The Apostrophe Song

[tbed63]

Im so much better at using apostrophe's becau'se I watched thi's video. Ye's!!!

[Athirahizzati]

I Ilike this song



[emchapps]

@janefeast If the name is singular (like James) then you add 's to the name (James's dog); if the name is two or more syllables or would otherwise sound awkward by adding another syllable, you simply add an apostrophe to the end of the word (Odysseus' adventures)...

[YouLostAGame]

This should have more views because I know that way more people don't know how to use apostrophes.

[K0RN1965]

@janefeast You can have either. Eg James' dog or James's dog, it doesn't have to be James's.

[MuslimahMelika]

This video was physically painful to watch!

[JonathanMDful]

MY TEACHER MADE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D

[SweetNSourMix]

Maybe I was wrong though. SHE COULD HAVE LIED...

[SweetNSourMix]

Heh... my teacher, Ms. Garrio, made this with her friends. :)

[nitrostar207]

@janefeast, the song is correct if the name ends in s the apostrophe goes after the s whether it's plural or not!!

[liyannie1999]

my teacher made this... <3

[Ratheborne]

!! My teacher made this!! :DDDDDDD

[Camraman321]

@Ratheborne Ikr

[Ratheborne]

@Camraman321 guess who i am... xD

[Thelumpycamel]

Teacher showed us this in school. murdered everyone.

[Sofisaresosofas]

Don't say that this song teaches us how to correctly use the apostrophe during our complex sentences and helps us during tests I want to create a song like this you guys are awesome :)=

[TheCrazychicks77]

this is soooo sad why would people do this??? whats even sadder is the grave.our teacher showed us this video in class last year lol:)

[tinysocks3]

Lol, My teacher showed us this in school :/

[squirell1952]

The plural for CD is, of course, CDs. But, in block caps, one is inclined to pluralise CD as ... CD'S or CDS, both of which I thoroughly disapprove. Education is a dirty word nowadays so it looks as if English will keep being flushed away. I blame teachers and parents!!

[squirell1952]

LLOYD'S BANK, BARCLAY'S BANK, HARROD'S STORE, COUTT'S BANK. THESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT AN APOSTROPHE IS. THEY PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN SPELL THE WORD. AND JUST LOOK AT THOSE "FOR FREE" ADVERTS. THE LANGUAGE OF SHELLEY, SHAKESPEARE ETC. HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO BE FLUSHED DOWN THE PAN BY THOSE AMERICAN T.V. PROGRAMMES. THIS IS PURE IGNORANCE. IF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE U.K. WERE TO FINE EVERY MISPELL A HUNDRED POUNDS, JUST LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THE ADVERTISING DEPTS. WOULDHAVE TO FORK OUT!!!

[soundslikefrank]

Flash's bye to fastly, its informational butt need's two have moore pause's.

I likes it.

[TheRedpopripple]

You ASS. Now this song is stuck in my friggin head.

[whydogwhy]

7 dislike's?!

[MrUva333]

@janefeast you are partially incorrect. You can, with proper nouns that end in S, just add an apostrophe. You can also add 's but either way works.

[88Meters]

@janefeast THANK YOU. I was trying to point that out to some others a while back.

[forslar]

Why do so many of the comments have misplaced apostrophes?

[monteymonkey]

this is what my teacher used to teach us about grammer

[gemmatheledge]

Go Gypsy!!

[braincrisp1]

Video's like this rock! The apostrophe blunder on the tombstone was the worst.

[forslar]

@braincrisp1 I'm assuming your own blunder was tongue-in-cheek? I hope?

[braincrisp1]

@forslar C'mon...what do you think? After all, we're all makin' fun of apostrophes here ya know...

[madtwinsmadness]

what are the lyrics?

[bradduke39]

I have to do a presentation on grammar rules, and this will kill about 4 minutes.

Thanks for this video! ITS a lifesaver. :P

[IINesasta]

the duck's webbed feet D:

[MrJudgeBot]

someone on my facebook friends put "valentine's day" today on one of there posts, i posted this :D

[jamestimmer09]

I want my friend's to hear this song! They are horrible at grammar. :/

[MrJudgeBot]

@jamestimmer09 "i want my friend's to hear this song!" might want to listen to this song a few thousand times untill you get it right yourself before you show your friends.

[jamestimmer09]

@MrJudgeBot it's all part of the joke.

[horrorpilating]

I notice they had no trouble finding lots of examples of wrong apostrophes.... but couldn't seem to find any right ones!

[sharapova4eva]

Lol I can't believe there's a song about apostrophes and not only is it pretty useful it's also catchy. :P

[materialgirls2010x]

lol im a kid and i ent a nerd or anything but me and my freind was in english and for sum reason we was just like god its catchy lol i like it

[tony14velsh]

i love ur vide it is 100 percent true from tony

[JamoMayfield]

u have just saved my english presentation on apostrophes!! i

[ilikefrogs222]

Luv this song. ITS IT"S Back to school.

[scifirocks]

i'm doomed to fail. i went to Lord Williams's school :(

[forslar]

@scifirocks Actually, that's correct usage in the title of your school.

[TheTomahawk42]

Correct usage is James's. Plural is Jameses'. James' is wrong.

A lot of people are incorrectly taught that a word ending in s shouldn't take an extra s (like the writer of this song!). The rule is that a plural ending in s doesn't take an s. A singular noun always takes an extra s. By the rule, there are no exceptions. Some are commonly used (Jesus' sandals), but these are actually incorrect.

[TheTomahawk42]

see

apostrophe

org

uk

for the correct usage.

[KanofKeith]

@TheTomahawk42 You are correct! I noticed this as well. Only thing is that Jesus' Sandals is actually correct, because the apostrophe alone when the owners name ends with S rule, only applied to names or words deriving from ancient langages that are borrowed in English, the name Jesus derives from an ancient language, Hebrew. So when used in English it has the apostaphe at the end. The same thing applies for names such as Quintus

[norangemat]

is there a chance you could post the words? my year nine group would love this!

[norangemat]

is there a chance you could post the words? my year nine group would love this!

[ajuk1]

Win

[TheTomahawk42]

There are 2 people I know, Carlo and Carlos

Carlos' house: which does that mean?

Following "If you say the S, write the S" as a rule of thumb, then

Carlos's house would be the house belonging to Carlos

Carlos' house would be the house belonging to everyone named Carlo.

Sames for James' shoes - I say "James's", so I write "James's". Or "Jesus's sandles".

There are exceptions, as mentioned below. Again, if you say the S, write the S, and you'll be fine.

[ajuk1]

@TheTomahawk42 James's is incorrect Chris's is correct as James end in a z sound but Chris ends in an s sound.

[TheTomahawk42]

@ajuk1 see my additional comments on this...

in short, there are no exceptions. Sound doesn't come into it.

;-)

[Aonianews]

I love this except for the apostrophe alone argument. I have to agree with those who say it's James's. In the UK if you can hear the S you write apostrophe S.

[gemmatheledge]

Go gypsy!!! Awesome singing my love!

[Jimtube8709]

IMO it's not totally correct to teach "apostrophe alone if the owner is a word that ends in s" but that seems to be current usage. I would write "James's apple" but "James' apple" is now acceptable. Apostrophe-alone used to be true only for plurals ending in s, and a few singulars that already had s twice such as Jesus.

[DigiMouth]

"Marion's" at 2:46 is correct. It is (it's) a store owned by Marion.

[andylou32]

@DigiMouth Yea, but I think it's up there for the "Ladie's" underneath it.

[andylou32]

@DigiMouth Yea, but I think it's up there for the "Ladie's" underneath it.

[ronon3849]

Scary. People just don't understand grammar now.

[raymonda100]

Lynn Truss would love this (Eats, Shoots, and Leaves)

[olddeuteronomy]

I'm Canadian, and I understand that both "James' apple" and "James's apple" are correct as long as you're consistent (I prefer the later). My grammar book says that Biblical figures are usually apostrophe alone, but in practicality that isn't used much.

[spookshowseventynine]

@olddeuteronomy

"James' apple" is only correct if more than one person called Jame or James own the apple. Perhaps the whole James family only have one apple between them? Personally, I blame film like Bridget Jones's Diary and Two Weeks' Notice for these problems :(

"Jesus' teachings" and "Moses' followers" etc. are indeed exceptions, and commonly used.

[Cool1000Rules]

@spookshowseventynine Good discussion, but James' and James's are regarded as acceptable in most western countries these days. This point is made in the Apostrophe Song iPhone App (and, incidently, the Oxford Companion to the English language). The fact that exceptions are made for 'ancient' names like Jesus, Moses etc kinda undermines the hardline, doesn't it? Whether the purists like it or not, English is robust enough to allow some flexibility here. If you cant fight and you cant flee, flow.

[Kelleypen]

Some of this is a little confusing. Here is my understanding of the rule. Name ending in S made possessive--add an 's unless the name is ancient, such as Isis' Moses' Hercules' etc. But recent names ending in S get an 's, such as James's. Use just an ' after a plural ending in s to make it possessive. The sisters' car was parked near the convent. However, I am using American rules. Maybe the ' after any that ends in s is a British rule. --English teacher

[spookshowseventynine]

@Kelleypen

No, that is how the rule works in Britain: possessives take 's if singular, apostrophe if they're plural. So "Ross's bag" is entirely correct.

Ironically, I thought it was Americans who corrupted this rule and am forever telling my pupils that despite their books (published in USA), it's "Williams's plays" -- just ask yourself how many people it belongs to, and observe the very simple rule (with the archaeic exceptions you've noted).

--another English teacher, Scotland :)

[lazathor]

the 1 person who disliked must be a sad lonely bastard

[manyipse]

people are awful with apostrophes

[bluecubster]

Marvellous. But incorrect. 'Apostrophe alone if the owner ends in s'? No - apostrophe alone if the owner is plural and the plural ends in s: 'headmistress - headmistress's office'; 'the colour of the cress - the cress's colour'; 'skill of the pass - the pass's skill'. Proper nouns are contentious. Traditionally the s was kept for one syllable names, and omitted for two or more: 'James's pencil'; 'Nicholas' book'. It's always pronounced, though. Modern usage tends to include it.

[beckytcy]

This is genius! I love it! See apostrophecatastrophes [dot] com for more examples of Apostrophe Catastrophes.

[HeatheryBrown]

Awesome. There are so many people I want to share this with/ force to listen to.

[leevclarke]

Don't put an apostrophe in "its", unless you mean "it is". But "it's" (with an apostrophe) can also be short for "it has", as in "it's been ten minutes since something happened". "Its" (with no apostrophe) always means "something belonging to it".

What about "something belonging to James". Would that be James' thing, or James's thing (given that James is not a plural). Would it be pronounced like "James" or "Jame ziz"?

[fastinlove86]

This is awesome for grammar-Nazis like myself.

[NiceladyAmerica]

Love it!

[paulojohn]

Appeal's to the Ear's.

[Medarlow]

"Loo's over here" - not "apostrophe abuse" if there's only one of them, just a bit informal.

[thefunkbandit]

reminds of a reverend and the makers song

[LeonardJohn2]

Garrison Keilor would like the acoustic version of this...the iPhone app is cool!

[st0li]

Yes, I too am a Fry follower

[SmegSlayer]

here as a result of Mr Fry. My spelling and grammar OCD monster is pleased :)

[artistryandimagery]

Mr Fry sure did send me here! I can't stand incorrect gramma. If you don't know, don't guess!

[yuhgelin]

@artistryandimagery surely you cannot stand incorrect grammar either? ;)

[RobinScott93]

@yuhgelin I do believe he was joking.

[yuhgelin]

@RobinScott93 .....joking? About grammar?!! Lynch him immediately!!! ;)

[AlunElderBrown]

Typically Stephen Frys' link

[kellmike]

I was sent here by Stephen Fry's tweet. Please note the correct use of my apostrophe. :)

[usernamesrcrap]

One of the easiest rules of grammar- people who get it wrong are either lazy or stupid. Thanks, Stephen Fry, for directing me here.

[maladroitmortal]

Grammar. IT SAVES LIVES.

[manofiran]

@monkeymaestro Call me old fashioned

[underlyingpsychopsis]

Mr. Fry tweeted this.  Couldn't resist a look.

[thatisRON]

@monkeymaestro There is a hard and fast rule, and it's not that.

[PoitinCZ]

Bloomin' marvellous :-)

[manofiran]

Karrenol, a till is something to store cash in, I think you mean until, or 'til.

I love pedantry.

[monkeymaestro]

@manofiran Your pedantry would be quite alright if you were aware that both "until" and "till" are equally acceptable words of the same meaning that have been in use for hundreds of years.

[Joshbuckler]

I do not like this video at all. Whoever made the song means well, I'm sure. But it's boring. It's neither clear nor witty. If people don't already know the rule, this video won't help them.

Here's my apostrophe rule: When in doubt, leave it out.

Abolish the apostrophe!

[ru55m]

Good idea but shit song. Stick to judging people and criticism rather than music and I'll turn the sound off and burst my ear drums to be sure. I was going to put an apostrophe before the 's' in drums but it wouldn't have been appreciated by such a sour face.

[timemaster]

This is not a strictly an English language problem. The Germans have adopted it as well. Which is funny, because the apostrophe hardly ever occurs in correct German at all.

[nahatsu2]

Hey.... great vid... love the theme!

[Shayman57]

The "apostrophe alone if the owner ends in 's'" rule, isn't necessarily right. What if I went to St James's school, or to a party at Andy Lucas's?

[tompoynton]

@Shayman57 Then you put the apostrophe AFTER the word, eg. St James' and Lucas'.

[Shayman57]

@tompoynton Try saying it out loud: "I went to Lucas' party"; you wouldn't, you'd say "Lucas's". At least I would. I don't lose sleep over it, though it's interesting to see that The Guardian style guide recently adopted the "Lucas's" construction after years of "Lucas'"

[tompoynton]

@Shayman57 I know it sounds like that, but since when has something sounded like how it's written? Plus, I'm not surprised to see the Guardian bugger it up also!

[monkeymaestro]

@tompoynton I think this may be a case where there isn't a hard and fast rule, but to my knowledge, the apostrophe follows the final s in a case where it's plural, but if a singular word like a person's name ends in s already, then you add 's.

[tompoynton]

@monkeymaestro Oh Lord... lol

[shannonagain]

@tompoynton - I'm curious to see a style guide the suggests that proper nouns ending in s get the s' treatment. I've never seen one. As already mentioned, the Guardian suggests s's. I've just checked the Elements of Style, which also suggests s's and it states that's what OUP uses too.

[dsriharsha]

came here via one of fry's tweet's

[kalijennings]

I would so love to see the lyrics!

[larryadmin]

Fantas'tic video. But dont be supris'ed if everyone ignore's it. :(

[Karrenola]

Geez, and I thought American dumbed downness was the max till I saw THIS! We've got a world wide problem, people. Teachers! Get on the stick and stop passing these people! lol

[therealdjcammONUTUBE]

the red mist is descending!!!!!!!!! aaaaarrrrrrrggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

[FrankiiDoodle]

I was thinking about taking Post-It notes with me and putting them on every wrong or missing apostrophe I see but then I realised that there aren't enough Post-Its in the world

[bossebildoktor]

Awesomeness's?

[RaracheWoW]

thumbs up if Mr Fry sent you here :)

[LeighDavies1]

@RaracheWoW Indeed he did haha!

[fastinlove86]

@RaracheWoW Yeah, he totally did. I love this!

[jwfreelance]

*weeps silently*

[ivanhollie]

haha danger 'mines'

[conscol]

yes!!! learn to use them correctly people

[amazingkathy]

lol.

[29MfOnaCiEr]

i hate when people use apostrophies wrong

[militarycoo]

@29MfOnaCiEr I hate it when people spell apostrophes wrongly.

[hiltonsgirls]

why is there a song for this lol

[FrankiiDoodle]

@hiltonsgirls Because people seem to find it oddly difficult to put apostrophes in the right place

[W0NK042]

@hiltonsgirls Err... did you watch the video: Do you realise how many ' shouldn't (should not) be there? It's (it is) for people like that & obviously like you, that this exists.

[danielleerika]

love it xox

[morgyn7]

Very helpful. Gunna download the app and test myself now!

[fredpipes]

.. only joking!

[fredpipes]

Yay! Some of my photo's were used in this video!

[Sploogy1]

I like this

[LeonardJohn2]

Great video-What about putting up the lyrics?