Apostrophy's gone wild!

Many of you may not know this, but I am a secret member of the underground apostrophe police. Not a day goes by that I couldn't issue several citations for minor or serious infractions. Now, I know that English is a difficult language, but many of us have been using it nearly all of our lives. One would think that some of the basics would have stuck by now. Or are there new rules that haven't made it into Strunk & White yet? Maybe the "when in doubt, add an apostrophe" rule. When inappropriate use makes it into print media, I feel pain.

Now, I will grant that there are some circumstances where determining the correct usage is difficult - especially when the "authorities" don't agree. Like how to show possession when used with a proper name that ends in 's'. The rule differs if it is a famous person vs. a regular person. But really, those situations are infrequent. My cell phone doesn't help the cause as it will add an apostrophe to "it's" regardless of appropriateness.

The other day I was a customer's site and noticed a self-made sign:

To all employee's

At the end of you're work day, please take time too clean up you're work space, including sweeping all of the floor's and putting tool's back in their proper place. Thank you.

Granted, I was able to understand the intent of the message - but not without a few stumbles. Who remembers the Ott House sign: "Skier's Welcome". It was a big sign carved in wood. They likely paid extra to have that ' installed.

The golden rule asks us to not judge a book by its cover, the reality is that we all judge others. And one of my yardsticks is a simple apostrophe. Please use it with care.