十種運用所有格符號(撇號)的規則

10 rules for using the apostrophe

Source: By Laura Hale Brockway | Posted: October 24, 2012

Last week, I tackled a controversial topic—the comma.
上星期 我著手一份爭議的題目 — 逗號

There are definite rules for its use, but many writers use commas subjectively, leading to disagreement (and acrimony) whenever writers or editors discuss this modest punctuation mark.

他有明確的使用規則 , 但是很多作者很主觀的使用;每當作家和編輯討論這審慎的標點符號; 常導致不同意的爭論(以及 激烈)

This week, I’m tackling another punctuation mark—the apostrophe. The rules for the apostrophe are much more definite, but they are frequently misapplied. So misunderstanding often ensues when it comes to the apostrophe.

這星期 我正探索另一個標點符號— 所有格符號  撇號更明確的使用定義但他們也常被誤用。

當一談到所有格時有很多誤解接踵而來。

Here are some rules for its use.

這裡有些關於使用此標點符號的用法

1. An apostrophe is used to show the possessive case of proper nouns.

   所有格的符號的使用是用來顯示專有名詞的所有格

• Allison Jones’ article (one person named Jones)
• The Joneses’ article (two or more people named Jones)

2. If a singular or plural word does not end in s, add ’s to form the possessive.

   如果單數和複數的結尾不是S 從所有格的地方加S

• a child’s wants
• the men’s concerns
• the people’s choice
• everyone’s answer

3. If a proper noun or name ends in a silent s, z, or x, add an ’s

如果專有名詞或明字結尾是不發音的 s, z, 或 x, 增加一個 ’s

• Theroux’s “The Mosquito Coast”

4. Do not use ’s with possessive pronouns: his, hers, ours, its, yours, theirs, whose.
   不要在所有格代名詞: his, hers, ours, its, yours, theirs, whose 使用 S

• The article was hers.
• I have not seen its equal.

5. Use ’s only after the last word of a compound term.

   只在複合詞術語後使用 S

• my father-in-law’s book
• an editor in chief’s decision
• someone else’s problem

6. When showing joint possession with an organization’s or business firm’s name, use

the possessive only in the last word.       

若要顯示組織或公司名稱共有的部分，在最後的字標上所有格引號

• the Food and Drug Administration’s policy
• Hammond and Horn’s study

7. Do not use an apostrophe to indicate the plural of a name, an all-capital abbreviation, or of numerals.    
   不要使用所有格符號去指示名字的複數、所有大寫字母的縮寫或數詞

• Veterans Affairs  老手事件
• musicians union  
• ECGs（electrocardiogram）心電圖
• WBCs（WBC white blood cell ）白血球
• a woman in her 40s
• during the late 1990s (1990’s—no, no, no, a thousand times no.)

8. Use ’s to indicate the plural of letters, signs, or symbols when s alone would be confusing.

使用’s 去指示字母的複數、標示、或當單獨使用 s象徵會混淆時 

• Please spell out all the &’s.  
• She got eight A’s and two B’s on her last report card.

9. When units of time or money are used as possessive adjectives, add ’s.

當時間或金錢單位被使用如所有格形容詞時 加 ’s.

• a day’s wait
• a dollar’s worth
• six months’ gestation
• two weeks’ notice (The movie title was not punctuated correctly.)

RELATED: 7 movie titles that need to be proofread

10. When a word ends in an apostrophe, no period or comma should be placed between the word and the apostrophe.

當以所有格結束時，在字和單引號之間沒有句號或逗點

• The last book on the shelf was the Smiths’.

PR Daily readers, care to share any egregious apostrophe errors you’ve seen lately?

公關日報讀者關心去分享你最近已看到使用錯誤的所有格符號

Laura Hale Brockway is medical writer and editor and author of the blog Impertinent Remarks.