Question: Why does the apostrophe cause so much confusion? What is it about this little punctuation point that bemuses so many? Here’s a case in point: People have difficulty differentiating between it’s and its. (The former ALWAYS means it is, while the latter indicates possession.) As I scan cards, signs, and posters celebrating matriarchal and patriarchal holidays, I notice that most people designing these items (or buying them) have no idea about how to use an apostrophe. Every card, poster, and advertisement I’ve read states “Happy Mother’s (or Father’s) Day!” Are we all celebrating the same one parent, and if so, whose? The words mother’s and father’s signify singular possessive nouns. To show a plural possessive, first make the word plural, and then place the apostrophe AFTER the s. Thus, in order to recognize more than ONE person, the correct usage is Happy Mothers’ Day or Happy Fathers’ Day! By the way, possessive pronouns never use apostrophes.
And now, let’s move on to a rather obscure punctuation point: the interrobang:
This punctuation point, which combines a question mark with an exclamation point, is especially suitable if you’re trying to indicate an inquiry and astonishment simultaneously: Are you crazy‽ “It may convey either shocked incredulity (e.g., “You’re wearing that to the party‽”) or an excited query (e.g., “They’re taking us out for ice cream‽”).
Admittedly, it is easier to write this by hand rather than type it unless your computer has a built-in alternate keyboard. With the current state of the world, I find myself needing this particular punctuation frequently.
