Good stuff; I hoped you'd get stuck into those examples!asqwerth wrote:atnits wrote:What are your thoughts on apostrophes in numbers and dates, such as:asqwerth wrote:
I get more irritated by the wrong use of apostrophes : "its" vs "it's", wrongly using it in the plural form of words, people confusing "your" and "you're", "they're" and "their". Contractions, people, apostrophes are for contractions!
100's of items now on sale!
It is a 1940's house.
Actually, I think those are examples of the apostrophe being wrongly used in the plural form of words.
When you write "100's of items", you actually mean "hundreds of items", meaning you are using the plural of "hundred". So it should be "100s of items".
As for "1940's house", it should be "1940s house", because what you are referring to is a house built in the decade starting with the year 1940. In other words, "This house was built in the Forties" - plural! *
The "apostrophe-s" tag ('s) is what you stick at the end of a noun to show that something belongs to that noun.
Examples:
1. John's watch - the watch belongs to John
2. the bee's knees - the knees of the bee (haha)
3. "Don't touch that bag! It's John's!" Here, "It's" = contraction of "It is", and "John's" means the bag belongs to John.
[/explanation mode off]
* If you write that using numerals, it would be "This house was built in the '40s ", where the apostrophe before the "40" is to show that it's a contraction of "1940s".
Another example: the sitcom called "That '70s Show" (see where the apostrophe is, and where it isn't?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165598/
Luxx, The Times supplement
Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
- lloyd_m
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
There are some exceptions to this, however.
If you are referring to the visitors book, it does not have an apostrophe because it is a book for the benefit of the visitors or a book for the visitors to use, rather than belonging to them. Other examples are the Mens Room or the peoples choice.
If you are referring to the visitors book, it does not have an apostrophe because it is a book for the benefit of the visitors or a book for the visitors to use, rather than belonging to them. Other examples are the Mens Room or the peoples choice.
- Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
I have seen Visitors Book and Visitors' Book and would not presume to say that either was incorrect.
I disagree with the other two, however; since "men" and "people" are the plural forms per se, adding a genitive -s to denote possession would, I fear, require an apostrophe.
I disagree with the other two, however; since "men" and "people" are the plural forms per se, adding a genitive -s to denote possession would, I fear, require an apostrophe.
Steve
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
I think strictly speaking you are correct Steve. Over the last few years the punctuation has been left off official signs much to the consternation of those who care about these things. In this village an official sign "Donkeys Meadow" is bereft of punctuation despite the objections of learned residents!Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:I have seen Visitors Book and Visitors' Book and would not presume to say that either was incorrect.
I disagree with the other two, however; since "men" and "people" are the plural forms per se, adding a genitive -s to denote possession would, I fear, require an apostrophe.
Robin
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Oris Big Crown, Hublot, Rolex Datejust, Nomos Tangomat.
See my book, Aynho Junction, in the News section of http://www.robinbarkerphotography.com
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
While I mostly agree with the sentiment in this thread (particularly with respect to "literally"), I must take issue with those objecting to the use of apostrophes for plurals. I do it regularly, and correctly, when referring to single digits or letters.
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/apostrophe
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/apostrophe
- lloyd_m
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
No, I disagree. The use of apostrophes are for possession only. Unless the room belongs to the men or the choice belongs to the people then the apostrophe is not correct.Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:I have seen Visitors Book and Visitors' Book and would not presume to say that either was incorrect.
I disagree with the other two, however; since "men" and "people" are the plural forms per se, adding a genitive -s to denote possession would, I fear, require an apostrophe.
Steve's watch : the watch belonging to Steve.
Steves watch : The shift that Steve is allotted (as in night shift). (The spell checker didn't like this, but that is wrong as well).
- welshlad
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
Both of those examples are "Steve's watch".lloyd_m wrote:No, I disagree. The use of apostrophes are for possession only. Unless the room belongs to the men or the choice belongs to the people then the apostrophe is not correct.Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:I have seen Visitors Book and Visitors' Book and would not presume to say that either was incorrect.
I disagree with the other two, however; since "men" and "people" are the plural forms per se, adding a genitive -s to denote possession would, I fear, require an apostrophe.
Steve's watch : the watch belonging to Steve.
Steves watch : The shift that Steve is allotted (as in night shift). (The spell checker didn't like this, but that is wrong as well).
To help clarify your other example, there is no such word as "mens" so that can't be right. Try using it in scrabble and see how you get on!
Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. - Niels Bohr
Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
Whilst not incorrect, I try to avoid that use of the apostrophe. It just seems inelegant somehow.Mortis wrote:While I mostly agree with the sentiment in this thread (particularly with respect to "literally"), I must take issue with those objecting to the use of apostrophes for plurals. I do it regularly, and correctly, when referring to single digits or letters.
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/apostrophe
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
Possessive genitives (including the clitic -'s and the case-marking final apostrophe), can express a relationship that is not limited strictly to possession in the sense of ownership; thus the men's room belongs to the men by association rather than being a specific group's actual property.welshlad wrote:Both of those examples are "Steve's watch".
To help clarify your other example, there is no such word as "mens" so that can't be right. Try using it in scrabble and see how you get on!
As our friend points out, the word "mens" does not exist. If he and I were together, we could be described as a pair of Steves, the only correct usage of that particular word.
Steve
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
I thought that men was the plural of man.
Kip
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
You are right, of course, Kip.
The following is an extremely well-known joke that has been doing the rounds for many years:
The following is an extremely well-known joke that has been doing the rounds for many years:
European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.
The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.
If zis mad you smil, pleas pas it on to oza pepl
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
- Helix Von Smelix
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
So what about the infamous Oxford comma?
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
Smart asses ass's arses arse's ah ballsball's bollox.
No more Quartz (except when I cannot resist).
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Re: Luxx, The Times supplement
What I want to know is
Were there any nice pictures Robin as I was unable to get a copy of the Times.
Were there any nice pictures Robin as I was unable to get a copy of the Times.
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