Robbi Sommers Bryant

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Who’s vs Whose

Who’s is a contraction linking the words who is or who has, and whose is the possessive form of who. They may sound the same, but spelling them correctly can be tricky. To get into the difference between who’s and whose, read on.

Who’s vs. Whose

  • Both who’s and whose come from the pronoun who (shocking, right?).
  • Who’s is a contraction, meaning it’s two words stuck together. The formula: who + is, or who + has.
  • For example: who’s hungry?
  • Whose is a possessive pronoun. Use it when you’re asking (or telling) whom something belongs to.
  • For example: whose sandwich is this?

But, when you need “whom” to explain what “whose” means, more information is needed. Plus, even though who’s is a contraction and whose is possessive, put them together and you sound like an owl starting to fall asleep. That’s because these two words are homophones, meaning they sound the same, but mean different things. Keep your apostrophes where they belong by continuing through this explanation of who’s vs. whose. See More . . . 

 

Apostrophes: Everything You Need to Know

by 

Apostrophes are like weeds. Sometimes they crop up in the most unexpected places. How do you know when and where to use an apostrophe? Let’s set the record straight.

First rule — possession

Use an apostrophe + s to show possession for singular nouns.

  • The dog’s leash
  • The mailman’s bag
  • The book’s cover

What about singular nouns that end in s like bus? You can handle it one of two ways, depending on which style guide you’re using or your editor’s preference.

  • The bus’s front tire
  • The bus’ front tire.

Some journalists use an apostrophe + s for regular nouns like bus’s, but use the apostrophe alone for proper nouns ending in s like Jones’ or Hastings’.

Follow your clients’ style guides to determine how to handle possession singular nouns that end in s. Or if you don’t have a style guide, pick one and stick to it.

Use an apostrophe after the s to show possession for plural nouns.

  • The mailboxes’ flags
  • The girls’ dresses
  • The books’ dust jackets

The key is to understand how to make plurals first before even thinking about possessive forms. NOTE: Never use an apostrophe + s to make a regular noun or a proper noun plural.

  • Tuesday’s are bad should be Tuesdays are bad
  • A decade of Christmas’s should be A decade of Christmases
  • Pork chop’s on sale should be pork chops on sale
  • We visited the Rios’s should be we visited the Rioses 
  • See More . . . 

 

 

Grammarly Spotlight: Why Hedging Language Undermines Your Writing

Why Hedging Is a Problem

There are a few reasons a writer might hedge. Hedging makes your statements less direct, and sometimes that feels more polite, especially if you’re expressing disagreement or criticism. Hedging can also feel like an escape hatch. If you turn out to be wrong, well, it was just a random thought you had . . . But the feeling of safety you get from hedging is only that: a feeling. In reality, hedging makes you look uncertain and unconfident.

How to Avoid Hedging

Hedging can become such an ingrained habit that it’s hard to even notice yourself doing it. Our new check alerts you to phrases that undermine your message and offers you clear and confident wording to use instead. Curious to see what it can do? Read on.

1 I think . . .

Hedging: I think we should set up a meeting.

Confident: Let’s set up a meeting.

See More . . .

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/hedging-language/