Ladymuck

RosieH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Huguenot, lovely Huguenot, sometimes you really > are a freak of nature. Sometimes?

Loved it!(tu)

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It also lead to this rather clever assertion from > one anonymouse commentator a pedantic rodent?

Ha ha! You are, in all likelihood, not going to believe this Mr. H, but I thought you might say as much! Indeed, it is for that reason I decided to use the wotsits ("). Do they not make a difference? Anyway, while you grace us with your presence, you wouldn't happen to know whether the second "h" of "Ha ha" above should be a capital letter? My pea-brain says no, but my eyes tell me it looks peculiar in lower case. Louisiana? Santerme? Any other forum pedants? (*gives big fat cheeky grin*).

*glances at watch* Well "hello" Huguenot. You took your time:))!

louisiana Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Am I not a pedant, LM? :) Well, you are definitely not one of those who inspired this thread (sorry to disappoint!). In fact, bizarrely, they have all stayed away. However, having read your various posts (and learned from them too) on here - I guess you must be;-)! I shall certainly keep a special eye out on your posts in future...:)) Out of interest, which other languages do you speak?

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > this by no means absolves me from the guilt > of bed spilling... :-S

Narnia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think you've just outed yourself as a top class > pedant (in denial)! I have just banged my head reading that highly comical post. *rubs head* Sooooooo funny! (The post - not the bang on the head)

Interesting. So, to summarise: it is always correct to write Prince Charles' Garden(s) unless Charlie himself (or his staff) refer/s to his garden(s) as Prince Charles's. Even I can understand that! You've made my day Louisiana. Thank you so much. Now, back to pedants on the EDF...funny how they've kept away from this thread - well, apart from the incorrigible Narnia!:))

louisiana Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Prince Charles' garden is always correct. You have no idea just how relieved I am to hear that! > Some publications - such as The Currant Bun - may, > however, regard this form as affected and > unnecessarily challenging for their readers. > You'll find out more in the style guide, if the > publication has one; this will invariably include > instructions on dealing with proper noun > possessives. Essentially it has become a matter of > house style. > > The main issue is consistency. You should not use > one form in the body and the other in the > headline, as I have just spotted in one > publication, or both forms in the same > publication. Thanks Louisiana. So what about Nashoi's mention of St. James's Park then? Is that, by implication, incorrect? Or is it permissible albeit a bit odd? Moreover, would you utilise the extra "s"?

nashoi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- The apostrophe > is either replacing the e of the possessive es of > old english or both the e and the s. *pea-brain goes into melt-down*

dita-on-tees Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am a great > parker... What I would give to be able to park a car in less than 6 manoeuvres (now there's a word - always have to think about that one).

Yes, but what about Charlie and his garden(s)?

DJKillaQueen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Err license is how Americans English spells it. > Licence is Queen's English. Both spellings are > therefore correct. I thought L with an "s" referred to the verb whilst L with a "c" referred to the noun. No? Have I been using incorrect spelling all this time?:-S *scratches pea-brain*

No you're not...far from it (and I mean that)...I was just being an irritating pedant...(but it was meant in good humour - honest xxx) And still no-one has come back with an answer to my great dilemma. Maybe the forum's pedants aren't so clever after all - when put to the test?

Hmmmm...I remain none the wiser on Charlie's Garden(s) :-S Someone must know this.

PS: I may not have had 100 driving lessons, but hubby did end up with bruising to his right arm and a ripped thumb fingernail when teaching me!:-$ And I still cannot park in small spaces...actually...I can't park in massive spaces either! Much prefer bikes! Keep at it sweetie...you'll be bloomin brilliant when you do pass.

dita-on-tees Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ah well least you haven't had 100 driving lessons > plus, and still no bloody license... Sorry sweetie...I just CANNOT resist this...but I think it's licence! Please forgive me...the temptation is TOO great. You know I love you really!:))

Actually, whilst on the subject of grammar could I pick the brains of some of you. I have a problem with apostrophes in this situation: Prince Charles' garden. Is that correct? Or should there be a second "s"? I.e. Prince Charles's garden. The internet is split on this. I always feel there should be a second "s", but think it looks odd and therefore tend to omit it. Is there an uber-pedant out there who knows the correct answer to something which has been bothering me for years?

Good for you Quids...so long as you can manage to write "100" or multiples thereof...that's fine by me... Incidentally, I notice you always manage to spell "tosser" correctly...funny that:))

DJKillaQueen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You are not anything like as thick as three planks > LM! Six? LOL!

Narnia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I hate to be pedantic LM but you just contradicted > your opening post! Ha ha! Indeed! It's true though - I generally find most of the pedants on here genuinely witty. It's the motive behind the post that is important here. Incidentally, did you really "hate" being pedantic just now? Hmmmm....;-) Edited to inform Narnia that I have now edited my opening post.

dita-on-tees Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I find posters who correct other poster's grammar > thoroughly obnoxious. Grammar is badly taught > these days and not everybody has had access to an > education which gives confidence in using the > English language. I didn't learn how to use a > comma until I was around 22, and I confess I still > struggle at times. Pointing out the grammatical > mistakes in a post always feels like a superior > swipe and suggests that what the poster has to say > is somewhat less important than a misplaced dot. I > got 10 pages into that Lynne Truss book and > thought, hmm life is way too short for this poo. Well Dita, I failed my English Language O Level four times before I eventually passed. In fact I obtained all of my qualifications (bar French O Level) whilst attending evening classes/working full time:-$ as I left school at 16. Still as thick as 3 planks:-S.

I agree that, where the motive of a pedant's post is purely to belittle another poster, it can make unpleasant reading. But where it is done with charm and humour, it can provide much amusement. I've had many a laugh over a pedant's observation - even where the comment has been directed at moi.

Pearson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > care to expand a little... > Is that pedantic? No that's not pedantic - though it might suggest that you need to work on expanding your vocabulary LOL. Either that or I need to express myself more clearly.