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mother? His brother? A friend of Bill’s wife?
Apostrophe, 0 Apostrophe, what shall we do with you? Every manual of punctuation will tell you that it’s “two days’ supply of food” and “an hour’s delay.” The Associated Press reported from Somalia that a refugee ship set forth with “only four days’ worth of food for 600 people.” The Portland Oregionian interviewed a Salem firefighter who climbed 27 flights of stairs wearing “50 pounds’ worth of gear.”
Please take my word for it, these possessive apostrophes are correct. They trace their usage to the Latin genitive. A convict thus is put on “three years’ probation.” An editor may have “24 years’ experience.”
This brings us to the possessive with a gerund. “The gunplay ended,” said the Oregonian, “with Martin’s being charged with first-degree manslaughter.” The Oregonian had it right, but beware of proceeding as if there were a rigid rule on the subject. Sometimes an objective pronoun is better: A keyboard beginner asks, “Can you imagine me playing a harpsichord?” Says a fat woman, “You’ll never find ne wearing a bikini.”
One apostrophe catastrophe must be avoided. Scripps Howard News Service reported that “the Clinton’s” lived 11 years in the governor’s mansion. A creamic plaque near the front door reads, “The Clinton’s.” Aaargh! Aroint thee, Apostrophe! In these constructions, no one wants you around.
COPYRIGHT 1993 Universal
Press Syndicate
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