Apostrophe crimes

[jdaw1]

I cant say its magificent, but its helping me along.

[jdaw1]

OK, more than a full page of Conky is surely enough and spare. The ‟folk are now throwing them in everywhere” theory is surely squashed.

Next:

It is a trophy asset that waiting on a single affluent aquirer to purchase for an offsprings wedding reception

[jdaw1]

If thats the green door, then that is definitely not Niepoort.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it's historic links to Portugal.

I beg to disagree with this presumed apostrophe crime. I understood Derek to have used the apostrophe correctly as a contraction and not as a posessive. ie. "I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it has historic links to Portugal."



Alex

[Alex Bridgeman]

Mines in a non-humidifying box.

Before I realised that this was an apostrophe crime I had assumed that this was the way in which Conky protected his cigars from unwanted attention, by securing movement sensitive explosives in his non-humidifying box...

[DRT]

I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it's historic links to Portugal.

I beg to disagree with this presumed apostrophe crime. I understood Derek to have used the apostrophe correctly as a contraction and not as a posessive. ie. "I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it has historic links to Portugal."



Alex

Alex is correct

Derek

[DRT]

You're back - fantastic - the punctuation on this website is decending into chaos

Presumably your non-use of the m-dash (“—†) was merely to test me. As was the absence of a terminating full stop.

Correct.

[Conky]

I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it's historic links to Portugal.

I beg to disagree with this presumed apostrophe crime. I understood Derek to have used the apostrophe correctly as a contraction and not as a posessive. ie. "I am extremely surprised at how little is sold in Brazil given it has historic links to Portugal."



Alex

Alex is correct

Derek

Alex is far from correct. You can not just make up words you are shortening and throw an apostrophe in. It's is 'it is'. Not 'it has'. Not surprisingly, 'It has' is just plain old 'it has'.

Or shall we all start. I could say, wet'er which of course means wet weather!. Or Manchester'ted, which is of course 'Manchester United'

Alan

[jdaw1]

The words may stick in my throat, but on this apostrophe-related matter, Conky is correct.

[DRT]

The words may stick in my throat, but on this apostrophe-related matter, Conky is correct.

Is that a comma crime? Should the comma not come after but instead of throat in that sentence?

Derek

[jdaw1]

The words may stick in my throat, but on this apostrophe-related matter, Conky is correct.

Is that a comma crime? Should the comma not come after but instead of throat in that sentence?

Some argue for both commas: “The words may stick in my throat, but, on this apostrophe-related matter, Conky is correct†. I find that too slow, and in speaking the words tend not to separate the ‘but’ from the clause to which it applies. Either form is acceptable.

The comma, perhaps the most versatile of the punctuation marks, indicates the smallest interruption in continuity of thought or sentence structure. There are a few rules governing its use that have become almost obligatory. Aside from these, the use of a comma is mainly a matter of good judgment, with ease of reading the end in view.

In contemporary writing, the comma is often omitted, but this open style should be followed only when there is little or no risk of misreading.

Though, to be fair, I object to the The Chicago Manual of Style’s preference for the American style of punctuating around quotation marks, it even agreeing that the British style is more logical (¶5.13). If any of you have or buy the 15th edition, please let me know whether this illogical preference has been maintained.

To summarise: you may safely assume that I am correct. Always.

[Conky]

I hope it doesn't irritate you chaps too much, that it clear I know how to use Apostrophe'''s.............

But, I'm just downright sloppy!

Welcome back Julian.

Alan

[jdaw1]

and its intended for early drinking

[Alex Bridgeman]

The words may stick in my throat, but on this apostrophe-related matter, Conky is correct.

Hmm. Not according to the Oxford Dictionaries web site (see this link here). They support my teaching that "it's" is an accepted contraction of either "it is" or "it has" and that the correct contraction has to be deduced from the context.

So Julian can breathe a sigh of relief and withdraw his support for Conky's use of apostrophes. And perhaps admit that once in a lifetime he is wrong?

Don't you just love this thread?

Alex

[jdaw1]

In words such as isn't, I'm, or don't, the apostrophe indicates that one or more letters have been left out.

• It's is the contracted form of 'It is' or 'It has', not the possessive of it. The possessive is its, with no apostrophe. So you should say `It's a lovely day' or `It's been a lovely day', but `The dog is in its kennel'.
• You're is a contraction of 'You are'. The possessive is your. Say `You're my best friend', but `Where is your friend?'

Interesting source (though I still don’t believe that was what Derek T. originally meant).

[Conky]

The usage of a Contraction apostrophe is generally accepted as thus;

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Usage note. Contractions such as isn't, couldn't, can't, weren't, he'll, they're occur chiefly, although not exclusively, in informal speech and writing. They are common in personal letters, business letters, journalism, and fiction; they are rare in scientific and scholarly writing.

So being rather scholary, I have to cede this point to you guys who's lifestyle makes them better served to know such things.

Alan

[jdaw1]

I have to cede this point to you guys who's lifestyle makes them better served to know such things

You meant ‟whose”, of course.

[DRT]

I have to cede this point to you guys who's lifestyle makes them better served to know such things

You meant “whose†, of course.

This actually made me laugh out loud in a house currently occupied only by me.

I agree with Alex, I love this thread.

I disagree with Jdaw, that is what I meant

Derek

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have to cede this point to you guys who's lifestyle makes them better served to know such things

You meant “whose†, of course.

That made me laugh out loud as well, but my house is occupied by two children and a wife who are all asleep after having been up at 5am to go car booting this morning.

At least I had the good taste to quote a British source for my reference. The Queen's English can only be referenced with true authority by organisations in one country and not those on the other side of the Atlantic.

OK. 'Nuff for now from me.

Alex

[Conky]

I have to cede this point to you guys who's lifestyle makes them better served to know such things

You meant “whose†, of course.

As one of my heroes, Captain Mainwaring (Mannering) was oft heard saying,

"Well done lads, I was wondering who'd be the first one to spot that!"

Alan

[jdaw1]

Cant say I like them

Thankfully it wont affect the taste,

Just dont spill the juices down your sheepskin,

or your bird wont be impressed

you wont fit in your yellow capri!

[DRT]

Stop, stop ... I can't take any more

[jdaw1]

Stop, stop ... I can't take any more

At whom is that instruction directed? Conky? Great.

[DRT]

Jdaw,

I'm not sure why but this thread is even more entertaining after having the pleasure of meeting you.

I don't know if that says more about me or you, but I don't really care what the answer to that question is.

Derek

[Conky]

Another one of Captain Mainwarings classics seems apt...

"You Stupid Boy!"


Alan