Please, please, please stop using apostrophes in plurals. Plurals are not possessives.
There’s no apostrophe is theirs; there is no apostrophe in the words “washers” or “dryers”. The word “washers” is the plural form of “washer”.
Please capitalise the first word of your sentence. Please use punctuation correctly; more to the point, use punctuation.
Thank you.
This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2008.
You’re correct, of course. But I’m wondering about the other side of this—the local habit of NOT using apostrophes in place names: Purcells Cove, Susies Lake, McNabs Island, etc. Does anyone know how this came to be? I know the government decided to change all the topo maps back in the 70s ( think) to reflect the general usage, but I’ve never seen why people used the no-apostrophe names in the first place. Is it a holdover from when the french were here naming things? (The french don’t use the apostrophe as a possessive.) Was it because people immigrated here from Britain before the invention of the apostrophe? (And that’s my guess.) But maybe you bright people might have an answer.
Yes, you’re right. But if its not a school paper, resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation, or anything proper and formal like that, who gives a fuck.
Hi Tim – There are only a couple places in Nova Scotia that do have an apostrophe in the name, and I can’t think of the few that do qualify off the top of my head. “Peggys Cove”, for example, does not have an apostrophe. In order for it to be “Peggy’s Cove”, there would have to be proof that someone named Peggy owned land in that particular area. Since so many places were named before proper documentation was kept, it’s hard to prove that certain people or families owned the land in the communities that bear their names – i.e. Starrs Point or Byers Corner.
Geeze, OP, I can see your tombstone now – ‘Grammar and Spelling Consumed My Existence.’ Lighten up, why doncha?
You do not place the apostrophe in a possessive word, ever. The apostrophe is meantfor contractions, not to determine ones ownership.Notice how I types ones and not one’s. One’s is a contraction for One is.The dog chased its tail. Ownership.The dog chased it’s tail. The dog chased it is tail.If you use the word “washer’s”, you would be saying “washer is”. Washer’s is NOT apossessive. Washers can be a plural or a possessive, depending on how you use it.The washers are broken. Plural.The washers rinse button is broken. possessive.You never write: “The washer’s rinse button is broken.” You would be saying: “The washeris rinse button is broken.”You are one to talk, “Top of the class”. Apostrophes are used for contractions. NOTfor possessives. It may have been accepted in the past, but it is now improper.
That’s not actually correct, JJ. If we were talking about my grammar skills, they would be “Jennie’s” grammar skills – possessive.
ive always thought that (‘s) showed ownership…ie the baby’s rattle. if there were two babies then they would be the babies’ rattles. or the child’s bike. but if there were many children then they would be the children’s bikes. have i been wrong my entire life?
Hey asshole, if I put “please” in front of “fuck off” does it make me sound any less like a douche than it does for you? Just wondering.
Hey, john. You can spare yourself a headache (and piss off the OP with some of our “yokel speak”) by just saying, “That there’s a lotta bikes!”I sometimes correct grammar with people I know, just to be a dork, but really, I know there are technical rules I don’t follow most of the time. I. Don’t. Care. When writing formally, sure, I’ll do my best on the presentation as well as the content, but this ain’t formal. And yes, OP, “ain’t” is a word now, so there. 😛
oh, jj … no.this should ease your confusion … http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html
“There’s no apostrophe is theirs;”And please, everyone, no typing errors.
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.I am wondering, when did people stop using two spaces past a period?? Was there a meeting and I missed it? Did anyone get a memo regarding this matter? WTF!
Well, I thought there might’ve been a couple of smart people here. Guess not.
When people use bad grammar or punctuation or spell things improperly (or don’t use the right spelling of a word like “to” instead of “too”) it doesn’t bug me, it makes me feel better about myself because I’m not a fucking moron who doesn’t know how to write properly.
fuck grammarThis is an online post not an article in the paper
Ever read the disclaimer, Jane? “Submissions may also appear as a letter to the editor in print.” :PSrsly though — there’s no excuse for grown adults not to know the difference between “their” “there” and “they’re” or “too” “to” “two” FFS.
When ending a sentence with a quotation mark, all punctuation should be placed within said quotation mark. So, Top of the Class, get your shit straight before you preach from high above.
Well, someone’s gotta break out BTAF on this one, so here it is:http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gifI know it’s easier to just say “fuck it” and write in whatever style you please. Many do it, and it saves time typing, but it comes with the consequence that people will think you illiterate. For that reason, I attempt to write properly. That’s just me.Let our battle’s begin 😉
Turd, the word in quotations is not a quote. If it were, there would be a period within the quotation marks, and then another one at the end of the sentence.
Tim – see item #10 on the following page. Hope it helps: http://www.gedmartin.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125