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Topic: Is it?

mommiller
Member
Member # 3285

posted

Heads up.

-or-

Head's up.

To give someone a bit of a warning of what is to come?

Posts: 306 | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |

Christine
Member
Member # 1646

posted

Heads up is an order for multiple heads to come up.

Head's up could either mean "Head is up" or "The up belonging to a head." Neither of which makes sense.

So I'd say it's the first one.

Posts: 3567 | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged |

Grimslade
Member
Member # 3173

posted

I believe it is the plural, "Heads up!"
Kind of like at the end of a test in grade school, "Pencils down!"

Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2006 | IP: Logged |

pantros
Member
Member # 3237

posted

"Heads Up!" is a warning to look up. It can also be a more general warning to be wary.

No apostrophe.

Posts: 370 | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged |

mommiller
Member
Member # 3285

posted

Thanks.

I thought the apostrophe looked a bit wonky.

Posts: 306 | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |

hoptoad
Member
Member # 2145

posted

However, if it is a heads-up display let's say, on a weapons system, then you may have heads-up's

Posts: 1683 | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged |

Leigh
Member
Member # 2901

posted

I also have this sort of problem for my dragons.

He felt the wind from the dragons wings.

Is it dragons or dragon's or dragons'? I have no idea.

Posts: 384 | Registered: Oct 2005 | IP: Logged |

Novice
Member
Member # 3379

posted

More than one dragon: dragons' wings

One dragon: dragon's wings

Posts: 247 | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged |

Elan
Member
Member # 2442

posted

As my little contribution for Prevention Of Apostrophe Abuse, here is a reference for you:

http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/apostrophe.html

Basic rule:

Contraction uses an apostrophe:
dragon+is=dragon's
The dragon's flying this direction.

Possessive uses an apostrophe:
dragon+possession=dragon's
The dragon's scales are hard as nails.

Plural NEVER uses an apostrophe. Never EVER. Don't Even Think It...
1 dragon + 1 dragon = 2 dragons
The dragons are getting pretty rambunctious in these parts.

...unless the plural is a plural form of lower case letters, like "Mind your p's and q's." But the plural form of any normal noun? Sans apostrophe, please.

Posts: 2026 | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged |

trousercuit
Member
Member # 3235

posted

quote:
Kind of like at the end of a test in grade school, "Pencils down!"

No, that's "Pencil's down!"

Thank's.

Posts: 453 | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged |

Elan
Member
Member # 2442

posted

Are we going to have to thunk Mr. Writing Person on the noggin?

In a classroom, you have a virtual plethora of pencils. Multiple pencils = plural, ie: Pencils down. (Whole lotta pencils going down.)
Pencil's down would be one pencil is going down.

My. What a philistine.

Posts: 2026 | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged |

hoptoad
Member
Member # 2145

posted

My pencil has been depressed lately.

Posts: 1683 | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged |

hoptoad
Member
Member # 2145

posted

My pencil's down.
Or perhaps it is a blue pencil.

Posts: 1683 | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged |

Novice
Member
Member # 3379

posted

In reference to your original question, I've found a few references to "heads-up". Apparently, this form has been added to Webster's College Dictionary as both an adjective and a noun. (Seems it's been an adjective for a long time.)

I'd think the phrase "Heads up!" would be correct without the hyphen, but that's just my opinion.

Posts: 247 | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged |

Aust Alien
Member
Member # 3493

posted

Thanks for the heads up.
My head's up.

Posts: 92 | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged |

trousercuit
Member
Member # 3235

posted

Yes, "heads up" for a command. The hyphen is for things like "heads-up display" (HUD).

Posts: 453 | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged |

Aust Alien
Member
Member # 3493

posted

I meant a heads up as in a warning:

"The boss is on the way over and he's heard what you did with his coffee machine."
"Okay, thanks for the heads up. I'll be in the broom cupboard."

Posts: 92 | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged |

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