left out (won't, for example), and second, to indicate a possessive case (Kevin's toothbrush).

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Q. Why does such a little mark cause so much wailing and gnashing of teeth

A. Because so many people, even those who should know better, get it wrong. There is rarely a problem with the first usage, as most people cope with shan't, isn't and so on without any difficulty - the principal exception here, and one which causes no end of problems, is when to use it's (it is) and its (belonging to it); 'it's a beautiful day', but 'the government reviewed its policies'.

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One other point at which things can go awry here is when you have an apostrophe at the beginning of a word or sequence of numbers to indicate missing elements, most commonly in examples such as '99 (meaning 1999) and more rarely in 'I 'aven't'. On computer keyboards the key for an inverted comma and an apostrophe is the same, so if you hit the key at the beginning of a word you will always get an opening quote ('6') rather than an apostrophe ('9'). The only way around this is to hit the key twice ('69') and delete the first, but many people - even experienced editors - will miss this, so you get books going to press with the wrong mark.

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The real cause of apoplexy, however, is the misuse of the possessive comma, particularly, as in the example at the top of this piece, when inserted before a plural 's'. It has been dubbed - somewhat patronisingly perhaps - the 'grocer's comma' because of its (NB) supposed popularity with greengrocers. It is plain wrong. Two other difficulties arise from the possessive comma, how to use it in plurals ('two weeks worth' or 'two weeks' worth' ) and when the word - particularly with names - has a final 's'.

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Q. Any quick and easy rules for getting it right

A.

Never use 's to form a plural ('cabbage's' is wrong, unless you a re referring to something belonging to a - single - cabbage).

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Where to place an apostrophe in plurals causes some head scratching; these will almost always come after the final 's' ('the horse's blanket', singular, but 'the horses' blankets', plural), unless, of course, the plural doesn't take an 's' (so 'the child's toys', but 'the children's toys')

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If you are in doubt as to whether a plural should take a possessive comma, refer to the singular: so, taking the example above, think of 'one week's worth', which sounds as if it should take an apostrophe and apply that to the plural ('two weeks' worth').

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Q. What about names ending in 's'

A. This is a minefield as in many cases there is no right answer, particularly with foreign names. There is one method which goes for euphony of sound, so if you say 'Kostases' you should write Kostas's, while others will say that, however you say it, you should write Kostas'. (For centuries Jesus' was always written thus, however there has been a move towards Jesus's.) With English names, generally add 's for the singular, so 'David Jones's house', but 'the Joneses' house' in the plural.

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There are exceptions to this, almost always in place names or in brand and company names, where apostrophes have been dropped over the years, so Earls Court, Debenhams, Harrods. However, many retain them, Regent's Street and St James's Park, for instance. There are no rules for such examples.

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Q. Does it really matter

A. If the written language is to be clear, then yes. The humble apostrophe, if used properly, can make a profound difference to the meaning of a word and thus a whole sentence. It isn't just the domain of the pedants and purists, and, in truth, not hard to get right - so if you spot any errors in the above, haul me over the coals.

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By Simon Smith