posted
There's this growing trend in Provo in particular to pluralize word's by adding an apostrophe before the s. In the past few year's--even in the last year--I've noticed more and more sign's that sport this atrocious mistake. I thought it was just a weird Utah thing, laughed a little, and left it at that. But more recently, I've noticed the apostrophe's showing up in place's other than Utah. I understand that language's change and that people will constantly butcher them until the end of time. However, this is one change I'll not take lying down. Please, spread the word: if you want to add an s to pluralize something, just add it. No apostrophe is necessary. This even goes for date's (the 1900s). Let's not confuse the many children in Utah and around the United State's about possessive and plural.
posted
It happens all the time here in California, too. Drives me absolutely batty. I've given up trying to convince anyone that it is an incorrect usage. More than once, I've been told that I'm absolutely wrong and that the signs are perfectly correct. Sheesh. What are they teaching them in school these days?
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
The interesting thing is that I'm noticing more and more possessives without an apostrophe. Very odd.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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You know, seeing that title, am I the only one who thought of something OTHER than grammar and punctuation?
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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mack, I hear ya. A thread with this title started by one of our resident newlywed's. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed. Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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That's because it's '60s '70s etc. It's just like with contractions the '19' is replaced by the apostrophe.
------ I guess technically 1920's would be the year claiming a possessive. But I've never seen usage like that. Has anyone seen that used appropriately?
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I thought it was referring to the lack of binary fission as a reproduction method among Utahns. I had noticed that too and wondered what was up.
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Boon
unregistered
posted
hahahahahaha
I actually told the McDonald's guy last night that the word "sandwhiche's" scrolling at the bottom of thier new order review machine at the drive though was not only not possessive, but spelled wrong to boot! Yes, that's exactly how it was spelled: "Try one of our new McGriddle Sandwhiche's!"
H said it had been there for weeks, that he'd never noticed it, and that I was the first person to comment. Dummies.
quote:I actually told the McDonald's guy last night that the word "sandwhiche's" scrolling at the bottom of thier new order review machine at the drive though was not only not possessive, but spelled wrong to boot! Yes, that's exactly how it was spelled: "Try one of our new McGriddle Sandwhiche's!"
This so reminds me of the Wendy's I go into sometimes. They have one of those scrolling electronic message boards over the counter. It runs trivia questions and advertises the drive-thru (which bugs me enough as it is). The problem is, what it actually says is "drive-though". Drive as though what? I mentioned the misspelling, and they acted like it was no big deal, and that I was kind of freakish for actually knowing the difference.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Boon
unregistered
posted
Okay, I get it. I'm leaving the rest of the mistakes in my post how they are. I'm sorry, my brain is not functioning very well today. Regardless of the spelling in the post though, the story stands.
posted
What is more worrying? The shopkeeper who can't spell the name of their shop correctly... Or the signwriter who doesn't know how to use an apostrophe well enough to correct them?!
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Though it wouldn't work well for chains/franchises... ...misspelling, misuse of grammar, and "unintentionally" humorous messages are great guerilla advertising techniques for small businesses. Get a lot of people going into the business just to tell the workers/management that the sign is wrong. And a person in the door is a lot more likely to become a customer than one who passes by, never noticing the place. If you're lucky, you'll even get mentioned in the local/regional newspapers; many/most having columns specifically devoted to picking up such oddball/humorous sightings around town.
quote:You know, seeing that title, am I the only one who thought of something OTHER than grammar and punctuation?
Thank you! My first thought was an announcement. Since it wouldn't be a wedding announcement unless the Boys plan on moving to Beaver, Utah, I thought it was the "I'm pregnant." announcement.
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Yes, Kat. I figured it'd be "I'm pregnant and I'm not going to marry anyone ELSE" or something.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
In rare occasions, one may quite correctly create a plural by using the 's:
quote: Usage with regard to forming the plurals of letters, numbers, and abbreviations varies somewhat. In some cases you have a choice between adding -s or -’s, although the trend is increasingly to add -s alone: three As or three A’s; the ABCs or the ABC’s; the 1900s or the 1900’s; PhDs or PhD’s; several IOUs or several IOU’s. With lowercase letters, symbols, abbreviations with periods, and in cases where confusion might arise without an apostrophe, use -’s to form the plural: p’s and q’s; +’s; -’s; M.A.’s; A’s and I’s; 2’s. Mainly your goal is to be as clear as possible and avoid confusion. 23 The plural of a word being used as a word is indicated by -’s: underline all the but’s. Note that in typed or typeset copy, only the word but would appear in italics (the apostrophe and the s would be in regular type).
posted
Hey! There hasn't been pluralization in Utah since the turn of the century! I'm sick and tired of all the polygamy jokes already. Posts: 1512 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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quote:I thought it was the "I'm pregnant." announcement.
O_o
Am I the only one who knew exactly what the title meant? (And no, my wife didn't tell me what it was about before I read it.) It's really not that complicated. It's just a simple pun: Utahns have lots of kids, but they can't form plurals of words. Sheesh, people.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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The problem is that in respect to cognitive functions, only half the title was a pun. In respect to religious language, the other half of the title was a pun. Mack and I just assumed the entire title either was or was not a pun. Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Wow! I intended some of the eye-popping confusion to get you all to open my thread (yes, it's shameless; I know), but you lot are a whole bunch more creative than I am in finding shocking possibilities in such a short sentence. As a person who loves to confuse people just for the fun of it, I am pleased with my handiwork. *bows*
A pregnancy announcement? Maybe the confusion works both ways . . . Posts: 537 | Registered: Jul 2001
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A thread with this title started by one of our resident newlywed's. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I'm sick and tired of all the polygamy jokes already. ![[No No]](graemlins/nono.gif)
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