Quick Lesson:

[deird_lj]

A NOUN that owns something...
...uses an apostrophe.

Such as:
- the dog's bone
- the house's chimney
- the newspaper's typeface

The same holds true for proper nouns:
- Megan's cup
- Tom's ears

And for abstract nouns:
- love's desire
- envy's true nature


A PRONOUN that owns something...
...doesn't use an apostrophe.

Such as:
- his hands
- her passion for music
- its colour
- whose book?


If a PRONOUN has an apostrophe...
...it's a contraction.

It's means "it is". Who's means "who is".

PLEASE LEARN THIS. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

Comments

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

I'd disagree on that one. The last time I looked it up, the consensus was that you should go with whichever would be the easiest to say. Personally, I prefer the old-fashioned Giles'. Say them aloud and see what you think.

[deird1]

See, when I say "Giles' glasses" out loud, it sounds like his last name. (Mr Giles Glasses, from the Strathmore Glasses...)

"Giles's glasses" sounds more natural to me.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

*nods* sound-wise it is just his last name. It's only in written work that the apostrophe makes it obvious. It just seems easier to say to me - Giles' glasses, Summers' home, Angelus' family, and so on. Maybe a difference in countries? Giles's, Summers's etc just seem awkward to me. I have a new style manual to look at (American) so I'm going to see what it says.