Apostrophe police

[willow]

Is is just me or does anyone else get really, really irritated by flagrant displays of poor grammar in places that really should know better. I realise that I'm turning into one of those smug middle class types, or worse still my mother, but is it really so hard to know when to use an apostrophe?? So there's a certain chemist on Melbourne Grove that offers passport photo's (not sure whose photos they are) and a certain adventure playground in Peckham Rye that is open on Sunday's.

Name and shame I say. Sorry if it really is just me!

[womanofdulwich]

I assume you have already read "Eats shoots and leaves" it comes with a set of apostrophe stickers etc.

[Frankito]

My favouite is Dulwich Caf'e at the top of Forest Hill Rd. Funnily enough, after selling two egg rolls and some filter coffee, they closed.... Probably due to bad grammar....

[Atticus]

The above book is nothing short of pompous! I'm all for good grammar but when it's used as a means of overt snobbery, it stinks.

Truss has very little in life to worry about if the odd apostrophe here and there is enough to bring her to her knees. Standards must be kept etc but many shop-signs for example, might have been written by people who didn't benefit from the same kind of education she had.

[*Bob*]

womanofdulwich Wrote:

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> I assume you have already read "Eats shoots and

> leaves" it comes with a set of apostrophe stickers

> etc.

There aren't many books which make you want to go on a murderous rampage in Waterstones - but this is one of them.

Do us a favour, Truss.. sod off.

[StraferJack]

Maybe there is a connection in life to paying attention to the details. Maybe education doesn't bring privilege but enhances the prospect of success. Maybe those willing to be educated (and anyone who went to school until the age of oooh 14 should know where to put an apostrophe) stand a better chance

Or maybe it's easier to piss around in class and then complain when life doesn't treat you fairly

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I assume you have already read "Eats shoots and leaves" it comes with a set of apostrophe stickers etc

I managed about half a chapter of this before I threw it away in disgust. Bad grammar gets my attention but doesn't usually bother me. However, in a book that purports to be about correct grammar and fragrantly disregards the rules, it is nothing short of hypocrisy.

[taper]

Apparently Waitrose had a '10 items or fewer' aisle.

[maxxi]

willow Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is is just me or does anyone else get really,

> really irritated by flagrant displays of poor

> grammar in places that really should know better.

> I realise that I'm turning into one of those smug

> middle class types, or worse still my mother, but

> is it really so hard to know when to use an

> apostrophe?? So there's a certain chemist on

> Melbourne Grove that offers passport photo's (not

> sure whose photos they are) and a certain

> adventure playground in Peckham Rye that is open

> on Sunday's.

>

> Name and shame I say. Sorry if it really is just

> me!

The use of an apostrophe to indicate possession (Fred's shoe) is to replace missing letters (as in don't) from the original phrase (Fred his shoe or the King his sword). Perhaps then there should be a female version e.g. Sue her shoes would become Sue'r shoes. Or is that just misleading and perjorative?

(What really bites is multiple question/exclamation marks!!)

edited to avoid repetition!!

[Alec John Moore]

Truss is a marmite writer and broadcaster - you either love her or hate her. See above. I can see what people don't like about Eats shoots and leaves but I found it amusing and informative.

[Moos]

Can I join in by whingeing about a well-known Lordship Lane business who can't spell its own products in the many hand-lettered signs outside the shop? What does it say about you if you can't be bothered to get that right?

[*Bob*]

ES&L is not an educational resource aimed at people with bad grammar.. it's a smug twat-fest aimed at the kind of person you hope doesn't start talking to you at a party.

Marmite stinks as well.

[mockney piers]

I'm pretty sure cunt-fest has at least one more ampersand and is almost certainly not hyphenated.

[silverfox]

How do you feel about palindromes Bob?

[SimonM]

"passport photo's" is actually correct, apostrophe-wise, as it is an abbreviation of "passport photographs"

[maxxi]

Large printed sign in co-op today advertising SUGER PUFFS. If the chains can't get it right why pick on an independent grocer's vegatables (rhetorical question so do I need a ? answers on a postcard to Blue Peter, BBC TV, W1A 1AA.

[silverfox]

"passport photo's" is actually correct, apostrophe-wise, as it is an abbreviation of "passport photographs"

--------------------

SimonM

'Fraid not SimonM. If it were correct you'd write photo (singular) as photo'. So, passport photo's is not only incorrect as the plural but meaningless.

(Edited as I confused myself)

[OutOfFocus]

I'm amused when I see panini's.

Two mistakes for the price of one.

[Huguenot]

Ha! Very clever.

It should really be the clumsy anglicisation of paninos, or just panini - already in the plural?

A worthy installation in the grammar nazi handbook!

[Alan Medic]

If you would do this to how people write, what would you do to people who don't speak proper eh? Those who can't pronounce r's or the Irish who can't pronounce th's.

I think the OPoster should name and shame herself. Fancy using '??'.

[The Minkey]

Won't anyone think of the standards..

[Moos]

maxxi makes a good point

[OutOfFocus]

Moos Wrote:

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> Can I join in by whingeing about a well-known

> Lordship Lane business who can't spell its own

> products in the many hand-lettered signs outside

> the shop?

But I do like the Holy Wreaths you get before Christmas. More pious than most Christmas goods

[Alan Medic]

If you sit in a middle carriage in the direction the train is going from London Bridge to East Dulwich, have a look down at Peckham rye station. You will see a very professional sign for a garage littered with spelling mistakes. About the only word right is MOT.

[SimonM]

'Fraid not SimonM. If it were correct you'd write photo (singular) as photo'.

I demur. These days "photo" and "photograph" are effectively two different words: so there is no need for an apostrophe for "photo" in the singular. "Photo's" on the other hand is quite defensible as an abbreviation of "photographs"....:))