Apostrophe or Of? Can you help me?

Question

Hello All,I cannot seem to find an easy way to decide between "apostrophe vs of. Because, I remember my ENG teacher told me to use apostrophe only for things which have life. For example, A dag's tail, a man's ego. But should use 'of'' if it's an object without life like 'The doors of the window'. I'm not sure if my teach was incorrect or I misunderstood him. Can you please help with understanding them better?I was reading an article and this particular sentence popped up and led me to think again about my understanding of the usage of 'of'.1. Learn more about big data’s impact. - This is what I read2. Learn more about the impact of big data. - Instead, this should be the correct one right?Thanks for the help!

David Hatton · Accepted Answer

There is no 'inanimate objects' rule but it's a reasonable generalisation to use 'of' for inanimate objects if it sounds more natural. However, I've often heard things like '...data's...' and this is because it's not unnatural to say it this way. It would feel clumsy to put it the other way.

It's not a rule but it sometimes feels more natural to to use '...of...' if the 'possessor' is inanimate.

Mister Micawber · Answer

David Hatton it sometimes feels more natural to to use '...of...' if the 'possessor' is inanimate.

I agree, but I think I would say 'usually'.

Shaunm · Answer

Thanks :-)

I just encountered another issue with such usage (may be a different one). I put this in my resume 'reviewing the clients' websites' which my American friend changed as 'reviewing client websites'

I didn't ask her about it but I know her commanding skills in English. And coming back to why I put clients', it's because I wanted to introduce a plural noun here. About the apostrophe, I believe that you don't have to use " 's " when the word is plural and ends with an "s"

So, I'm clueless why my friend changed it into singular noun and removed the apostrophe.

Any help with understanding my mistake? Thanks so much!

CalifJim · Answer

shaunmI remember my ENG teacher told me to use apostrophe only for things which have life.

That's not bad advice for non-natives. This is advisable when you write. That doesn't mean you won't find counterexamples in your reading. This is a guideline. Guidelines are not rules. Let's say that they are strong suggestions which are designed to keep you out of trouble if you're still learning what works and what doesn't work in English.

shaunm1. Learn more about big data’s impact. - This is what I read 2. Learn more about the impact of big data. - Instead, this should be the correct one right?

You have found a counterexample, but there's no reason to be upset by it. Native writers have a feel for what combinations will work even if those combinations don't follow the usual guidelines. If you were writing this and following your teacher's advice, you would write sentence 2, and it would be fine. Here you have two correct ways, so you can't say one is correct and the other is not correct. The form that this writer chose is simply in a more casual style.

(I would have written it as 2 — if that makes you feel any better.

)

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

shaunmI put this in my resume 'reviewing the clients' websites' which my American friend changed as 'reviewing client websites'

This is a another way to do the same thing, so now you have three ways. 1. Apostrophe 2. Noun modifier 3. "of"

Probably 99% of the time you use a singular noun (client) to modify another noun (website). That's why it's client website. The noun modifier form sounds more business-like than the apostrophe form, and this is in your resume. That's probably why your friend changed it. Again it's a matter of having a feel for which form works best on the basis of using English as a native speaker every day.

CJ

Shaunm · Answer

Thanks for answering to both my questions :-)

Probably 99% of the time you use a singular noun (client) to modify another noun (website).

So, is that fine to say "clients' websites'? I was just confused because it gives a feeling that I worked with only one client, isn't it? Thanks again!

Mister Micawber · Answer

shaunmSo, is that fine to say "clients' websites'?

It is grammatically fine; it is not the stylistically best way.

shaunm I was just confused because it gives a feeling that I worked with only one client, doesn't it?

No, it doesn't; it is clearly plural.

CalifJim · Answer

shaunmSo, is that fine to say "clients' websites'?

Yes.

shaunmit gives a feeling that I worked with only one client, ~~isn't~~ doesn't it?

No. Not if you're a native speaker. Even though the noun modifier is singular, we don't think that it necessarily represents only one thing or person. Remember that websites is plural, and that gives us a good hint that client should be taken as plural also, even though it's written as singular.

CJ

David Hatton · Answer

I'd personally feel more comfortable to put 'clients' websites' but then I'm English and not a business type.  Stylistically the alternative seems more 'accepted', especially in the US and in business circles, but there's nothing wrong with your version so don't feel worried.

Shaunm · Answer

Thanks all for your valuable time :-)

It looks like I was grammatically correct but when stylistically not. So, can I just confirm that either of the following is correct too?

In accordance with Google guidelines & In accordance with Google's guidelines

Is there a rule of thumb that I can use to avoid such confusions?

Apostrophe or Of? Can you help me?

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