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I have been edited in some SE post while using the saxon genitive in the next sentence, where I'm referring to the ToC of the corresponding MWE.

In this' MWE ToC A and B should link to the same point.

The edition was to change this' with this. What is the problem there?

"when talking about things that belong to other things"

Community
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Andrestand
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  • The only time it is correct to use an apostrophe after this is when it is being used as a "word as a word". There are too many this's in this sentence. [plural form] / I think that this 's short form will make it possible to fit it on the sign. [possessive form] Arguably, even they are better avoided. – Edwin Ashworth Feb 24 '14 at 10:35
  • So the problem in the sentence is just the word this, isn't it? Are there more words to be aware of when using 's? – Andrestand Feb 24 '14 at 10:53
  • At this useful thread is: "The exception to the possessive rule is that pronouns show possession without the use of 's". ... my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, our, ours, their, theirs, its, whose, etc. >> "One's" (as in One must mind one's p's and q's) is an exception to the exception! There is also the infuriating but famous 'double possessive': a friend of John's (but an ally of France). – Edwin Ashworth Feb 24 '14 at 11:03
  • Certain words take the preposition of rather than the apostrophe, depending on their meaning. This is one of them. – Kris Feb 24 '14 at 11:48

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The possessive of "this dog" is "this dog's". Not "this' dog", which is nonsensical and ungrammatical.

Likewise, the possessive of "this MWE" is "this MWE's". Not "this' MWE", which is nonsensical and ungrammatical.

RegDwigнt
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