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InaPickle

fluffnutter wrote: »

Nope, people are pronouncing it correctly. In this case, the punctuation is there to reflect usage, not the other way round.

I was always taught that both ways were acceptable, and I don't remember any rules stating that an 's' was added due to the presence of an 's' at the end of the word in question. Have accepted use changes?

InaPickle

Hmmm...two style guides seem to back you up. Interesting. How did I not know this? *Toddles off to find grammar book*

lemma1968

OMG - what is happening to you all? :eek:

I'm 41 (again :eek: how the heck did that happen?) and i have managed, just, to get through life without pondering this issue in too much depth. 'Nuff already!

voiceofreason

lemma1968 wrote: »

OMG - what is happening to you all? :eek:

I'm 41 (again :eek: how the heck did that happen?) and i have managed, just, to get through life without pondering this issue in too much depth. 'Nuff already!

Not being funny, but given that you're quite happy to write "OMG" and "'nuff" despite being very much old enough to know better, it was always fairly certain which side of the "correct use of the English language" debate you'd come down on.

lemma1968

voiceofreason wrote: »

Not being funny, but given that you're quite happy to write "OMG" and "'nuff" despite being very much old enough to know better, it was always fairly certain which side of the "correct use of the English language" debate you'd come down on.

Aha, now you are incorrect with that assumption. I decided another well (or badly) placed apostrophe was needed. I draft legal documents and Court Orders and the such like for a living. A bit of rebellion does you good

fluffnutter

People tend to be polarised about grammar and punctuation; it's either really important or a waste of time for pedants who need to get a life.

No point trying to argue the case on either side.. you'll never convince someone holding the opposing view that your way is the right way. But people do - hence the number of threads about grammar!

lemma1968

Life is too short to get strung up either way about it. I take the view its down to two things, context and style. "Its" is another one. Is it "it's" or "its"?

You see, when you start along this line of discussion you will see why English grammar is so difficult for foreigners to follow. Rules seem to be made just to be broken or maybe contextualised (if that makes any sense at all - I know what i mean )

voiceofreason

lemma1968 wrote: »

Aha, now you are incorrect with that assumption. I decided another well (or badly) placed apostrophe was needed. I draft legal documents and Court Orders and the such like for a living. A bit rebellion does you good

Ah - in which case I apologise for unfairly maligning you and lumping you in with the illiterate mob.

I am suitably abashed; apostrophise away!

Where applicable.

fluffnutter

lemma1968 wrote: »

"Its" is another one. Is it "it's" or "its"?

Well, you did ask.... 'its' is the possessive for the non-gender specific 3rd person pronoun 'it'. An example would be 'The tree has lost its leaves'.

'It's' is a contraction of 'It is', e.g. 'It's a shame not everyone is as excited about apostrophes as I am'.

If you're not sure which one is right, when you read back what you've written, substitute 'its' or 'it's' (depending on which you've written) with 'it is' in your head when reading. If 'it is' sounds OK, then you need the apostrophe.

lemma1968

Yes, you are correct but at first flush it seems a bit daft and is one of those grammatical blips that can either annoy, amuse or confuse.

Voice of reason - you are forgiven. I like to be a bit playful. Nowt like a bit of mischief to lift the soul on a dull, dark and dank Friday afternoon x