Apostrophe crimes

[PhilW]

There is (or, more accurately, hopefully will be) a list of banks, called the ‘Preliminary List’. Would you say that a bank is on the Preliminary List, or in the Preliminary List?

on

[John Owlett]

He's got them on the list -- he's got them on the list;
And they'll none of them be missed -- they''ll none of them be missed.

[Alex Bridgeman]

On

[DRT]

Is it correct to say "on the list" or "in the list"?

Question

Is it correct to say "on the list" or "in the list"? -V. Chan, Hong Kong

Answer

Thank you for this interesting question.

In almost all contexts, it is customary and correct to say on the list (or on my list, on their list, etc.). Here are some representative example sentences:

Examples with on

Your name is the first one on the list.
Her novel is on the list of recommended readings.
China is high on my list of places to go.
She is on the short list for the Nobel Prize.

However, as you have probably noticed, sometimes in the list is used as well. Most often, in the list is used after some form of the word include, as in the examples shown below.

Examples with in

We were included in the guest list.
Included in the list of available cars we find midsize cars, pickup trucks, and minivans.
Both publishers and artists are included in the list.
For inclusion in the list, all information needs to be submitted by August 10th.

This is because include has a strong tendency to be used with the preposition in, as in the expressions, "You are included in our thoughts and prayers," and "It's included in the price." Except after include, I recommend that you use on the list.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

[jdaw1]

Quiz: Do you know this weird punctuation?

[John Owlett]

The only places where I have ever seen the interrobang used are articles about the interrobang.

[jdaw1]

The only places where I have ever seen the interrobang used are articles about the interrobang.

Good observation, also true of me.

[PhilW]

The only places where I have ever seen the interrobang used are articles about the interrobang.

Good observation, also true of me.

I can't believe that neither of you have ever used an interrobang?!

[flash_uk]

The only places where I have ever seen the interrobang used are articles about the interrobang.

Good observation, also true of me.

I can't believe that neither of you have ever used an interrobang?!

Ho ho!

[Glenn E.]

Quiz: Do you know this weird punctuation?

UK-restricted website which claims to be a game.

[jdaw1]

Ho ho!

‽

[flash_uk]

Come on, read the response!

[jdaw1]

Oleksiak tied with Manuel to take the gold, setting a new Olympic record of 52.70 seconds and making history as the first athlete born in the 21st Century to win an Olympic gold medal in any sport.

Penelope "Penny" Oleksiak (born June 13, 2000)

Sigh.

[jdaw1]

[DRT]

Obey yours host’ confidences

[jdaw1]

Obey yours host’ confidences

The missing ‘s’ is regretted.

[jdaw1]

I doubt that it's producers find this

[DRT]

Grrrr.

[DRT]

I strongly suspect the reference to wealth is meant to be plural...

Screen Shot 2016-10-17 at 20.10.12.png (123.89 KiB) Viewed 32460 times

[Alex Bridgeman]

I strongly suspect the reference to wealth is meant to be plural...

Or it could be a well educated democrat saying precisely what it reads as saying.

But I suspect that you're right.

[jdaw1]

The embarrassment. The humiliation. The shame.

Just shame. And more shame. And backup shame in case the first and second bottles of shame showed insufficiently well.

There are eight copies of Version Zero of the book (which, mitigatingly, exists so that errors can be found). I did not have the wit to have anybody else check the back cover. And I didn’t even find the error — it was my elder daughter.

With error boxed:


The embarrassment. The humiliation. The shame. And more.

[DRT]

I am very pleased to own one of the eight copies. Once this becomes a best seller and you have won the Booker Prize my copy might be worth the same as a Penny Black with Queen Victoria's head upside down!

[Old Bridge]

I am very pleased to own one of the eight copies. Once this becomes a best seller and you have won the Booker Prize my copy might be worth the same as a Penny Black with Queen Victoria's head upside down!

Is there such a stamp?

Four Annas, though.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/a ... 663150.ece

[Old Bridge]

I say as Bluebottle: Not a sausage!

[DRT]

RSVP me....I'll be there if I'm still sucking my share of earths air.