*rolls eyes in total lack of surprise*

[lassarina]

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

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Bitch please, I would have gotten that score in second grade

Comments

[cheekylee]

The funny thing is, the quiz doesn't even know the correct usage of the posessive apostrophe. There is the question about the dog throwing up, and the 2 answers that include its' also have spelling errors for threw. Quite anoying, but I simply applied standard internet American logic in order to score 100%.

[lassarina]

I was always taught that one doesn't use a possessive apostrophe in that situation. I don't know if y'all are taught differently, but essentially, "its" does not require a possessive apostrophe because the word itself is possessive. One only puts an apostrophe at the end when using a plural, i.e. "The farmers' wagons" or when using a Biblical or mythological name that ends in s, i.e. "Zeus' lightning bolts" or "Jesus' compassion."

So I was always taught that one would say "The dog shook its head," not "The dog shook its' head." However, I can't pull up the quiz right now to cross-reference, because I am at work.

[cheekylee]

The apostrophe is meant to go after the s. However, current accepted practice is to drop it completely.

None of this matters. What matters is that we both scored 100%!

[lassarina]

Can you point me to a reference that lays that out? It was never in my grammar books in school (I was always instructed not to use the apostrophe) and I am now unrelentingly curious. I believe Strunk & White, MLA, and AP styles all indicate that the apostrophe should not be used in this circumstance.

*demands reference!* :)

[cheekylee]

Actually, seems I was getting confused with something else. Since 'its' is already possessive, then it does not require an apostrophe at all. I was mistaken! I apologise for giving you other stuff to think about whilst at work than work itself. Unless of course I shouldn't!

[lassarina]

Oh, no, distract me, please :) IN a work-safe manner, of course.

*randomly glomps Lee*