Comments on: When to Form a Plural with an Apostrophe http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:07:21 -0500 hourly 1 By: Droqen http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/comment-page-1/#comment-220390 Droqen Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:43:39 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2571#comment-220390 Paul: "it is" has nothing to do with the contradiction. "its" seems to be a contradiction, but it lies within the realm of pronoun possessives, other examples being: my, his, her, their, your. The construction "noun's" is only used in the case of more specific nouns. In the same way that you say "its" and not "it's", you say "my" and not "me's"/"I's"; "your" and not "you's". Also, "the boys books titles capitalization" has eight possible, ambiguous cases :D (The boy's book's titles' capitalization is the case of a boy with a book which has multiple titles. The boys' books' title's capitalization is the case of some boys with some books which may share a title, or have a single title to refer to all of them. etc.) Paul: “it is” has nothing to do with the contradiction.

“its” seems to be a contradiction, but it lies within the realm of pronoun possessives, other examples being: my, his, her, their, your.

The construction “noun’s” is only used in the case of more specific nouns. In the same way that you say “its” and not “it’s”, you say “my” and not “me’s”/”I’s”; “your” and not “you’s”.

Also, “the boys books titles capitalization”
has eight possible, ambiguous cases :D

(The boy’s book’s titles’ capitalization is the case of a boy with a book which has multiple titles. The boys’ books’ title’s capitalization is the case of some boys with some books which may share a title, or have a single title to refer to all of them. etc.)

]]> By: Paul http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/comment-page-1/#comment-194696 Paul Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:23:36 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2571#comment-194696 I am grammatically challenged but, its -possessive it's - it is contradicts the possessive rules, no? I am grammatically challenged but,

its -possessive
it’s – it is

contradicts the possessive rules, no?

]]> By: Beverly http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/comment-page-1/#comment-183627 Beverly Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:31:30 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2571#comment-183627 How seemingly simple, to eradicate apostrophe abuses by abolishing it! What is so difficult about understanding possessions and contractions? What is so difficult about understanding singular and pleural? How seemingly simple, to eradicate apostrophe abuses by abolishing it! What is so difficult about understanding possessions and contractions? What is so difficult about understanding singular and pleural?

]]> By: Niall http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/comment-page-1/#comment-181268 Niall Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:30:03 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2571#comment-181268 As an irritatingly pedantic professional writer, it is a great relief to find a website where I can vent my frustrations. I know I'm coming late to this conversation, but I really wanted to add that I recently had the same thought myself: it's hopeless trying to save the apostrophe from its ubiquitous/iniquitous abuse. Better to simply abolish it. The difference between 'the boys books' and 'the boys books' would be obvious from the context, and if it weren't, a small effort would make it obvious. The apostrophe today is like a hangnail - we only notice it when it snags on something and then it hurts like hell. As an irritatingly pedantic professional writer, it is a great relief to find a website where I can vent my frustrations.

I know I’m coming late to this conversation, but I really wanted to add that I recently had the same thought myself: it’s hopeless trying to save the apostrophe from its ubiquitous/iniquitous abuse. Better to simply abolish it.

The difference between ‘the boys books’ and ‘the boys books’ would be obvious from the context, and if it weren’t, a small effort would make it obvious. The apostrophe today is like a hangnail – we only notice it when it snags on something and then it hurts like hell.

]]> By: Randell http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-form-a-plural-with-an-apostrophe/comment-page-1/#comment-160888 Randell Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:55:05 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2571#comment-160888 What is the plural form of the grades A-, A+, B+, etc.? What is the plural form of the grades A-, A+, B+, etc.?

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