英语语法：7 Compound Possession

Grammar Girl here.

Today's topic is compound possession, but a couple of people told me they expected last week's episode¹ to be about the word capital, since the iTunes title was “A Capital Idea.” So I'll address that question first. Here's Scott:

 

Compound Possession

Now, I'm absolutely thrilled because iTunes just named my audiobook one of the top five non-fiction audiobooks of 2007 (so far). So I thought it might be fun to play a short excerpt² of the audiobook here. This excerpt answers a question I just got from a listener. Here's the question:
My name is Scott, I'm from L.A., I'm an editor, and I'm working on a TV show right now where we've got a banner, and it says, “Joe Blow” and underneath³ it says, “John and Doug's Real Estate Agent.” Now, John and Doug are two partners and they share this real estate agent, and I believe that it should be John's and Doug's Real Estate Agent, even though that looks totally wrong. I just would like to know if this is a gray area or if it is in fact empirically⁴ wrong to put “John and Doug's Real Estate Agent” where there is only one apostrophe there.
Thanks, Scott. This is something that a lot of people are confused about; in fact, it's the question they brought me on the Oprah Winfrey Show to answer. It's not a gray area, and in your case the banner is correct as written—with one apostrophe. This is kind of a crazy mnemonic, but just remember that apostrophes are shaped like hairdryers (at least in some fonts). Here's the excerpt from my audiobook; that memory trick will make sense soon:
If you're trying to write about possession and you have two subjects, you have to decide if the two people possess something together or separately. Here's an example: Steve and Amy's religious beliefs.
The rule is if the two people share something, you use one apostrophe s. So if Steve and Amy have the same religious beliefs, it is correct to say Steve and Amy's beliefs with only one apostrophe s after the last noun.
On the other hand, if Steve and Amy have different beliefs, then you would say Steve's and Amy's beliefs.
The rule is that if each person “possesses” something different, then you use two apostrophe s's.
The quick and dirty tip for remembering the rule is to think about luggage and hairdryers. Imagine that two women are going on the same trip. If they are sharing an adventure, they could share a hairdryer on the trip, so then they can share the apostrophe s (Amy and Mignon's adventure); but if they are each going on their own separate adventure, then they each need their own hairdryer, and they each need their own apostrophe s (Amy's and Mignon's adventures). So an apostrophe s is like a hairdryer: You don't need to bring two if you are going to stay in the same hotel room.
There you go. That was a short excerpt from my audiobook. I think one reason many people don't know the answer to that question is that they don't know that it's called compound possession when there are two people involved**. Therefore, it’s hard to look up the answer because you don't know what to search for. I hope my answer helped.
Book Giveaway
This week, I’m also giving away three copies of my audiobook, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips to Clean Up Your Writing. The winners are drawn⁵ from the list of people who are subscribed⁶ to our free e-mail newsletter. This week’s winners are Martina, Carol, and Lance.
National Punctuation⁷ Day
Also, Monday, September 24, is National Punctuation Day, which I think is pretty exciting. I'm still deciding how I am going to celebrate; if you have any good ideas please post them in the comments section of this transcript⁸ at the Grammar Girl section of quickanddirtytips.com, where you can also find my contact information and the other great Quick and Dirty Tips shows.
 
Grammar Photos
Finally, my favorite new photo in the Grammar Girl Flickr group this week is a grocery store postcard that reads West New York Get's It's Own A&P Fresh, where get's and it's both have apostrophes. Just as with last week's McDonald's ad, I think I like this one because it has such a beautiful design, as though someone spent a lot of time on it, only to end up getting the text wrong. The postcard writer also gets extra credit for misusing⁹ apostrophes twice in a row. If I can figure out how to post the image in the transcript, I’ll do it on the new website. If not, you can see it in the Grammar Girl Flickr group.
That's all. Thanks for listening.

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 excerpt   

n.摘录，选录，节录

参考例句：

• This is an excerpt from a novel.这是一部小说的摘录。
• Can you excerpt something from the newspaper? 你能从报纸上选录些东西吗？

3 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

4 empirically   

以经验为主地

参考例句：

• Empirically, the distinction between active and idle balance is elusive. 在实际生活中，把货币分为活动余额和闲置余额是难以捉摸的。
• The principle sanctioned by fiat what was evidently empirically correct but not yet logically established. 这个原理用命令来批准，经验上显然正确但未在逻辑上建立。

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 subscribed   

v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意

参考例句：

• It is not a theory that is commonly subscribed to. 一般人并不赞成这个理论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I subscribed my name to the document. 我在文件上签了字。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 punctuation   

n.标点符号，标点法

参考例句：

• My son's punctuation is terrible.我儿子的标点符号很糟糕。
• A piece of writing without any punctuation is difficult to understand.一篇没有任何标点符号的文章是很难懂的。

8 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

9 misusing   

v.使用…不当( misuse的现在分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• This means we must stop misusing them. 也就是说，我们已必须停止滥用抗菌素不可了。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器
• Misusing organic fertilizer may cause a decrease in the soil's quality. 滥用有机肥料可能会导致土地的土质下降。 来自互联网