Misplaced apostrophes are often referred to as “greengrocer’s English.” Often someone has misunderstood why we use apostrophes, but has frequently seen them near the letter ‘s.’ This has resulted in signs saying such things as…
Potatoe’s and tomatoe’s
DVD’s and CD’s
1970’s
In 2002, journalist Ian Mayes noted that
“The apostrophe, it sometimes seems, is like an insect – an apostrofly – over the dining table, alighting where it will.”
Here are some examples that I found:
This is my kind of activism! Have a listen to this piece about a Grammar Vigilante! The ‘Apostrophiser’
P.S. Commas are also important, as someone recently reminded me:
“Juliet marries Romeo and Tybalt…”
(Juliet marries Romeo, and Tybalt dies)
