question for grammar grinches

[Geonz]

... how would you spell "dos and don'ts?"

(I just can't believe it would be "do's and don'ts" or do's and dont's)...

[mimitabby]

... how would you spell "dos and don'ts?"

(I just can't believe it would be "do's and don'ts" or do's and dont's)...

I like do's and don'ts myself.
You put the apostrophe after the O in "do" because otherwise it looks like DOS.
with don'ts.. you don't have to. I think.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Merriam-Webster online shows the plural of do as either dos or do's.

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/dos

It appears that this is a case without a right (or wrong) answer!

--- Denise

[Bad JuJu]

Yes, this is one of those situations in which you just have to make a choice and stick with it--do be consistent. And if you do choose to add the apostrophe before the -s, you still have to include the contraction apostrophe in don't's (just as I've written it).

If you're asking because of a work issue, be aware that many companies that deal in writing have official style manuals, where these questions might be answered. Or then again, they might not.

This question reminds me of a child's TV show I used to watch when I was pre-kindergarten age, where the teacher/hostess did a little skit with bumblebee puppets. It was called "Do Be a Do-Bee, Don't Be a Don't-Bee." Funny what our brains file away for future reference, isn't it?

[Kano]

This question reminds me of a child's TV show I used to watch when I was pre-kindergarten age, where the teacher/hostess did a little skit with bumblebee puppets. It was called "Do Be a Do-Bee, Don't Be a Don't-Bee." Funny what our brains file away for future reference, isn't it?

Romper Room with Miss Betty!

I remember too!

Karen in Boise

[KnottedYet]

Romper Room with Miss Betty!

I remember too!

Karen in Boise

Was she the one with the magic mirror that could see you? And she'd be lookin' through the dammm thing (no glass), saying kids' names?

That sumbich freaked me right out!

[KnottedYet]

I kinda run by the rule that you put an "e" after "o" for plurals (like in tomatoes and potatoes) but "does" means lots of female deers or the singular 3rd person verb-form of "do." So you dump the "e" and put in an apostrophe to hold its place.

Of course, if English were a purely phonetic written language, all this would be moot.

Have you ever notice how much "apostrophe" resembles "catastrophe"? And it often is...



Knot-the-warped-literature-major-child-of-a-long-line-of-librarians

[kelownagirl]

I kinda run by the rule that you put an "e" after "o" for plurals (like in tomatoes and potatoes) but "does" means lots of female deers or the singular 3rd person verb-form of "do." So you dump the "e" and put in an apostrophe to hold its place.

Of course, if English were a purely phonetic written language, all this would be moot.

Have you ever notice how much "apostrophe" resembles "catastrophe"? And it often is...



Knot-the-warped-literature-major-child-of-a-long-line-of-librarians

I am always wondering about numbers. When we say we are taking the Grade 3's I always put an apostrophe but someone told that is wrong. 3s just looks stupid.