Stewart Pidd's Possesive Essay

Treana Penn
May 11 2009
English 201B M/W 10-12

Pidd’s Poor Possessives Nouns

In Stewart Pidd’s essay, The Land That is Ludville, he misuses the apostrophes in his possessive nouns. Possessive nouns are followed by an apostrophe -s (-’s). Both singular and plural nouns ending or not ending with a -s, must add an -’s to show possession. Except plural nouns that end in -s must add only an apostrophe (-’) to show possession. Compound Possessives rule is that if there is two possessive nouns have joint possession, add an apostrophe to the last possessive noun.
Pidd has trouble with a plural possessive noun ending in-s: “employee’s wages” (1). Pidd misplaces the apostrophe after the second -e in “employee’s”. The wages belong to the employees. The plural pronoun “employees” ends in -s. Plural pronouns that end in -s take only an apostrophe after the -s. To fix the error, Pidd needs to move the apostrophe from between the -e and -s to after the -s. The corrected noun phrase will look like this: “employees’ wages.”
Pidd also errs in punctuating possessive pronouns: “it’s retirement fund” (1). Pidd misplaces the apostrophe between the letters -t and -s in “it’s retirement fund”. The retirement fund belongs to the Fertilized Workers. The rule for possessive pronouns is to

add an -’s to show possession. To fix this error Pidd should place the apostrophe after the -s in “it’s”. The corrected phrase will look like this: “to use its’ retirement fund”.
Pidd stumbles when punctuating a singular possessive noun ending in -s: “Lois’ cruel nature” (2). He omits the letter -s from the possessive noun. The cruel nature belongs to Lois. The singular noun “Lois” end in -s. The rule for singular nouns ending in -s is to add an -’s to show possession. Pidd should fix this error by adding an -’s at the end of “Lois“. The corrected sentence will read: “ Lois’s cruel nature”.
Pidd falters when he punctuated singular possessive nouns not ending in -s: “the monkey’s tragic death” (2). After the letter -y Pidd misplaces the apostrophe. The plural pronoun “monkey’s” end in -s. The rule for singular nouns not ending in -s is to add an -’s to show possession. To repair the error Pidd must place the apostrophe after the letter -s. The corrected phrase will look like: “The monkeys’ tragic death”.
An error occurs involving a plural possessive noun ending in -s: “The Lud’s Petting Zoo” (2). Between the letters -d and -s, Pidd misplaces the apostrophe. The zoo belongs to the Luds. The plural noun “Luds” ends in -s. The plural nouns ending in -s is to add an -’s to show possession. Pidd should move the apostrophe after the -s of Lud’s to eliminate the error. The correct sentence will read: “The Luds’ petting zoo”.
Pidd incorrectly punctuates a compound possessive: “Mr. Lud and Mrs. Lud’s lives” (2). Pidd makes an error by only adding an apostrophe after one possessive noun. There are two lives that are lost. The rule for punctuating compound possessives that do not have joint possession, if the two possessive nouns do not share possession, add an
apostrophe to each possession noun. The correct sentence will read “Mr. Lud’s and Mrs. Lud’s lives.”
Pidd slips up when punctuating plural possessive nouns not ending in -s: “the couple’s infant child” (2). Pidd misplaces the apostrophe after the -s. The child belongs to the couple. The rule for plural nouns not ending in -s is to add only an apostrophe (-’) to show possession. The corrected possessive noun phrase will read: “the couples’ infant child.”
Pidd should be more careful with the way he uses his apostrophe. By him misplacing the apostrophes can confuse the reader. After Pidd places the apostrophes in the correct places his essay will be more easy to understand his “The Land That is Ludville” essay.