Apostrophe

[Allen165]

"The new booster joints on the shuttle, for example, are so much better than the old ones that the overall chances of a Challenger-style accident's ever happening must be lower, right?"

Why the apostrophe? The sentence reads just fine without it.

Thanks!

[Raymott]

"The new booster joints on the shuttle, for example, are so much better than the old ones that the overall chances of a Challenger-style accident's ever happening must be lower, right?"

Why the apostrophe? The sentence reads just fine without it.

Thanks!

It's OK, but unnecessary. Compare the following two correct sentences:
"The chances of me becoming president are slim."
"The chances of my becoming president are slim."

[Allen165]

It's OK, but unnecessary. Compare the following two correct sentences:
"The chances of me becoming president are slim."
"The chances of my becoming president are slim."

I thought only the second of your two examples was correct English. The first is certainly more common in informal English, though.

[Raymott]

I thought only the second of your two examples was correct English. The first is certainly more common in informal English, though.

Well, this aspect of grammar is controversial. In AusE, "me" is very common, so I don't fight it. But I take it you understand now why they used the genitive?

[Allen165]

Well, this aspect of grammar is controversial. In AusE, "me" is very common, so I don't fight it. But I take it you understand now why they used the genitive?

Yes, I do. Thanks.