Apostrophe Tips Valentine’s Day or Valentines Day

Apostrophe Tips: Valentine’s Day or Valentines Day?

Today is Valentine’s Day. A day of love, romance, and… apostrophes? Yes, at this time every year we’re asked whether Saint Valentine requires a possessive apostrophe. As such, we’ve put together some punctuation advice to make sure any notes you send to your significant other are (lovingly) error free.

How to Write Valentine’s Day

While you may see “Valentines Day” written in some places, this is incorrect. The day in question is the day of Saint Valentine, so it “belongs” to him.

And when something belongs to someone, we show this using a possessive apostrophe. Hence, “Valentine’s Day” is the correct spelling.

In addition, remember that “Valentine’s Day” is a proper noun. As such, we capitalize the “V” and the “D.” But if you are referring to a “valentine” (e.g., a greetings card or message), there is no need to use a capital “V.”

Who Is This Valentine Guy, Anyway?

Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine, an early Christian saint who has been celebrated on February 14 since the Middle Ages. But what does he have to do with love and romance? That’s a tricky question.

There are multiple “Valentines” linked to the date in question. But the one most people focus on is Saint Valentine of Rome.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Here seen in supplication to the Virgin Mary.

This Valentine was sentenced to death by Emperor Claudius II. Before he died, he befriended and cured the blind daughter of his jailer, giving her a note saying, “From your Valentine” (the first ever valentine).

Romantic, eh? Maybe not by modern standards.

But the link between love and Saint Valentine only came later, possibly because the date was associated with the start of mating season. We see this in the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote: “For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

So, in a sense, our modern version of Valentine’s Day is all about the birds and the bees! Or the birds, at least. Chaucer didn’t say much about the romance of bees. And if you’re writing a Valentine’s Day note for a loved one, why not have it proofread? If you ask us, nothing suggests love like perfect punctuation!

Upload a document

More Writing Tips?

27th March 2024

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

26th March 2024

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

21st March 2024

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

21st March 2024

8 Press Release Distribution Services for Your Business

In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...

19th March 2024

How to Get a Patent

In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...

Exit mobile version