`s

Apostrophes in essays have gained my attention for many years while teaching English in secondary schools. Originally stating that the rule you use an ' when referring to the possession of someone or something. For example: Sally's coat, Geoffrey's hat, Timmy's essay,

The family's holiday was exciting! The chair's seat was ruined when a child tipped paint all over it. The game's result was disappointing for Man Utd.

Having written the list above, I realise just how many schoolchildren found it easy to learn to use the apostrophe correctly when referring to possession.

However, it's outside on the High Street that I find myself irritated by so many 's errors and especially when going to the garage to sort out my car's MOT. How many times have I seen MOT's on a garage sign?!

No apostrophe should be used when MOTs is a plural version of the word MOT. The plural word MOTs should only use a little s next to the abbreviated word Ministry of Transport referring to the name of the test your car has to undergo each year to ensure it is legally safe on the road. So all garages note - you provide MOTs at an excellent price! Interestingly, I found a useful organisation on the 'net recently. The Apostophe Protection Society - was founded in 2001 by John Richards, now its Chairman, with the specific aim of:

". preserving the correct use of this currently much abused punctuation mark in all forms of text written in the English language." The next time you're not sure if you need to use an 's, you may find it useful to take a look at www.apostrophe.org.uk. I have only referred to the rule surrounding the use of 's with possession - but, this society's website refers to other instances where using the apostrophe correctly will help you to impress in your next English essay. A student's delightful resource!