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Message |
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:31 am
Post subject: Reps or Rep's |
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My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps. Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
Many thanks
Mark
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ray o'hara
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:17 am
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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"<Shiny Bob>" <parris@newsguy,com> wrote in message
news:diugsv026c7@news2.newsguy.com...
| Quote: | My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one
of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps.
Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why
it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
Many thanks
Mark
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Reps if more than one rep. Rep's if we are talking about something the rep
owns. |
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:45 am
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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<Shiny Bob> wrote:
| Quote: | My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps. Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
Many thanks
Mark
|
"Rep." is an abbreviation for "representative," but "rep" is a
shortened form which is itself used as a word, in the same way that
"auto" is used for "automobile" or "piano" is used instead of
"pianoforte." As such, its plural is formed in the ordinary way, in
this case, "reps."
A more modern example of such shortened forms used as words is "mics"
for "microphones." The form I learned as a boy was "mikes."
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:05 am
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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<Shiny Bob> wrote:
| Quote: | My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps. Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
Many thanks
Mark
|
"Rep." is an abbreviation for "representative," but "rep" is a
shortened form which is itself used as a word, in the same way that
"auto" is used for "automobile" or "piano" is used instead of
"pianoforte." As such, its plural is formed in the ordinary way, in
this case, "reps."
A more modern example of such shortened forms used as words is "mics"
for "microphones." The form I learned as a boy was "mikes."
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com |
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Peter Duncanson
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:26 am
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 22:31:33 +0100, "<Shiny Bob>" <parris@newsguy,com>
wrote:
| Quote: | My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps. Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
My British point of view: I agree with ray and Raymond. |
--
Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from a.e.u) |
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Adrian Bailey
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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"Peter Duncanson" <mail@peterduncanson.net> wrote in message
news:oao5l1tefs5duvsm19gfd01nf499aftkh9@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 22:31:33 +0100, "<Shiny Bob>" <parris@newsguy,com
wrote:
My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as a school
representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class rep's...." now one
of
the parents have read this letter and stated that rep's should be reps.
Now
I can find now basis for this statement, so can anyone please explain why
it
should be reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep was an
acronym then again I know there does not have to be an ' but when it's an
abbreviation then a ' is needed.
My British point of view: I agree with ray and Raymond.
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Me too.
Adrian |
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Harvey Van Sickle
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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On 17 Oct 2005, Adrian Bailey wrote
| Quote: | "Peter Duncanson" <mail@peterduncanson.net> wrote in message
news:oao5l1tefs5duvsm19gfd01nf499aftkh9@4ax.com...
On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 22:31:33 +0100, "<Shiny Bob>"
parris@newsguy,com> wrote:
My wife has written a letter in (British) English in her role as
a school representative.
She wrote one phrase that included the line "the class
rep's...." now one of the parents have read this letter and
stated that rep's should be reps. Now I can find now basis for
this statement, so can anyone please explain why it should be
reps and not rep's.
I am using the ' in the context of the missing letters, if Rep
was an acronym then again I know there does not have to be an '
but when it's an abbreviation then a ' is needed.
My British point of view: I agree with ray and Raymond.
Me too.
|
Unanimous so far: definitely "reps" for the plural.
--
Cheers, Harvey
Canadian (30 years) and British (23 years)
For e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van |
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Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:00 am
Post subject: Re: Reps or Rep's |
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And from here in Australia, I agree that "reps" is correct, for the
reason mentioned. |
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