Apostrophes or is it apostrophe's?

[7rider]

Can't you add it to the spell checker?

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't.

[carlotta]

My English teacher as a sophomore in HS was quite into grammar.... we spent eons learning 6 or 8 rules for comma usage (and semicolons, etc.) and it was absolutely miserable. There were also large chunks of class devoted to writing intro/concluding paragraphs of essays (also miserable).

I wish I knew where to find her now (she retired a year or two after I graduated) so I could THANK HER, thousands and thousands of times.

I've never had to think about comma usage, and I am a much better writer for the year I spent in her class. I also wish I could find those rules so I could share them with a number of grad students and PhD's that I work with....

[indysteel]

Make that PhDs.

Not to make an example out of you, but it's another way I see apostrophes being misused. Acronyms are no different than any other word on how to make them plural.

[Irulan]

I struggle with comma use, especially in technical writing. DH has me read his reports before he sends them out. I have found a few good websites and bookmarked them for reference.

Its and it's is another confusing one.

I, for one, appreciate this discussion.

[carlotta]

I knew I'd make a mistake in that post... but I think most traditionalists would argue that it's really Ph.D.s

Or is it Ph.Ds.?

[indysteel]

I knew I'd make a mistake in that post... but I think most traditionalists would argue that it's really Ph.D.s

Or is it Ph.Ds.?

Beats me. In all fairness, there is some dispute as to whether certain acronyms, e.g., those with periods, and usages like "the 1980s" should take an apostrophe. I, personally, prefer them without because it seems more consistent with the other rules on apostrophe use. Whichever rule you follow, just be consistent in any given communication.

[bluebug32]

Beats me. In all fairness, there is some dispute as to whether certain acronyms, e.g., those with periods, and usages like "the 1980s" should take an apostrophe. I, personally, prefer them without because it seems more consistent with the other rules on apostrophe use. Whichever rule you follow, just be consistent in any given communication.

Most of these types of questions depend on the style book you're referring to.

[yellow]

Grammar Girl!

She has great articles about apostrophes, then/than, effect/affect, and the like.

I often feel I need therapy to deal with my reaction to apostrophe abuse and what seems to be an up-and-coming victim: the ellipsis. I have a co-worker who is unable to use a single period in her writing. She separates all sentences with an ellipsis (and generally adds one to the end of a sentence). I think she's trying to say that all of her thoughts--all of them--are unfinished and she is unsure. All I know is that I cannot take her seriously. In the last several years I have noticed a lot more ellipsis abuse, especially associated with casual writing in email and in forums. OK, fine. But DO NOT USE ELLIPSES IN PLACE OF REAL PUNCTUATION IN EMAILS THAT GO TO CLIENTS! Not that I feel strongly about it or anything.

[indysteel]

Most of these types of questions depend on the style book you're referring to.

Yes, I know. It's too bad that the correct standard isn't more settled. It seems needlessly confusing.

[goldfinch]

I think some of the rules are unnecessarily complex. For example, the whole lie, lay, laid, and lain thing should be tossed out and redone.

I am not fond of "that" and "which" either.

So there!

But at least our words don't have genders. Seems like a silly concept when you aren't born to it.

[jessmarimba]

I wish whoever authors our templates at work could learn punctuation in relation to quotation marks. It looks so funny to me to see commas following an end-quote. I correct them for my personal reports but most people don't mess with template language (since it's supposed to be standard).

I think the templates are probably maintained by the same manager who ALWAYS uses an apostrophe to pluralize things. I've suggested we ought to contract to a real live editor (or similar) to give our report language a once-over, as I find it hard to take someone's work seriously when it isn't presented professionally, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone else on staff.

[Veronica]

I think some of the rules are unnecessarily complex. For example, the whole lie, lay, laid, and lain thing should be tossed out and redone.

This gives my fifth graders fits! I try to approach it with which one needs a direct object. You lay "something" down. Or you, yourself, lie down and take a nap.


Of course once you move into the past tense, all bets are off.

Veronica

[goldfinch]

This gives my fifth graders fits! I try to approach it with which one needs a direct object. You lay "something" down. Or you, yourself, lie down and take a nap.


Of course once you move into the past tense, all bets are off.

Veronica

Yup. My feeling is to drop lay as the past tense of lie.

[bluebug32]

Yes, I know. It's too bad that the correct standard isn't more settled. It seems needlessly confusing.

It is. At least most of my jobs have followed the Chicago Manual of style.

[OakLeaf]

the ellipsis

Am I still allowed to use it in forum posts?

I consider this sort of medium as pretty much the ultimate in informality ... emoticons and all ...