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

(0 Reviews)

The Law of Conservation of Apostrophes is a humorous concept introduced in Lynne Truss's book "Eats, Shoots & Leaves." This idea suggests that over time, the omission of apostrophes in words like "it's" leads to a balancing effect, where an additional apostrophe appears in words like "its." Essentially, this law implies that the total number of apostrophes used in language remains constant, regardless of how they are used.

This whimsical notion has been referred to as a heresy since the 13th century, highlighting the importance of proper punctuation in maintaining clarity and meaning. Truss uses this concept to emphasize the significance of apostrophes and encourages readers to pay close attention to their usage in writing.

Page views
4
Update
January 31, 2025

Rate the Quote

Add Comment & Review

User Reviews

Based on 0 reviews
5 Star
0
4 Star
0
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0
Add Comment & Review
We'll never share your email with anyone else.