Apostrophe use and capitals.

[Skyryder]

So you are doing some writing and want to start the sentence where an apostrophe is used in place of the letter.


‘bout ……….for about

In this example it is the spoken word and is the start of a sentence where capitals are used. So which is correct for

“About time you cut the firewood



“’Bout time you cut the firewood.” or
“’bout time you cut the firewood.”


I can not find any examples in my English usage books nor can I find any exemptions where an apostrophe can not be used in front of the word such as I have given.

I hold the view that the second version is the correct one not only on the basis that it looks better but as it is an incomplete word by the use of the apostrophe for the missing letter that would in normal usage require a capitol.

Anyone know different on this


Skyryder

[ManDownUnder]

Hitchers the one that know's about apostrophie's. Id wait for im'!

[ManDownUnder]

See here for a fine example of this exact situation

http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/j...bberwocky.html

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

[Skyryder]

See here for a fine example of this exact situation

http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/j...bberwocky.html

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Seems right but god knows what the rest means.



Skyryder

[Swoop]

Id wait for im'!

Sureley "I'd wait for 'im"...

[Hitcher]

Fortunately the situation as outlined doesn't occur that often!

It is generally regarded as bad form to start any piece of writing with quotated speech. Journalism particularly frowns on that practice. That doesn't mean that doing so is "wrong", rather that there are generally better ways of leading a reader into a particular story.

Personally, if I had to start a paragraph with a contraction that needed to be contained in quotes, I would dispense with the apostrophe.

And an ellipsis (the punctuation mark) only has three dots...

[MSTRS:Me]

Sureley "I'd wait for 'im"...

Surely he is

In answer to the original question...one always starts a sentence with a capital. The apostrophe replaces (in this case) the first letter of the first word, so the next letter in line becomes the first letter by default and therefore needs to be capitalised. The apostrophe is not a letter so doesn't count as such for this exercise.

[ManDownUnder]

Hitchers the one that know's about apostrophie's. Id wait for im'!

Sureley "I'd wait for 'im"...

To paraphrase Meatloaf "...2 out of 5 ain't bad..."

[MSTRS:Me]

'Ere 'Itcher, wha' you on abart?

[Swoop]

To paraphrase Meatloaf "...2 out of 5 ain't bad..."

There you have it folks. Evidence that males should not even try to multi-task...
Especially today.

[Big Dave]

"'E's proposing 'self expression', by the book?" intoned Big Dave incredulously for comedic effect.

[Skyryder]

Surely he is

In answer to the original question...one always starts a sentence with a capital. The apostrophe replaces (in this case) the first letter of the first word, so the next letter in line becomes the first letter by default and therefore needs to be capitalised. The apostrophe is not a letter so doesn't count as such for this exercise.

‘Ppreaciate that. Just don’t look right though.


Skyryder

[Skyryder]

"'E's proposing 'self expression', by the book?" intoned Big Dave incredulously for comedic effect.

Clever word play.

[klingon]

Well! Thanks for asking the question, Skyryder. And thanks for your carefully considered responses everyone. I had never even thought about this situation, and now I know the answer.

[bungbung]

"'E's proposing 'self expression', by the book?" intoned Big Dave incredulously for comedic effect.

"Self expression" as practised by an owner-operator