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]

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

[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!

[Bikingmomof3]

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!

That is the show.

[five one]

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?

I remember being so disappointed each day because she NEVER "saw" me. She only saw Linda, Bobby, Kathy, Tommy, Karen and a million Debbie's. Never Virginia. Sigh...

[uforgot]

Romper, Stomper, Bomper Boo
Tell me Tell me Tell me who.
Magic Mirror, tell me today,
Have all my friends come out to play?
I see...

Not sure where THAT came from. Why do I remember that but I can't remember where I laid my car keys an hour ago?

[uforgot]

I remember being so disappointed each day because she NEVER "saw" me. She only saw Linda, Bobby, Kathy, Tommy, Karen and a million Debbie's. Never Virginia. Sigh...

You had to call in and request your name be said. She did say Claudia once and my mom made sure I was watching. Apparently, since I can quote the rhyme, I always watched. That and "Ding Dong School". Anyone remember that one? Go ahead and laugh at the name, but no one was big and purple.

[five one]

HA! No wonder. I'm sure my mother wouldn't have known to call in a request. Guess I can put that childhood angst to rest now.

I do remember Ding Dong School. Miss Frances -(?) - advertised Sweetheart soap. I never got that either! Captain Kangaroo was always my favorite, though. Loved Mr. Moose and the ping pong balls . Today's kid's programming is sure different now. Glad my kids are grown up.

Sorry about the thread drift. Back to grammar now...

[mimitabby]

me too me too!

and I was on the Howdy Doody show! All i can remember about it now
was sitting on bleachers and getting ice cream.

[Bad JuJu]

I'm SO glad I'm not the only one whose memory dredges up stuff like this. I remember the magic mirror too, and Captain Kangaroo--my fave character was Bunny Rabbit. And of course, "It's Howdy Doody Time!"

But do any of you remember Andy Divine's TV show for kids? I don't remember the title of it, but I remember he had a magic frog character, called, appropriately, Froggy. And Andy would say, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" and flash-bang, Froggy would appear. What's not to love about that?

[Bikingmomof3]

I remember being so disappointed each day because she NEVER "saw" me. She only saw Linda, Bobby, Kathy, Tommy, Karen and a million Debbie's. Never Virginia. Sigh...

Me either and my name was supposed to be the #1 baby girls name. I remember being so disappointed that she never "saw" me. *sigh*