Question

Power Charge Your Professionalism: Use Apostrophes Correctly
Many writers throw up their hands in defeat when it comes to apostrophes, feeling that they can’t possibly remember the rules. You don’t have to! You can use Reference Chapter A or a grammar handbook (in print or online) to help you. But, in truth, the rules are not that hard to learn. You could probably master them in 30 minutes or less.
Using your memory or a guide, choose the correct answer in the following sentences. Then explain why you made the choice you did for each one.
1.This report has eight entries in (its/it’s/its’) list of illustrations.
2.All the (figure’s/figures/figures’) titles in this report are missing the figure number.
3.The report did not identify (whose/who’s) error caused the problem.
4.All of the upper-level (manager’s/managers/managers’) requested a copy of the report.
5.The reports produced by this research firm are regarded as the (industries/industries’/industry’s) best.
6.In some (people’s/peoples’) opinion, an executive summary should always be in the direct order.
7.The report described (men’s/mens’) shopping habits.
8.The report represented two (week’s/weeks/weeks’) worth of work.
Using apostrophes correctly is important because . . .
•Sometimes a misused apostrophe can cause your reader to take a misstep (until he or she figures out that there’s an apostrophe error).
•Incorrectly used apostrophes are distracting and convey a negative impression of you as a writer.

Answer 1

1. Answer: This report has eight entries in its list of illustrations.

Rationale: "ITS" is a possessive determiner which is used to signify that something refers to or belongs to something. Here, 'ITS' signifies that list belongs to the report.

2. Answer: All the figures’ titles in this report are missing the figure number.

Rationale: S' is used when the word is already plural. Here, figures is a plural word, therefore we write "figures' titles".

3. Answer: The report did not identify whose error caused the problem.

Rationale: "Whose" signifies belongingness where as who's simply means who is.

4. Answer: All of the upper-level managers requested a copy of the report.

Rationale: An apostrophe is used to denote belongingness. Here, the word ''managers" is a plural word representing all the upper level managers.

5. Answer: The reports produced by this research firm are regarded as the industry’s best.

Rationale: "Industry's best" signifies belongingness which means that the best report of the industry.

6. Answer: In some people’s opinion, an executive summary should always be in the direct order.

Rationale: People is collective (plural) and using word peoples' would be incorrect because there is no legit word as peoples. With collective noun, we use 'S.

7. Answer: The report described men’s shopping habits.

Rationale: Men is already a plural word and using word mens' would be incorrect because there is no legit word as mens. With collective or plural noun, we use 'S.

8. Answer: The report represented two weeks worth of work.

Rationale: Singular represents a quantity of one and plural represents a quantity of two or more than two. And with a plural quantity, we use plural words. Hence, we use two weeks.