Apostrophes or is it apostrophe's?

[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.

[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 ...

[KnottedYet]

I admire someone much more for what they have to say than how they say it.

(and some people I find disgust me for the exact same reason)

I like her idea's and I think shes a valuable member of this forum and her post's add a lot more than some folks's.
I'm tired of the perennial grammar lesson's whenever she return's to TE.

[jobob]

So I'm going to have a cow if this topic comes up for a FOURTH TIME when she begin's posting after a long absen'se. Three is my limit. I've reached my limit.

Seems like you had that cow already if the last four (or was it five?) previous versions of this post were any indication.

Correction, six.

[KnottedYet]

Oh, cool, I'm someone's hobby!

What a warm feeling that gives me! My very own stalker!

Yes, more than that. Maybe 10 or 12 versions by now. How do I say what I want with just that right touch of righteous indignation, the right level of gutter repulsion, the right firmness defending someone I really like who keeps getting slammed for the same damn (meaningless) thing over and over again?

I'm glad you enjoy the show. Maybe I'll change it a few more times.

Stay tuned!

[ClockworkOrange]

I have met many people over the years who are dyslexic, also people on other forums and although I totally agree with the OP, we still have to remember this is only a forum and it would be a shame to put anybody off from posting, for fear of being ridiculed.

PS Only just noticed this, love it.

Oh, cool, I'm someone's hobby!

[OakLeaf]

Well, y'know, right at this very moment we have the other thread going on about people who give well-meaning but unsolicited advice about diet.

The consensus in that thread is that although it's really tempting to give that sort of advice, it's also extremely inappropriate, and very hurtful to the person on the receiving end.

The difference would be ....... ?

[zoom-zoom]

A local politician just used who's instead of whose on his FB page - more than once in a post. It makes me cringe. I like the guy, but it's hard to take seriously an educated person with such a weak handle on basic grammar.