July 2026 Newsletter
- Bob McCalden
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Welcome to the July 2026 newsletter from the Apostrophe Protection SocietyIf you're a new member, you've already received a personal welcome — but let me say it again: welcome! And to all our long-standing members, thank you, as always, for your continued support. More Apostrophe Curiosities on the WebsiteIf you enjoy the more unusual corners of English punctuation, we've recently added three new articles to the APS website. Have you ever wondered why Victorian writers happily wrote crack'd and lov'd? Or why we write shan't rather than the seemingly more logical sha'n't? And what about modern forms such as cc'd, OK'd and RSVP'd — why do they need an apostrophe at all? We explore the history, the logic and, occasionally, the delightful illogicality behind these examples. As ever, the aim is to separate myth from grammar while proving that the humble apostrophe still has a few surprises up its sleeve. You can find these new articles on the website under the Apostrophe Use menu or as individual Blog posts. Double Celebration This August!This August gives us not one but two reasons to celebrate — a day dedicated to the apostrophe and a milestone anniversary for the Society that has spent 25 years championing it. On 15 August we celebrate International Apostrophe Day, our annual opportunity to remind the world that this tiny punctuation mark still deserves a little love and attention. For one day at least, we hope people everywhere will pause before writing it's when they mean its, resist the temptation to scatter apostrophes through ordinary plurals, and perhaps even cast a sympathetic glance at a neglected greengrocer's sign. This year, though, International Apostrophe Day has some distinguished company. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Apostrophe Protection Society. The Society was founded in 2001 by the late John Richards, whose determination to defend the apostrophe attracted supporters from around the world. After a brief closure at the end of 2019, the APS was revived in 2022 and has continued to grow. We now have more than 5,000 members and supporters, our website is visited by readers from every corner of the globe, and we're regularly asked for comments by newspapers, broadcasters and other media. Not bad for an organisation devoted to a punctuation mark that's only a few millimetres high. Of course, our work is far from over. Every day brings fresh evidence that apostrophes continue to enjoy adventurous lives — appearing unexpectedly in plurals, disappearing from possessives, or simply wandering off without explanation. If nothing else, they ensure we'll never run out of material for the website. We'll be marking both anniversaries throughout August with special features on our website, posts on social media and, I hope, a little media attention. If you'd like to help us celebrate, why not introduce a friend to the Society, share one of our articles, or send us photographs of any particularly memorable apostrophe mishaps you spot during International Apostrophe Day? Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported the Society over the past quarter of a century. Whether you've been with us since 2001 or joined only recently, you've helped prove that good punctuation still has plenty of friends. Here's to the next 25 years, and to many more well-placed apostrophes. Education, Education, EducationOne of our members recently spotted a rather unfortunate apostrophe error in an announcement on the GOV.UK website about the proposed new Natural History GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). It sounds like an interesting addition to the curriculum, but the accompanying press release could perhaps have benefited from one final proof-read before publication! The offending sentence read: "The new qualification will see pupils' study 3 core areas ..." The apostrophe had no business being there. I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education to point out the error, and I'm pleased to report that I had a reply and it was corrected promptly. It's always encouraging when organisations respond so quickly, and especially when they're responsible for education. The Next Generation of Apostrophe ChampionsI was delighted recently when two of my granddaughters independently, and completely unprompted, took an interest in apostrophes. The first was Flo (11), who asked if she could join the APS. Naturally, I said yes, and she enthusiastically signed up. It is always encouraging to welcome new members, but having a granddaughter among them was a particularly special addition! The second was Hannah (10 at the time, now 11), who sent me a message asking about the best apostrophe usage in the phrase "Do's and don'ts". Her suggested approach was exactly the one I have previously recommended on the website (see the Apostrophe Use section), so I was very happy indeed to tell her that she had got it right. What pleased me most was not just that they had both asked about apostrophes, but that it showed how young people continue to care about writing well and using English properly. The humble apostrophe clearly still has some enthusiastic supporters among the next generation, which is very good news for the future of the APS! King's English SocietyI was very pleased to discover that one of our new members in May was the President of the King's English Society (KES). The KES has a broader remit than the APS, with a focus on promoting the good use of the English language as a whole. While our focus at the APS may be on one particularly small (but often troublesome!) punctuation mark, our aims are very much aligned: encouraging clarity, accuracy and care in the way we write. It is always encouraging to find other organisations that share our enthusiasm for the English language. The APS and the KES may have slightly different areas of focus, but we are clearly on the same team when it comes to championing good English. The KES is a very worthy organisation, and if you would like to find out more about their work, you can visit their website at www.kingsenglishsociety.org. Apostrophe Spotting: Readers’ FindsOur Rogues’ Gallery continues to grow, showing that apostrophe misuse remains as widespread and as inventive as ever. I've posted a few of your latest submissions, so browse the gallery on the website to see the latest howlers. If you find an apostrophe error wherever you are, take a photo and send it in. If it's a good one, I'll add it to the Rogues' Gallery. A Final ThoughtAs we celebrate 25 years of the Apostrophe Protection Society, it is worth remembering that the APS has always been about more than just a small mark of punctuation. The apostrophe may be tiny, but it plays an important role in helping us communicate clearly, and happily there are still plenty of people who believe that matters. Whether you have been with us since the beginning, joined us recently, sent in an example for the website, shared one of our articles, or simply enjoyed reading our newsletters, thank you. The continued support of our members is what keeps the Society going. So, as we look forward to the next 25 years, we will continue doing what we do best: celebrating the apostrophe, encouraging good English, and occasionally coming to its rescue when it finds itself in places where it really shouldn't be! Thank you for being part of the APS journey. Here's to many more years of well-placed apostrophes. Best wishes, Bob Bob McCalden Chairman Apostrophe Protection Society |
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