For a modern audience, this can be jarring. If not handled with care, it can come across as pretentious or "the grimaces of Lunacy" rather than common sense. It risks breaking the flow of a narrative by forcing the reader to shift their focus to an invisible third party.
Beyond Theory of the Lyric - Scott - 2022 - Critical Quarterly apostrophise
Only use it when the emotion is too big for standard dialogue. For a modern audience, this can be jarring
: Apostrophising is a powerful "ego-trip" for a writer. When used sparingly, it creates a haunting, memorable connection to the unseen. When overused, it’s just shouting at clouds. Beyond Theory of the Lyric - Scott -
As a literary tool, apostrophising is a high-risk, high-reward technique that acts as the "punctuation of passion."
Appearing "out of nowhere" in a way that confuses the audience. If in doubt, leave it out for plurals.
To is to use an apostrophe in writing, but it more specifically refers to a rhetorical or literary device where a speaker breaks off from their main address to speak directly to someone or something that is not present—often an absent person, a personified object, or an abstract idea (like "Death" or "Liberty"). Review of "Apostrophise" (Rhetorical Device)