BDOTGNZA work programme for 2008

**rwh** · 14th December 2006, 16:00

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Gahhhh! Apostrophes have NOTHING to do with plurals. They're about POSSESSION. And not by demons or the ghosts of the illiterate.

Except that you do need to move it when it's a possession of a plural, which I think is what he was talking about ... (eg the bikes' tyres vs. the bike's tyres)

[Edit: Oops. I'm a bit late. Sorry.]

My favourite hates are alternate/alternative, affect/effect and licence/license.

Though what's worse is when I realise I'm being infected, and I wan't to put an apostrophe in some totally absurd place ...

Richard

**ManDownUnder** · 14th December 2006, 16:14

What's with the apostrophe in "won't"

should it not be willn't?

**jrandom** · 14th December 2006, 16:24

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

should it not be willn't?

No; it should be wo'n't, same as can't should be ca'n't. In fact, you'll find that the current Penguin edition of Alice in Wonderland reverts to both.

Edit: In fact, I'm talking out my arse. AiW only uses ca'n't. "Wo'n't" is a fig of my h'imagination.

**ManDownUnder** · 14th December 2006, 16:28

Originally Posted by Fish

No; it should be wo'n't, same as can't should be ca'n't. In fact, you'll find that the current Penguin edition of Alice in Wonderland reverts to both.

Edit: In fact, I'm talking out my arse. AiW only uses ca'n't. "Wo'n't" is a fig of my h'imagination.

oooOOOoooo now that's interesting... not that I care enough to remember... but then it's quirky enough to stick.

**xwhatsit** · 14th December 2006, 16:34

Lewis Carroll always did some weird things with his wurdses. He used mountains of apotrophes; some other writer I can't remember the same of was wont to leave them out instead. English isn't as sacred as Japanese; I would say it's more Cantonesey than Mandarinny.

**Disco Dan** · 14th December 2006, 16:35

I dont get this? Hitcher are you a teacher??

Heck, im in my second year of my teaching degree... your looking at an emerging teacher that barely spells better than the primary children I am planning to teach!

meh, should be a laugh I suppose

**jrandom** · 14th December 2006, 16:38

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

I dont get this? ...
Heck, im in my second year of my teaching degree... your looking at an emerging teacher that barely spells better...

May God have mercy upon your soul.

For what we are about to receive...

**Ixion** · 14th December 2006, 16:38

Nay, he is a serpent. A civil serpent, paid by TPTB to do what civil serpents have done so well since the time of Genesis.Politely. But mr Hitcher still has legs, they have not caught up with him yet.

**Mom** · 14th December 2006, 16:40

Originally Posted by Squeak the Rat

Those dialects are nasty beasties.

I was taught to never use the word got. Any use of this in a school exam automatically got you a deduction from your final mark.

I was born in Canada, and raised here in NZ by a Mother with a degree in Literature and English (also Canadian) and a Scots father. No hope for me really however, my Mom (mother) forbade the use of EH/AYE or anything sounding remotely like the first letter of the alphabet at the end of a sentence......must admit it was not easy, I still do it sometimes...sigh

My step-daughter texts as she speaks, which certainly makes for interesting reading at times

**MSTRS:Me** · 14th December 2006, 17:04

Originally Posted by rwh

Except that you do need to move it when it's a possession of a plural, which I think is what he was talking about ... (eg the bikes' tyres vs. the bike's tyres)

Late? Perhaps. But in the pursuit of a proper understanding of the English language, it is never too late.
You are (you're) right as long as you understand that both 'bike' and 'tyre' is/are (choose which one is correct) plural. If the possessed is singular, then I believe the apostrophe of the plural possessors reverts to before the ess.

**Mr. Peanut** · 14th December 2006, 17:20

Gentlemen, I bring you the pyramid of needs. As you may or may not know, I am currently in the red zone.

You seem to be in a zone which is above and beyond the pyramid itself, so insignificant that it does not merit area.

Way too much time on your hands.

**SPman** · 14th December 2006, 17:20

Verily, I say unto yous, we should come down hard on certain people who swap avatars - 'tis most confusing when you're in a hurry and fast scrolling...

**rwh** · 14th December 2006, 17:41

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Late? Perhaps. But in the pursuit of a proper understanding of the English language, it is never too late.
You are (you're) right as long as you understand that both 'bike' and 'tyre' is/are (choose which one is correct) plural. If the possessed is singular, then I believe the apostrophe of the plural possessors reverts to before the ess.

If the possessed is singular? You mean as in "the bikes' track" where one track belongs to multiple bikes? Are you suggesting that it should be "the bike's track" ? That seems wrong to me. It's a pretty contrived example though; perhaps "the bikes' exhaust" (meaning the gas from a group ride) would be better. "the bike's exhaust" still doesn't seem right.

Richard