Intrusive apostrophes

alansnap (e2 Member)

9

26 Jan 2013 - 2:57 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

3

I know, I know, I know, I'm a grumpy old git, but am I the only one on here that hates the intrusive apostrophe? People, plurals only need to have an S added unless there's a Y in there where you substitute ie for y. So tiger and tigers, partridge and partridges, irony and ironies. You only need an apostrophe if you are adding the s to denote the possessive. So "the tiger's prey," or "the partridges' dislike for snow," when there's more than one partridge. Its and it's break the rules of course. It's the tiger and its prey.
Oh dear, oh dear, next I'll be bellyaching about "I was sat," when you mean "I was sitting," or "I was stood," when you mean, "I was standing." To say, "I was sat," implies you were placed in that seat by someone. But then I lie down, I certainly only "Lay down" wine.
Grump, grump, grump.
Alan

arhb (e2 Member)

5

26 Jan 2013 - 3:06 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

1

day stoppt teechin dis stuff in da 70s I fink dunno bout apostrafeez but lees we kood spel proppa bak in va day an wen to yooz a ful stop

paulcookphotography

3

26 Jan 2013 - 3:15 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Quote: You seem in a buggers muddle to me.

Or should that be bugger's muddle?

alansnap (e2 Member)

9

26 Jan 2013 - 3:20 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Quote: I was always taught the rule was "bung one if you feel like it, after all you can' always pretend its' just a mark where your pen slipped".

Well maybe when you're using a ballpoint, but it doesn't work with a keyboard

Grumpy old git - me I mean.

rhol2 (e2 Member)

2

26 Jan 2013 - 3:31 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I quite agree,I also dislike apostrophised plurals..

There were some instances reported in the Press recently when certain local authorities decided to leave out apostrophes on certain street names, so, for example, St. James's Road became St. James Road.

Some say that we do not need apostrophes at all, but to denote the possessive,however, without them I would think that there might be problems in distinguishing singular and plural cases, as you suggest.

Similarly, with "sat" and" sitting,", "stood" and "standing", wrong usage simply sounds ugly..

I don't consider myself a "grumpy old git", but try to be open minded..however, I do bear in mind that one can be so open-minded that one's brains fall out.

keithh (e2 Member)

9

26 Jan 2013 - 3:51 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

1

Is that
Alansnap, alansnap or Alan Snap?

scottishphototours

9

26 Jan 2013 - 4:11 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

1

Get a life..

oldblokeh

2

26 Jan 2013 - 4:29 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Quote: That's what I typed.

Another thing that makes me grumpy is that I need new reading glasses.