Thursday, February 5, 2015

Avoid the Greengrocer's Apostrophe

Do not use an apostrophe to make a noun plural.


photo of apples, Avoid the Greengrocer's Apostrophe by Charlene Tess on TeachersPayTeachers





The name “Greengrocer’s Apostrophe” comes from errors in the use of apostrophes that frequently occur on signs that appear in store windows or in the produce section of grocery stores. This error also occurs in many other places, as the following examples show.

Avoid the Greengrocer's Apostrophe by Charlene Tess
The correct way to write this sign would be:
 iPads 

For Sale Here

Avoid the Greengrocer's Apostrophe by Charlene Tess
The correct way to write this sign would be:
Oranges 

$1.25 a pound


Some people sign Christmas cards and letters incorrectly by adding an apostrophe to their family's name to make it plural.
It would be wrong to sign a card from the Smith Family as: The Smith's
The correct signature would be: The Smiths

Click here for a free lesson that expands on learning to use apostrophe's correctly.

Click here for another lesson that will help:

Thanks for reading,

Signature and photo Charlene Tess




2 comments:

  1. The slash in the circle around "Banana's $1.25 lb." is incorrect. The international traffic sign symbol for "no" runs from the upper left of the circle to its lower right. (As a memory aid, picture a toll booth with its gate down.) Also "$1.25 lb" should be "$1.25 per lb." or "$1.25/lb."

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  2. I assume "Click here for a free lesson that expands on learning to use apostrophe's correctly" is a joke.

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