The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5973   Message #34861
Posted By: Ireland O'Reilly
14-Aug-98 - 03:55 PM
Thread Name: pedantry
Subject: RE: pedantry
and Nova Scotia... :)

g-dropping is a world-wide phenomenon among English-speakers. Linguistically (verbally, that is) this form is accepted, athough often viewed as nonstandard. In writing, howevef, g-dropping is generally frowned upon, unless used to show colloquialism in written dialogue. By some writers and writing instructors, though, even this latter use is seen as unacceptable.

Language is constantly evolving though, and so someday, g-dropping may no longer be considered "g-dropping", but may actually become a standard spelling convention.

Abbreviations do tend to "lose" their apostrophes after a very short period of time (if they ever had them at all). In modern English, we no longer write 'flu for "influenza" or 'phone for "telephone". To my knowledge, there have never been apostrophes associated with "info", "recap", "auto", "fridge", or "rehab" and these are all, as you know, abbreviations. I agree that the absence of the apostrophe diminishes the confusion. as I said before, "bio's" would denote "belonging to bio", just as "fridge's" would denote "belonging to the fridge" or "of the fridge".

In any case, it is a period (.) that should signal abbreviations, not an apostrophe. Note: Ont. (Ontario); Can. (Canada); ex. (example); etc. (et cetera)...

Well, now that this pedantic has had her say, it's time to go.

Cheer's :) (i couldnt resist!) :>

Ireland'