(Stuart) Use Of Apostrophes By Six To Nine Year Old Children

Some young children seem able to infer rules about using apostrophes without being taught directly about them, but most need to be taught how to use them. The authors of this study tested a total of 312 pupils in four state primary schools in the South East of England. They found that teaching children about the use of apostrophes produced clear and positive benefits, yet the overall levels of correct use of apostrophes, even after explicit instruction, were low. The authors suggested that children may need more opportunities to consolidate their understanding and to practise the correct use of apostrophes.