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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!

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https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/17244-apostrophe-police/
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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.

womanofdulwich Wrote:

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

> 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.

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

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.

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!!

"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)

Moos Wrote:

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

> 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

'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"....:))

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