Apostrophe'''''s, when did the rot set in?
Discussion
Someone I know, whose surname is Masters, recently received a letter which started "Dear Mr. Master's"
Unbelievable.
I find it very sad that what appears to be the majority of people (certainly on this site) either do not understand or do not care enough to write their own language correctly.
Unbelievable.
I find it very sad that what appears to be the majority of people (certainly on this site) either do not understand or do not care enough to write their own language correctly.
jamesson said:
Someone I know, whose surname is Masters, recently received a letter which started "Dear Mr. Master's"
Unbelievable.
I find it very sad that what appears to be the majority of people (certainly on this site) either do not understand or do not care enough to write their own language correctly.
Just don't get me started on an article I saw the other day about Welsh singer Tom Jone's.Unbelievable.
I find it very sad that what appears to be the majority of people (certainly on this site) either do not understand or do not care enough to write their own language correctly.
Lefty Guns said:
The whole there/they're/their thing does annoy me but I can sort of understand that some people just don't grasp the differences between them. At least they are vaguely similar sounding words
Replacing have with of annoys me a whole lot more. You f
king ignorant s, go back to school.
My pet hate is someone messing up 'are' and 'our'.Replacing have with of annoys me a whole lot more. You f
king ignorant s, go back to school.It just annoys me.
I have been threatened with ejection from a pub for defacing their blackboard menu: I was removing the apostrophe from "Pizza's". When I remonstrated with the barman, he said "Oh, pedant's society is it?". To which I replied "no, society of pedants, actually".
Good job I'm large.
You have to make some allowances. The phrase "so I was like, whatever" is utter gibberish, yet makes sense to us all as shorthand for a complicated sentiment. "To boldly go" sounds so much better than the alternatives. Usage blesses these examples as being, if not correct, at least accepted. The correct use of the apostrophe cannot be replaced with a common usage alternative, so it is in everyone's interest to get it right. People who complain that it's 'technical' and unnecessary are too dull to appreciate its value. I instantly classify people who cannot spell or punctuate as likely to present poorly thought through, half-baked ideas. I am rarely wrong.
If that sounds snobbish, elitist, and judgemental to you, then you are absolutely right.
Good job I'm large.
You have to make some allowances. The phrase "so I was like, whatever" is utter gibberish, yet makes sense to us all as shorthand for a complicated sentiment. "To boldly go" sounds so much better than the alternatives. Usage blesses these examples as being, if not correct, at least accepted. The correct use of the apostrophe cannot be replaced with a common usage alternative, so it is in everyone's interest to get it right. People who complain that it's 'technical' and unnecessary are too dull to appreciate its value. I instantly classify people who cannot spell or punctuate as likely to present poorly thought through, half-baked ideas. I am rarely wrong.
If that sounds snobbish, elitist, and judgemental to you, then you are absolutely right.
ajcj said:
I have been threatened with ejection from a pub for defacing their blackboard menu: I was removing the apostrophe from "Pizza's". When I remonstrated with the barman, he said "Oh, pedant's society is it?". To which I replied "no, society of pedants, actually".
Good job I'm large.
Good job I'm large.
Very good.Here's a bonanza of wrongness for your delictation
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