Apostrophe Apoplexy

[cloudy]

Oh, I don't think you're that obtuse.

What I've done is cite sources--of authorities other than me. The whole thread was unnecessary if Elfin bothered to open a dictionary.

But if you want to play stupid and blind, have at it.

Oh, you've made my point nicely for me. Thanks.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, you've made my point nicely for me. Thanks.

What point was that again? You seem (more than) a little confused.

Your stated point was digging at me for insisting that my way was the only way.

I pointed out that I was pretty much the only one doing the opposite--citing authorities other than me.

Perhaps you are that obtuse.

But then you have no need for a legitimate reason from digging at me, do You?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I was always taught at school that you turn the thing around so that it includes the word 'of'.

So for example, Sams hat (leaving out the apostrophe while we decide where it should go) becomes hat of Sam

The apostrophe falls after the last letter of the turned around phrase.

So in the case of hat of Sam, the apostrophe falls after the letter m. So it should be Sam's hat.

It works. And I would argue that ladies' room and men's room are possessives.

Ladies room - room of the ladies. Therefore the apostrophe should fall after the last letter of the word ladies - ladies' room.

Mens room - room of the men. The apostrophe falls after the last letter of the word men - men's room.

But no, I can't quote any great reference source I'm afraid. Other than my stickler-for-the-rules English teacher, Miss Catlin...

<random musing>I've always interpreted those two as "Room for the Ladies" "Room for the Men." But-- that's still a possessive, isn't it? </random using>

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I was always taught at school that you turn the thing around so that it includes the word 'of'.

So for example, Sams hat (leaving out the apostrophe while we decide where it should go) becomes hat of Sam

The apostrophe falls after the last letter of the turned around phrase.

So in the case of hat of Sam, the apostrophe falls after the letter m. So it should be Sam's hat.

It works. And I would argue that ladies' room and men's room are possessives.

Ladies room - room of the ladies. Therefore the apostrophe should fall after the last letter of the word ladies - ladies' room.

Mens room - room of the men. The apostrophe falls after the last letter of the word men - men's room.

But no, I can't quote any great reference source I'm afraid. Other than my stickler-for-the-rules English teacher, Miss Catlin...

And that makes perfect sense from the writers' point of view. Now the publishers who take the text and go out and make money for us have my permission to do anything with the punctuation they want. But please don't change my choice of words. I write English like it was music and don't particularly like having my metre and timbre changed to suit someone else's fussiness.

 

[sr71plt]

<random musing>I've always interpreted those two as "Room for the Ladies" "Room for the Men." But-- that's still a possessive, isn't it? </random using>

I would think so. The room assigned to the ladies; the room assigned to the men. Almost definitively possessive. Mind you, I usually forget to put in the apotrophe myself.

 

[jomar]

I've always felt if you don't get the apostrophe right it will yank a wanker right out of the story.

 

[damppanties]

I've always felt if you don't get the apostrophe right it will yank a wanker right out of the story.

Totally. Stops them in mid-stroke.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I've always felt if you don't get the apostrophe right it will yank a wanker right out of the story.

Totally. Stops them in mid-stroke.

What happens? does the ' turn into a , ?

 

[_Lynn_]

What happens? does the ' turn into a , ?

In a split second.

 

[jomar]

Totally. Stops them in mid-stroke.

Uh huh. Punctuous interruptus.

What happens? does the ' turn into a , ?

...

 

[sr71plt]

I've always felt if you don't get the apostrophe right it will yank a wanker right out of the story.

I laughed. But then I remembered a story or two that did that really irritating "its/it's" switch, and I'll have to say it caused me to lose focus entirely.

 

[jomar]

I laughed. But then I remembered a story or two that did that really irritating "its/it's" switch, and I'll have to say it caused me to lose focus entirely.

That is one of the more heinous apostrophe abuses.

 

[sr71plt]

That is one of the more heinous apostrophe abuses.

And I continually run along behind myself trying to clean it up in my own writing--so I don't think the cure is learnable.