Apostrophe'''''s, when did the rot set in?

[Los Palmas 7]

Strangely Brown said:

Sciroccology said:

whatever you do, never pick someone on PH up on their misuse, as you will be branded a snob/geek/grammar Nazi.

Better to be branded that than an illiterate. Pride in one's language and command of the same should be commended, not ridiculed.

My thoughts exactly, but when I last pointed out the error of someone's ways, I was called a "sad little person".

I stand resolute, however.

[Strangely Brown]

sagt550 said:

This sort of things really riles me, god knows why as there are so much more important things to be worried about!.

Anyway, what is the general consensus on using the ' in a possessive context of a non-plural noun ending in "s". i.e. My company ends in the letter "S" and I'm pretty certain that all of the proposals/documentation I read stating <company name>' should read <company name>'s as it is not a plural so the "s" rule doesn't apply.....

Since nobody else has answered you...

If it is a proper noun ending in s then technically the possessive should be <namewithans>'s. That said, the practice is usually to follow the spoken form. If the spoken form sounds better as <namewithans>' then use that.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Saturday 21st March 17:16

[sublimatica]

Los Palmas 7 said:

Not really, I work for Wickes, delivering kitchens, but it's the principal, isn't it

It's more of a principle than a principal, but I know what you mean.

[hugo a gogo]

El Guapo said:

The grocer´s apostrophe has been around since the mid-1980s.

much longer than that

of course, in them olden days, foreign words used to have an apostrophe on them when we pluralised them, like what the dutchys do now

anyway, I'll call Tesco's (the shop belonging to the company called Tesco) whatever I like, because they are one of the worst offenders of piss poor english "mens clothing" and "ten items or less"

[HOGEPH]

Los Palmas 7 said:

central said:

Los Palmas 7 said:

From our smoking shelter at work:

Maybe it's a Yorkshire sign and should read in t'bins.

[DickyC]

The internet doesn't help with the preservation of my mother tongue. A website I visit publishes a league table of its posts, listing them as, "Most Commented" and "Most Favorited."

Oh, crikey! It's not PH is it? I'll be black balled.

[Strangely Brown]

DickyC said:

The internet doesn't help with the preservation of my mother tongue. A website I visit publishes a league table of its posts, listing them as, "Most Commented" and "Most Favorited."

Is the website American by any chance? They do love to verb their nouns.

Oh bugger, I just did it.

[DickyC]

Strangely Brown said:

DickyC said:

The internet doesn't help with the preservation of my mother tongue. A website I visit publishes a league table of its posts, listing them as, "Most Commented" and "Most Favorited."

Is the website American by any chance? They do love to verb their nouns.

Oh bugger, I just did it.

It was the missing u wot give it away innit?

The use of "innit" fascinates me. Kids use it cos they're well anarchist and yet its base, "isn't it," is in turn a derivative of, "is not it," probably the most antiquated English term still in use.

[oldbanger]

I occasionally drive past a takeaway called

Chip's and Fishe's

I'd drive past that way more often but it grates on me that much I avoid as much as possible.

[mybrainhurts]

oldbanger said:

I occasionally drive past a takeaway called

Chip's and Fishe's

I'd drive past that way more often but it grates on me that much I avoid as much as possible.

Unless it belongs to Dave Chips and Fred Fishe....

[Strangely Brown]

mybrainhurts said:

oldbanger said:

I occasionally drive past a takeaway called

Chip's and Fishe's

I'd drive past that way more often but it grates on me that much I avoid as much as possible.

Unless it belongs to Dave Chips and Fred Fishe....

Dave Chip.. singular. Otherwise it would be Chips' (or Chips's)

[central]

[central]

zakelwe on another thread said:

If it's not unusual then surely Tom Jone's would be singing a song about it ?

[DickyC]

Tom Jone's wood?

Bit personal isn't it?

[stuart-b]

Los Palmas 7 said:

Strangely Brown said:

Sciroccology said:

whatever you do, never pick someone on PH up on their misuse, as you will be branded a snob/geek/grammar Nazi.

Better to be branded that than an illiterate. Pride in one's language and command of the same should be commended, not ridiculed.

My thoughts exactly, but when I last pointed out the error of someone's ways, I was called a "sad little person".

I stand resolute, however.

Is it not "someones' ways" if the word after the apostrophe is plural?

I may stand corrected!

[Strangely Brown]

stuart-b said:

Los Palmas 7 said:

Strangely Brown said:

Sciroccology said:

whatever you do, never pick someone on PH up on their misuse, as you will be branded a snob/geek/grammar Nazi.

Better to be branded that than an illiterate. Pride in one's language and command of the same should be commended, not ridiculed.

My thoughts exactly, but when I last pointed out the error of someone's ways, I was called a "sad little person".

I stand resolute, however.

Is it not "someones' ways" if the word after the apostrophe is plural?

I may stand corrected!

No, the possessive apostrophe only goes at the end if the word itself is plural. "Someone" is singular, the following word is irrelevant.

You stand corrected.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Tuesday 28th July 19:46

[stuart-b]

Strangely Brown said:

stuart-b said:

Los Palmas 7 said:

Strangely Brown said:

Sciroccology said:

whatever you do, never pick someone on PH up on their misuse, as you will be branded a snob/geek/grammar Nazi.

Better to be branded that than an illiterate. Pride in one's language and command of the same should be commended, not ridiculed.

My thoughts exactly, but when I last pointed out the error of someone's ways, I was called a "sad little person".

I stand resolute, however.

Is it not "someones' ways" if the word after the apostrophe is plural?

I may stand corrected!

No, the possessive apostrophe only goes at the end if the word itself is plural. "Someone" is singular, the following word is irrelevant.

You stand corrected.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Tuesday 28th July 19:46

Ah I see, thanks

[DickyC]

[central]

[zac510]

This really sts me at work when university educated people do it. Didn't you learn anything there or did you just jump through the right hoops?