the Law of Conservation of Apostrophes. A heresy since the 13th century, this law states that a balance exists in nature: For every apostrophe omitted from an it's, there is an extra one put into an its. Thus the number of apostrophes in circulation remains constant, even if this means we have double the reason to go and bang our heads against a wall.
The Law of Conservation of Apostrophes, a humorous notion proposed in Lynne Truss's book, suggests a quirky balance in language. This law has been viewed as heretical since the 13th century, positing that for each apostrophe incorrectly omitted from contractions like "it's," there exists an additional apostrophe introduced into possessive forms such as "its." This amusing concept highlights the chaos often found in punctuation usage.
The implication of this law is that the overall number of apostrophes remains stable over time, creating a cyclical nature that results in frustration for grammar enthusiasts. Truss cleverly points out that this imbalance may lead to heightened exasperation, driving some to extreme measures in their quest for correct punctuation in language.
