apostrophe

(noun)

A punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritic mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet or certain other alphabets.

Related Terms

Examples of apostrophe in the following topics:

  • Apostrophes

    • Apostrophes can be used to show who owns or possesses something.
    • However, if the word already ends with "s," just use the apostrophe with no added "s."
    • Just use an apostrophe for these!
    • If an original apostrophe, or apostrophe with s, is already included at the end of a noun, it is left by itself to perform double duty.
    • These are the only words that are able to be possessive without apostrophes.

  • Calculus with Parametric Curves

    • The apostrophe represents the derivative with respect to the parameter.
    • The acceleration can be written as follows with the double apostrophe signifying the second derivative:

  • Correctness

    • Discussing correctness in writing may conjure up images of English teachers on the prowl for misplaced apostrophes.
    • I know this; I used to be one (an English teacher, that is—not an apostrophe).

  • Basics

    • (The apostrophe stands for the MC; the slash stands for the EEC.)

  • Derivation

    • The recapitulation typically follows the same pattern of modules set forth in the exposition: { P TR ' S / C } for a two-part exposition, { P TR ⇒ FS / C } for a continuous exposition (the apostrophe stands for the MC, the slash stands for the EEC/ESC).

  • Abbreviations and Acronyms

    • Apostrophes are generally not used to pluralize abbreviations.