The apostrophe. Why do people have so much trouble using it recently?

I recall reading a news article out of the UK from a few years ago that stated some city councils wanted to remove apostrophes from signs within the city because it was too confusing for some people. At the time I thought that the council members obviously had more than a bit too much time on their hands and that the taxpayers weren't exactly getting value for their money.

Recently, I've noticed more and more people using apostrophes when they add an "-s" suffix to a verb or when they want to pluralize something. For instance, just today I opened one thread about people flinging rocks at Nickelback. The title on the YouTube video read "Nickelback get's hit with ROCKS!". A bit further down on the forum page, I noticed a thread about and old man who "beat's" up somebody.

Anyway, I am just curious as to why this trend is increasing.

i dunno me n my friends have no trouble using them

I most certainly do. I taught ESL for 15 years. The change in usage is coming from native speakers.

Too hard.

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

It's the internet

Yeah, we're on the internet. You obviously haven't been here too long.

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

metroidfood

No, no, no! It is "perhaps they're grammar ARE bad."

Another thing: It is 90s not 90's, 80s not 80's etc.MetalGear_Ninty

I was born in the 80s. I listen to 90's music.

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

bogaty

No, no, no! It is "perhaps they're grammar ARE bad."

[QUOTE="bogaty"]

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

LJS9502_basic

No, no, no! It is "perhaps they're grammar ARE bad."

maybe nobody cares about it

[QUOTE="bogaty"]

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

LJS9502_basic

No, no, no! It is "perhaps they're grammar ARE bad."

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="bogaty"]

No, no, no! It is "perhaps they're grammar ARE bad."

bogaty

[QUOTE="bogaty"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] Er...perhaps they're? I think their is better.LJS9502_basic

Well, that's beside the point. We are pointing out that you didn't realize sarcasm. Anyhow, let's keep this on topic.chrisPperson

It has to do with the 'ph'. Humans over the years have inherently lacked the ability to utilize words with 'ph' in them. "Phone" of course is the only outlier. Change it to apostrofee and everything will be better. Problem solved.FragStains

So, this is all a nefarious scheme launched by those dirty hippies from Phish?

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?metroidfood

I see it.

[QUOTE="chrisPperson" Well, that's beside the point. We are pointing out that you didn't realize sarcasm. Anyhow, let's keep this on topic.LJS9502_basic

If it's not readily seen as sarcasm...it's not. And it's not beside the point. If you want to point out grammar mistakes then......fair game.

[QUOTE="FragStains"]It has to do with the 'ph'. Humans over the years have inherently lacked the ability to utilize words with 'ph' in them. "Phone" of course is the only outlier. Change it to apostrofee and everything will be better. Problem solved.bogaty

So, this is all a nefarious scheme launched by those dirty hippies from Phish?

It was readily seen as sarcasm, maybe not to you, but I could easily see that out as could the poster who quoted the other poster. It's like when a comedian tells a racist joke, someone says "You're racist", even though they obviously are not.chrisPperson

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

metroidfood

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

It was readily seen as sarcasm, maybe not to you, but I could easily see that out as could the poster who quoted the other poster. It's like when a comedian tells a racist joke, someone says "You're racist", even though they obviously are not.

chrisPperson

Or, more likely "your racist". :P (emoticons added for the satire-impaired)

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

Velocitas8

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"]Another thing: It is 90s not 90's, 80s not 80's etc.Oleg_Huzwog

I was born in the 80s. I listen to 90's music.

[QUOTE="Velocitas8"]

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

LJS9502_basic

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

Swing and a miss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

If it's not readily seen as sarcasm...it's not. And it's not beside the point. If you want to point out grammar mistakes then......fair game.

LJS9502_basic

I'm sorry, my atrocious grammar is merely a byproduct of my lesser intellect. Thank you for your insight into my poor use of the English language.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

If it's not readily seen as sarcasm...it's not. And it's not beside the point. If you want to point out grammar mistakes then......fair game.

metroidfood

I'm sorry, my atrocious grammar is merely a byproduct of my lesser intellect. Thank you for your insight into my poor use of the English language.

Another thing: It is 90s not 90's, 80s not 80's etc.MetalGear_Ninty

Wrong.

It's '90s and '80s. Unless you're talking about AD 90-99 and AD 80-89.

You do realize many here doesn't have English as their first language? horgen123

that and people are use to speed type with no punctuation

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

Velocitas8

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

Its not like it matter's, there not even talking about it anymore.

[QUOTE="Velocitas8"]

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Perhaps they're grammar is bad?

metroidfood

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

Its not like it matter's, there not even talking about it anymore.

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

[QUOTE="Velocitas8"]

Hmm. I think their is a mistake in you're sentence.

T_P_O

Its not like it matter's, there not even talking about it anymore.

U too can Englishing good!

You do realize many here doesn't have English as their first language? horgen123

I see what you did thar!!!

Me not have ungood grammar!

Yeah I see people adding apostrophes when its not necessary and its really bizarre to me, tbh.

I can get removing them because that makes for more convenient and fast typing/writing but.... adding them? 0_o

U too can Englishing good!

bogaty

Someday, I hope to be able to speak English so well that I can use sarcasm.

Too hard.

Theokhoth

Yeah I see people adding apostrophes when its not necessary and its really bizarre to me, tbh.

I can get removing them because that makes for more convenient and fast typing/writing but.... adding them? 0_o

Teenaged

The reason people don't use apostrophe's is because there are not enough to go around on the internet. People with extra apostrophe's are just breeding their apostrophe's so that other's have a chance to own sentence's with apostrophe's in them.

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"]Another thing: It is 90s not 90's, 80s not 80's etc.MetalGear_Ninty

I was born in the 80s. I listen to 90's music.

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"]Another thing: It is 90s not 90's, 80s not 80's etc.Cherokee_Jack

Wrong.

It's '90s and '80s. Unless you're talking about AD 90-99 and AD 80-89.

[QUOTE="MetalGear_Ninty"][QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

I was born in the 80s. I listen to 90's music.

Teenaged

The possessive sense? You mean like "own's"?