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Curiousgirl Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Apostrophe use.

Hi all,

I have recently started reading the Stieg Larsson Millenium trilogy. I've read the first two and really enjoyed them, so treated myself to the last in the series today.

This is where my question lies. The title on the book I bought today is 'The girl who kicked the hornets' nest.' However, from my understanding of apostrophe use it should be 'The girl who kicked the hornet's nest,' as a hornet is singular and nest possessive. Or maybe I'm wrong?

Would someone please clarify this for me, please?

Thanking you in advance.

xx
  

Top answer

curiousgirl from my understanding of apostrophe use it should be 'The girl who kicked the hornet's nest,' No. If there were only one hornet, it would be hornet's nest . But nests of hornets never consist of a single hornet so you can't use that.

— CalifJim

  • curiousgirl from my understanding of apostrophe use it should be 'The girl who kicked the hornet's nest,' No.
  • If there were only one hornet, it would be hornet's nest .
  • But nests of hornets never consist of a single hornet so you can't use that.
  • The nest of many hornets is the hornets' nest .
  • curiousgirl a hornet is singular and nest possessive.
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2 Answers
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curiousgirlfrom my understanding of apostrophe use it should be 'The girl who kicked the hornet's nest,'
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Ah! Thanks for clarifying that, Jim. Makes sense when it's explained like that! Emotion: smile

All the best.
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