at one's wits end

rolig Well, I'm following Oxford American and making it a plural possessive, "wits'", since we would say, "I'm at the end of my wits" not "at the end of my wit" (which could well mean I can't make jokes any more). So this baby's getting listed in my "Problem words" as "at one's wits' end." Dec 27, 2007

reesetee Uselessness, stop lekking around here. This is serious stuff. ;-)

You know, I've never even considered where the apostrophe goes. It's always been after the "t" for me. Oct 12, 2007

chained_bear In the Shakespearean sense, "wit" is singular. I would say "at my wit's end," but I'd probably say it on the waxed paper page instead of here. Oct 12, 2007

uselessness I'd say, after the "s" -- presumably one has multiple wits. The dictionary says that "wits" should be plural when referring to one's "powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like." However, the dictionary also puts the apostrophe before the "s" in this particular phrase. Still, the dictionary has been wrong before... ;-)

Edit: On the dictionary page for end, definition #33, this phrase is listed with apostrophes in either place (dictionary.com, anyway). Oct 12, 2007

sionnach this might need a second apostrophe, but where? Oct 12, 2007