Apostrophe crimes
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
I didn’t write that! IOS did. Damn autocorrect.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Remind me, are we allowed to report posts by people who have American English as their first language or is this thread just for the admonishment re-educationof the native English speaker?
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
The use of Americanisms should not be reported as they can't help it. Misuse of apostrophes and general grammar crimes should be reported.
The current POTUS is generally excused under the general "he can't help it" rule.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: RE: Re: Apostrophe crimes
"They say I used apostrophys wrong - fake news! Fake news. We have the best apostrophys, they just didnt understand what I said. Fake news, so sad."DRT wrote:The current POTUS is generally excused under the general "he can't help it" rule.
Re: RE: Re: Apostrophe crimes
Is it childish to point out there's no "y" in apostrophe/apostrophes; or the missing punctuation in "didn't" when it's clearly a popular representation of a populist representative...?PhilW wrote:"They say I used apostrophys wrong - fake news! Fake news. We have the best apostrophys, they just didnt understand what I said. Fake news, so sad."

-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Apostrophe crimes
It was, of course, deliberate satire.StuartC wrote:Is it childish to point out there's no "y" in apostrophe/apostrophes; or the missing punctuation in "didn't" when it's clearly a popular representation of a populist representative...?PhilW wrote:"They say I used apostrophys wrong - fake news! Fake news. We have the best apostrophys, they just didnt understand what I said. Fake news, so sad."
Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Apostrophe crimes
Perhaps some random CAPITALIZATION would have made that more bigly Obvious?PhilW wrote: ↑18:50 Fri 28 Dec 2018It was, of course, deliberate satire.StuartC wrote:Is it childish to point out there's no "y" in apostrophe/apostrophes; or the missing punctuation in "didn't" when it's clearly a popular representation of a populist representative...?PhilW wrote:"They say I used apostrophys wrong - fake news! Fake news. We have the best apostrophys, they just didnt understand what I said. Fake news, so sad."
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Embarrasing. Thank you for catching it. Now corrected.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Evening Standard: Apostrophe society shuts down because 'ignorance and laziness have won'
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Fussy, I know.


- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Is this your new career? Driving the family tall truck?
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
-
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Posts: 3073
- Joined: 21:16 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA
- Contact:
Re: Apostrophe crimes
In fairness, from someone who has had to try to program one of those sign boards on more than one occasion, I can attest they aren't always easy and they don't always allow you to enter things the way you intended. And you shouldn't take pics when you are operating a motor vehicle.
Re: RE: Re: Apostrophe crimes
I was standing on the pavement, waiting for a bus.Andy Velebil wrote:In fairness, from someone who has had to try to program one of those sign boards on more than one occasion, I can attest they aren't always easy and they don't always allow you to enter things the way you intended. And you shouldn't take pics when you are operating a motor vehicle.
Indeed, the Wisemanmobile is being sold for scrap.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
There is much that could be said about the Trump impeachment. And I realise that this may well be the least of it. Nonetheless:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51408704
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/trump-i ... house.html
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/07/80390441 ... awyer-says
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51408704
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/trump-i ... house.html
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/07/80390441 ... awyer-says
why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Perhaps that mistake should be credited to David Pressman as the news organisations you ave linked to are simply quoting what he said?jdaw1 wrote: ↑15:14 Sat 08 Feb 2020 There is much that could be said about the Trump impeachment. And I realise that this may well be the least of it. Nonetheless:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51408704
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/trump-i ... house.html
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/07/80390441 ... awyer-sayswhy this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: Apostrophe crimes
It was my intention to ‘credit’ David Pressman. The news sources were cited only because I could not find online a definitive original.
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
and/or
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Inexcusable. It doesn't even make sense, there's no need for an apostrophe anywhere in that sentence.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Re: Apostrophe crimes
In Streatham, on Telford Avenue, at ///atom.lifts.couches, on the road:

Yes, an apostrophe can indicate missing letters. And the word “Roundabout” has been abbreviated by the omission of four letters, all vowels, none of which are where the apostrophe is.

Yes, an apostrophe can indicate missing letters. And the word “Roundabout” has been abbreviated by the omission of four letters, all vowels, none of which are where the apostrophe is.
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
That did, in fact, make me laugh out loud! For goodness' sake!jdaw1 wrote:In Streatham, on Telford Avenue, at ///atom.lifts.couches, on the road:
Yes, an apostrophe can indicate missing letters. And the word “Roundabout” has been abbreviated by the omission of four letters, all vowels, none of which are where the apostrophe is.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Schl’by er’rr, surely?
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Have you been drinking? And don't call me Shirley.
-
- Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
- Posts: 556
- Joined: 20:42 Tue 13 Nov 2018
- Location: Three Bridges
Re: Apostrophe crimes
In Romania...
I've been told that the Romanian language doesn't even use a'postrophes.
I've been told that the Romanian language doesn't even use a'postrophes.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Portuguese doesn't use them either. Well, almost doesn't. There are some niche uses.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Yes, but Portuguese makes up for its lack of apostrophes by having 12 (ish) accented vowels plus an accented consonant for good measure.
á, é, í, ó, ú, â, ê, ô, ã, õ, à, and rarely ò (though I haven't seen this one yet). And apparently the language used to also have è, ì, and ù.
The consonant is, of course, ç. My understanding is that ñ is only used in Spanish.
Glenn Elliott
Re: Apostrophe crimes
You are correct on all counts. Impressive.Glenn E. wrote: ↑19:22 Mon 02 Dec 2024Yes, but Portuguese makes up for its lack of apostrophes by having 12 (ish) accented vowels plus an accented consonant for good measure.
á, é, í, ó, ú, â, ê, ô, ã, õ, à, and rarely ò (though I haven't seen this one yet). And apparently the language used to also have è, ì, and ù.
The consonant is, of course, ç. My understanding is that ñ is only used in Spanish.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
What's "fun" is that the only use I've seen (so far) for à is as an abreviation for... "a a". Yes, they shorten 2 x 'a' to just 'à', but only when the two letters are different words.
Glenn Elliott
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15473
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Perhaps a lot more when spoken than when written? Such as “….de ir”, which is only ever spoken as “…d’ir”. Caused me lots of confusion at first.
But no more confusion than the usual Portuguese practice of only saying half the syllables in a sentence. Or inventing syllables which aren’t in a sentence.
“O que estudas português?” is normally spoken as “Oo kek stoodas português?” Honestly! And people say English is a difficult language to master!!
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: Apostrophe crimes
Yes, those were the niche uses that came to mind - the change from «de/do/da» to «d'». There are a few written ones - Borda d'Água is a well known publication in Portugal - but you're absolutely right that, were we to write as we speak, there would be thousands of examples.Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑23:31 Tue 03 Dec 2024Perhaps a lot more when spoken than when written? Such as “….de ir”, which is only ever spoken as “…d’ir”. Caused me lots of confusion at first.
But no more confusion than the usual Portuguese practice of only saying half the syllables in a sentence. Or inventing syllables which aren’t in a sentence.
“O que estudas português?” is normally spoken as “Oo kek stoodas português?” Honestly! And people say English is a difficult language to master!!
I agree that the relative disconnect between the written and the spoken language is probably a nightmare to anyone trying to get at least a small grasp of the language

Re: Apostrophe crimes
Brazilian is much more... sensible? It doesn't just add 'sh' to the ends of words randomly, and leading/trailing vowels are usually still pronounced.Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑23:31 Tue 03 Dec 2024 “O que estudas português?” is normally spoken as “Oo kek stoodas português?” Honestly! And people say English is a difficult language to master!!
Your example above would be "oh keh estoodas português" but... also wouldn't be said that way in the first place. That reads as "what you study Portuguese?" to me, with "tu" before "estudas" implied. If you want to ask someone if they study Portuguese, it would just be "você estuda Português" or "tu estudas Português".
Setúbal is "SCHTOOble" in Portuguese but "seTOOble" in Brazilian.
Glenn Elliott
Re: Apostrophe crimes
This has now become the unofficial Portuguese language thread.