| Author |
Message |
Zomby Woof
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:00 am
Post subject: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be on
the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that reads
"Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".) Another
sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
Regards,
ZW
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Daniel James
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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In article news:<jSp_e.567965$s54.461591@pd7tw2no>, Zomby Woof wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
|
Welcome. The conversation varies between lively and interesting to dull and
uninformed ... but in what forum is that not the case?
| Quote: | I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be on
the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
|
Let me introduce you to another new (to you) group:
alt.possessive.its.has.no.apostrophe. Mind your toes when stumbling across that
one!
| Quote: | ... example I come across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign
outside that reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone
named "Sub".)
|
You are fortunate. I have to suffer "panini's".
Cheers,
Daniel. |
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DB.
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:52 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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Zomby Woof wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems
to be on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named
"Sub".) Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
Regards,
ZW
|
I dunno about where you live, but this is known as "the greengrocer's
apostrophe" here in the UK.
You write "I feel better now". This should put an end to that!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/Punctuation/ApostGrocers.htm
--
DB.
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JPG
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 05:28:47 GMT, "Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca> wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be on
the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that reads
"Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".) Another
sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
|
The administrator in our office regularly sends emails starting "To all
employee's", I don't want to appear to be a sad bastard by correcting her,
because a response of "haven't you got something better to do than worry about
an apostrophe" seems to be the standard in these cases.
What these people don't seem to realise is that meaning can be lost or distorted
without the correct use of apostrophes.
http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/gallery/apostrophe
JPG
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Peter Duncanson
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 05:28:47 GMT, "Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca>
wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be on
the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that reads
"Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".) Another
sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
Welcome from me too. |
One of the benefits of the way you earn a living is that "On radio no
one can hear the apostrophes".
--
Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from a.e.u) |
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Matti Lamprhey
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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"Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca> wrote...
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to
be on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named
"Sub".) Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
|
And, more worser still, this morning I saw an eBay listing for a book by
a certain Nigel Evan's.
Matti |
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P Darby
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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"Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:jSp_e.567965$s54.461591@pd7tw2no...
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be
on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".)
Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
|
We've just got a huge new shop near us, called 'Morrisons'.
Just as annoying; I think I'll boycott it, just to make a point! |
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JoeTaxpayer
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:19 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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Matti Lamprhey wrote:
snip
| Quote: | And, more worser still, this morning I saw an eBay listing for a book by
a certain Nigel Evan's.
Matti
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But more important, on the radio no one knows if you're wearing pants.
JOE |
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JoeTaxpayer
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:21 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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P Darby wrote:
| Quote: | "Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:jSp_e.567965$s54.461591@pd7tw2no...
I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems to be
on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".)
Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
We've just got a huge new shop near us, called 'Morrisons'.
Just as annoying; I think I'll boycott it, just to make a point!
|
If it's owned by two or more Morrisons, what is your issue? You need to
check how many.
JOE |
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JPG
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:41 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:52:27 GMT, "DB." <dbircumshaw@btinternet.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Zomby Woof wrote:
I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems
to be on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named
"Sub".) Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
Regards,
ZW
I dunno about where you live, but this is known as "the greengrocer's
apostrophe" here in the UK.
You write "I feel better now". This should put an end to that!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/Punctuation/ApostGrocers.htm
|
In these cases what I find odd is the inconsistency. Some plurals are perfectly
OK, some are with apostrophes, even in the same sentence . I wonder why.
JPG |
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Don Phillipson
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:52 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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"Zomby Woof" <popil8644@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:jSp_e.567965$s54.461591@pd7tw2no...
| Quote: | . . . the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads
"Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named "Sub".) Another
sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
|
You have not quite yet caught up. See last year's
best-seller "Eats Shoots and Leaves," in which this
phenomenon is fully examined.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada) |
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John Dean
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:49 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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Zomby Woof wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
|
arf
| Quote: |
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
|
Billy Crystal played you in the movie! (How's that little calf coming
on?)
| Quote: |
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems
to be on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named
"Sub".) Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
|
Tell me, as they say in adland, about it. Without wishing to deter you
from visiting here regularly, may I point you in the direction of
alt.possessive.its.has.no.apostrophe? It doesn't always have much to do
with apostrophes but it attracts those of like mind to you and me
(Yessirree, that's "you and me" because you and I know what's what).
And might I put in a good word for our sister franchise
alt.usage.english?
--
John Dean
Oxford |
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DB.
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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Zomby Woof wrote:
| Quote: | I've just stumbled upon this newsgroup. Fortunately, I wasn't injured.
Since I write for a living (radio commercials), I think I'll find the
conversation around here very interesting.
I'd like to take this opportunity to vent over something that seems
to be on the rise...the use of apostrophes when pluralizing.
This seems to occur most often in business signage. The example I come
across almost daily is a local sandwich shop with a sign outside that
reads "Sub's." (As far as I know, it isn't owned by anyone named
"Sub".) Another sign down the road reads "Auto Part's".
I feel better now. Thank you for your time.
Regards, ZW
|
This interesting web-page suggests that the apostrophe is disappearing:
http://www.wilbers.com/apostrophes.htm
<quote>
A disturbing trend is sweeping across America: The apostrophe (’) is
disappearing from American English. At the same time, the number of
apostrophobes – writers possessed of an exaggerated and illogical fear
of apostrophes – is increasing at an alarming rate.
</quote>
--
DB. |
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Michael DeBusk
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:19 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 11:23:49 +0100, JPG <me@privacy.net> wrote:
| Quote: | The administrator in our office regularly sends emails starting "To
all employee's", I don't want to appear to be a sad bastard by
correcting her, because a response of "haven't you got something
better to do than worry about an apostrophe" seems to be the
standard in these cases.
|
Unless you've given her the opportunity to correct it and she's sent
you the "haven't you got something better to do" response, I'd send it.
Rather, I'd talk to her about it, because company e-mail can be read by
her superiors or anyone in IT.
If my breath stinks, or my zipper is down, or if I'm doing anything
that makes me appear to be a dolt, a real friend will tell me. I want
the opportunity to correct it.
Poor spelling, grammar, and usage make one appear to be uneducated, and
those who are uneducated are taken less seriously. I'm reasonably
certain that your administrator wants to be taken seriously. Now, you
and I know that the an abused apostrophe is not a sign of stupidity but
of simple ignorance, but most people won't think about it enough to
draw that line. Do her the service of correcting her public impression.
If you've told her already and she's told you to go fuck yourself, then
her public face matches reality, and you can feel good about that too.
Just my two US cents, and nobody likes pennies anynore.
--
Michael DeBusk, Co-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place
Did he update http://home.earthlink.net/~debu4335/ yet? |
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Michael DeBusk
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Misplaced Apostrophes |
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On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:05:20 +0100, Matti Lamprhey
<matti@official-totally-reversed.com> wrote:
| Quote: | And, more worser still, this morning I saw an eBay listing for a
book by a certain Nigel Evan's.
|
Now THAT hurts.
--
Michael DeBusk, Co-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place
Did he update http://home.earthlink.net/~debu4335/ yet? |
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