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• 9: Its, It's
• 10: Where, We're
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• 12: Nouns/Verbs
• 13: I before E
• 14: Affect, Effect
• 15: Me, Myself
• 16: Separate, Seperate
• 17: StationEry, StationAry
• 18: Dot dot dot
• 19: Ends in O
• 20: Compliment
• 21: Misanthrope
• 22: Pronunciation
• 23: Past/Passed
• 24: Colons, Commas
• 25: Online Dictionaries
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FAQ's :: HumbleApostrophe.com

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

I get many emails from people asking me to confirm how or when to use an apostrophe, word or punctuation. If you have a question, please contact me and I will help, and also publish your question on this page if it is suitable.

I have started adding questions I've been receiving for the past 6 years - it's been like a quick trip down memory lane!

Here are some of them:

How can I remember to spell "stationery"?
Difference between affect and effect?
How to use Quotation marks
Ellipses - three dots or four??
The use of colons, semi-colons, and commas.
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
Is there a Newsletter?
Past or passed?




How can I remember to spell "stationery"?

Is there any easy way? Yes, there is! There is one "E" in this word, and I always say to myself, "E for Envelope." So use this spelling when you're talking about anything to do with paper, pens and things you'd buy in a stationery story. While you are standing still [stationAry].

:o>

This helps me remember the spelling very easily!

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Difference between affect and effect?

Teena, i enjoyed looking at your web site. i found it to be very interesting and i appreciate your attempt to battle bad grammar. i tell you what always confuses me. i can never keep affect and effect straight.
trish : July 99

Hi Trish! Thanks for your question - I have devoted a page to Affect & Effect - please have a squizz.

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How to use Quotation marks

The questions is: Do you have a section on using quotes? I can never remember if they go before or after the comma, period, or whatever! Thanks! Ann : 2005

Great question Ann! I will write a page this week, and will link to it from this FAQ.

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Ellipses - three dots or four??

From Lee, July '99

You are correct -- except, when you leave out the last part of the sentence. Then it is "last words ...." From an old retired typographer.

Thanks Lee!

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The use of colons, semi-colons, and commas.

Thanks for publishing on the web. I am saving your article in a special file and when I get fed up with incorrect, or lack of the use of, apostrophies, I shall attach this file with my email answer. I could use an article on the use of colons, semi-colons, and commas. Oh, you noticed?
Cordially, Jerry L.

Hi Jerry, thanks for your comments! I will write a page to cover your great request!

I printed every tip listed and and keeping them on file! I am also interested in colon, semi-colon and comma useage for editing I must do. Thanks for being there! Ronna. [July 05]

Jerry & Ronna, your prayers have been answered! I have created a new page for you - go check out Commas & Colons!

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I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

I saw this on an email signature and had to laugh out loud! Ambidextrous means to be able to use both hands/arms, for example, being able to write with both your left and right hands.

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Is there a Newsletter?

Teena: Is there any way that you could publish the grammar notes as a daily or weekly tip newsletter? Thanks for considering this! Ronald R., Georgia

Hey there Ronald! I have had so many requests for this that I have decided to start an email Newsletter - I have just launched it! [July 2005]. Please click on the Newsletter link in the menu bar.

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Past or passed?

I've just been to your site which I found in Australia's Internet Directory this month. I was mainly interested in ellipsis, which I always forget how to use, but found the whole site very interesting. I've given it to a few friends I know can use it. I'm writing this e-mail because I'm confused about when to use past or passed, and thought it may be a good addition to your site. If I pass a car on the freeway, have I past it, or passed it? A motion in parliament is passed, but the shop is past the corner of the street. Why is that?
I hope you can help my confusion. Thankyou and keep up the great work.
Michael B., Australia :: August 1999

Michael, thanks so much for your very kind words! And for your terrific question - I have written a page to cover this - please click here.

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• January 23, 2008, 4:52 pm - Barrie Holden

  Question on apostrophies: I was taught that its' - with the apostrophie AFTER the s - was used to denote the possessive tense as in eg....the company had moved its' headquarters (denoting that the headquarters belong to the company). I'm now being told this is wrong...what's your view?
  Best regards

  No, you don't need an apostrophe in this case

  Hi there Barrie,

  Thank you for contacting me via the website.

  Sorry to tell you this but the information you were taught is definitely wrong.

  "its headquarters" does not need an apostrophe anywhere, as has always been the rule.

  I have more examples here:

  http://humbleapostrophe.com/its.html

  I hope this helps, and I hope my website provides other information which might benefit you.

  Cheers
  Teena