A discussion about punctuation marks is like opening the Pandora`s Box. Out come the full stop (.), the comma (,), the semi colon (;), the colon (), the question mark (?), the exclamation mark (!), the hyphen (-), the inverted commas (“), the dashes (-), the brackets () and last but not the least the apostrophe (`). This column will, however, restrict itself to the study of the apostrophe alone.

The question arises, why is the apostrophe given precedence over all other punctuation marks? The reason is that the apostrophe requires urgent help since it is the most overused and misused punctuation mark nowadays.

The most common example is a reckless use of the apostrophe. We could be so much better off if there was no apostrophe used in words that are plain and simple plurals. Therefore, flower`s for sale should be flowers for sale; the chair`s around the dining table should be chairs around the dining table, etc.

A factor which should be kept in mind is that the possessive pronouns, yours, ours, theirs, hers and its, should never carry an apostrophe. The rule is simple enough. Yet there are so many errors committed with the apostrophe appearing quite often in the given examples of possessive pronouns. This is probably due to the presence of another it`s — a contraction of it and is. Therefore, as a rule remember that there is no apostrophe with possessive pronouns.

Contractions, however, should carry the apostrophe which indicates the point where the letter or letters are omitted in the contracted word. Some examples follow

1. We can`t go to the museum today.

2. She`d like to talk to you.

3. They`ll stop him.

Apart from omission of letters, omission of dates also requires the use of an apostrophe if contracted such as the summer of 2008, may be written as the summer of `08.

The misuse of the apostrophe also occurs because of confusion regarding the placement of the apostrophe after singular or plural nouns indicating the possessive. For example, if the noun boy is singular, it is boy`s cap, but if the noun boy is plural, it would be boys` caps. However, when the noun is plural but does not end in an s, the apostrophe precedes the s. Examples include the children`s toys, the women`s forum.

Here we should remember that the apostrophe is also used to indicate time or quantity. Care, therefore, should be taken to place the apostrophe before the s with a singular noun; and after the s with a plural noun, such as in one month`s time, six metres` worth, five weeks` programme etc.

Confusion also arises in the use of apostrophe when the possessor is a singular proper noun which ends in s. The rule is to use an additional s and place an apostrophe before it. Examples Thomas`s shop, James`s glasses, Keats`s poems.

We really can never overstress the importance of the correct use of punctuation marks. An apostrophe that is wrongly used or not used where it is required may change a given situation quite drastically, for example misuse may result in kids` park becoming kid`s park turning a public facility into a private one, meant for only one child. Another example is of Bobs Motors, a signboard which leaves the readers wondering how many Bobs got together to start the business

Seriously speaking though, I hope after reading this column there would be a few more people at least who would not be expressing themselves in the following ways showing a total ignorance in the use of the apostrophe. Examples

1. Ending a letter with, Your`s sincerely instead of Yours sincerely.

2. These students classroom instead of these students` classroom.

3. Writing, the chair`s in the hall instead of the chairs in the hall.

A word of advice to my young readers please extend your reading habit to include language textbooks as well.

Form a habit of self-study by going over the chapters based on the language concepts that are being taught to you in class. In addition, cover the concepts discussed in previous classes to consolidate your knowledge. Above all, give importance to the study of concepts like punctuation marks for what you write can neither be completely nor correctly expressed without an accurate use of these language tools.