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27 Jul 06 - 04:09 AM (#1794320) Subject: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo How many errors can you find in the attached? http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g224/dazbo_44/van.jpg |
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27 Jul 06 - 04:11 AM (#1794322) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo Whoops! Van 2 |
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27 Jul 06 - 04:23 AM (#1794327) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Paul Burke He left out the astrophope in removal's! |
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27 Jul 06 - 04:34 AM (#1794332) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: John MacKenzie It gets him noticed by the pedants! [Not that I am anti grammar and punctuation] G. |
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27 Jul 06 - 04:41 AM (#1794336) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Dave Hanson Only one, opening this thread. eric |
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27 Jul 06 - 05:24 AM (#1794348) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Mr Happy Wot's an 'astrophope'? |
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27 Jul 06 - 05:45 AM (#1794356) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Paul Burke Its pnuctaution. |
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27 Jul 06 - 06:41 AM (#1794390) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: John MacKenzie That like punct rockers? |
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27 Jul 06 - 06:47 AM (#1794395) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Emma B Is his name Davie BTW? |
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27 Jul 06 - 07:00 AM (#1794402) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo I certainly belive there should be an 'astrophope' (and another s depending on your usage) there. The one place it needed one it's missing (I believe this omission is common practice in the US in naming places and organisations - it's creeping in over here, grrrr!!). |
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27 Jul 06 - 07:08 AM (#1794407) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Purple Foxx Apostrophes placed where they are not needed are known as "Greengrocer's apostrophes" due to the reputed tendency of these particular tradesmen to make this error when advertising their wares (Potato's,Tomato's etc) |
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27 Jul 06 - 08:21 AM (#1794456) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo Although to me Potato's and Tomato's are actually a correct usage as here the apostrophe is replacing the e in both words i.e. potatoes and tomatoes rather than the 's making them plural. |
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27 Jul 06 - 09:48 AM (#1794518) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Dave the Gnome Davies's, day's D'ave the G'nome |
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27 Jul 06 - 10:43 AM (#1794563) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Q (Frank Staplin) Removalses? |
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27 Jul 06 - 11:39 AM (#1794609) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: katlaughing Reminds me of old Mrs. Worcester, my Latin and English teacher. She was quite strict; quoting advertising slogans as examples of incorrect grammar. I can still hear her saying "Winston tastes good AS a cigarette should, not LIKE!" Imagine a teacher using a cigarette commercial as an example nowadays! She'd be rolling over if she heard newscasters, etc. today...I often hear misuse of "as" and "like." |
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27 Jul 06 - 11:40 AM (#1794610) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Peace I think the paint job on the van is gauche. That shade of blue in the lettering definitely clashes with the red. The rear of the vehicle is simply TOO busy. |
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27 Jul 06 - 12:31 PM (#1794647) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Bill D The man's name might BE "Davies", but I doubt it. If it is, there needs to be an apostrophe AFTER Davies'. |
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27 Jul 06 - 12:51 PM (#1794672) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Bee-dubya-ell The possessive case rule for names ending in "s" as it was taught to me many years ago: What we need to realize from square one is that though possessive case and plural number are indicated in writing by the letter "s", in speech they're indicated by the sound of the letter "z". And it's the sound the letter "s" carries in a name that determines how the possesive is formed. If the name ends in a "hard s" (sound of the letter "s") as in "Davis", the possessive is formed using an apostrophe plus "s". ("Davis's") If the named ends in a "soft s" (sound of the letter "z") as in "Davies", the possessive is formed using an apostrophe as if it were plural. ("Davies'") General rule: If a name sounds like a plural word, make it possessive by using the same rule as used for plurals. Having said all that, nobody is going to shoot you for talking about Mr. Davis' cat. |
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28 Jul 06 - 04:31 AM (#1795228) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo That's not the way I was taught it at Grammar School, BWL. All singular names are 's (with some biblical exceptions for reason I could never remember) All plurals that don't end in an s are 's. Plurals that end in an s are '. |
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28 Jul 06 - 04:37 AM (#1795232) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Wilfried Schaum Oh my |
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28 Jul 06 - 05:00 AM (#1795241) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Folkiedave Excue me I am from South Yorkshire and that is Sheffield Town Hall in the background. I can see nothing wrong with what he has written there - it's the way everyone punctuates around here. (or its' as we normally write) I shall take a picture of my local favourite furniture shop which has the lovely sign: "This weeks managers special offer" with no punctuation. Does that make up for the van? |
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28 Jul 06 - 05:08 AM (#1795246) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Paul Burke Why not a tax on apostrophe's? |
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28 Jul 06 - 05:12 AM (#1795248) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,CrazyEddie Why not an apostrophe on taxe's? |
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28 Jul 06 - 05:24 AM (#1795255) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: catspaw49 What's the plural possessive for penis? Spaw |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:24 AM (#1795295) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: GUEST,Dazbo Well if you're lucky enough to have two then you can make your own rules up! |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:32 AM (#1795300) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: JennyO penii's? |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:38 AM (#1795302) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: John MacKenzie Prickseses? |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:38 AM (#1795303) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: gnu The crux of the biscuit is the apostrope. (Frank Zappa) |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:48 AM (#1795307) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: bobad STACY BROWN GOT TWO Have you hard about Stacy Brown? He got every chick in town. He got looks, he got class... Do anything to get a little lass. And everybody shout at him as he walks his girlies past... Everybody got one Everybody got one Everyboy got one But Stacy Brown got two. Do you know the reason for his success? They say that he is double blessed They say that Stacy Brown was born Just a little bit deformed But still his girlfriends wake up smilin' every morn. Everybody got one Everybody got one Everyboy got one But Stacy Brown got two Why they climbing up the wall? Young ones run and old ones crawl. He got two and that's a fact, But no one knows where the other one's at. On his elbow, on his knee, or underneath his hat? Everybody got one Everybody got one Everyboy got one But Stacy Brown got two Shel Silverstein |
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28 Jul 06 - 06:55 AM (#1795313) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: John MacKenzie The jungles swarm with green apostrophes here Giok |
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28 Jul 06 - 08:30 AM (#1795358) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: catspaw49 Penes' I knew a guy had FIVE!!! His condoms fit him like a glove........ Spaw |
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28 Jul 06 - 08:39 AM (#1795365) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: HuwG "Covering all South Yorkshire", with what ? |
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28 Jul 06 - 10:00 AM (#1795406) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Uncle_DaveO Actually, "Davies Removals" is a problem because we don't know what the original name is, that is, we don't know whether "Davies" is in itself a family name or whether it's intended to be a possessive. And then, if it's, say, a family name, it may or may not take an apostrophe. Example: Suppose there's a removal company owned by a fellow named Jones. If the intent is to show that this is the company owned by Jones rather than the other one that's owned by Davies, there are two possibilities. The preferable one is "Jones's Removals", but many will render it as "Jones' Removals". On the other hand, the intent may not be possessive at all, and the parallel may be "Smith Removals", where "Smith" is rendered as an adjective. If that is the intent, the usage on the van would be correct. Dave Oesterreich |
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28 Jul 06 - 10:13 AM (#1795419) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: JennyO On the other hand, maybe they remove Davies. So what ARE Davies? |
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28 Jul 06 - 10:40 AM (#1795439) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: gnu But, "Jones Removals" could be a sex change surgeon's practice. |
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28 Jul 06 - 11:32 AM (#1795473) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Bill D someone in the UK..please call Davies and ask!~ *grin* (I have a book on woodturning by a man in the UK - with pictures - and explanations that are very awkward to read. He seems to scatter apostrophes...and especially commas....at random. Sometimes there will be extra ones in a sentence; sometimes none where I'd expect some. It's almost as if he recorded his explanation for each picture, and then some editor tried to reproduce exactly all the pauses & inflections. The written word NEEDS more care than just casual conversation does, as we have fewer clues about meaning. I know, I know....there is not much doubt in a sign on a van, (except for the exact surname) but not punctuating accurately is still jarring for many of us.) |
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28 Jul 06 - 03:31 PM (#1795628) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Liz the Squeak I once pointed out to Selfridges (before they went all hip and Chavvie) that they had a 'not moving' section rather than a selection of cards, writing paper and envelopes. LTS |
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28 Jul 06 - 04:46 PM (#1795691) Subject: RE: BS: How Many Errors? From: Jim Dixon There seems to be a difference between British and American practice when making plurals out of numerals, single letters, or abbreviations. Americans would write: Two CD's The 1970's There are two 7's in 1776. There are two L's in HELLO. --while Britons would omit the apostrophe. I don't know how this got started, but it is not an error and it is not meant to be possessive. I first started thinking about this when my visiting sister-in-law (born in America but a 20-year resident of England) pointed it out thinking it was an error. Evidently she has lived in Britain so long, she forgot what standard American practice was. (Or maybe she never learned it.) Anyway, on reflection, I decided to adopt British practice because it makes more sense, at least in my personal writing. (I don't write for publication anyway.) I don't see anything wrong with adopting a nonstandard practice if you are doing it deliberately (as opposed to out of ignorance) in an attempt to make your own language more rational and consistent. |
