need help with spelling, is it lot's or lots

KiKi

caevans wrote: »

So a collection of old people would = people's?

No, a collection of older people is just people.


'Peoples' is used as a plural of lots of collections of people.

For example, let's refer to Australia:
There are Australian people. It refers to all people who are Australian.

Break it down:
There are people in Victoria, people in Queensland, and people in South Australia. These peoples (because you've defined them separately and individually) are all Australian.


So 'peoples' refers to more than one 'people'.

I assume you would classify older people under one label of 'people'. Unless you're actually classifying them differently and therefore have different collectives / groups of people and then calling them peoples (which no-one really does!) then it's still Older People. So it's Older People's Service.

The easiest way to think about it is: when you're referring to your work, clients, customer base, do you say "I work with older people"? Or do you say "I work with older peoples"? It's the whole possessive thing...the apostrophe comes before the s if it's the singular of people, and after if it's the plural of people.
Does that make sense?

KiKi

p.s. 'people' is a really funny word when you type it out this many times...

KiKi

Slinky wrote: »

I'm always astonished when you see professionally produced signage with bad spelling and grammatical mistakes. Surely a good grasp of English and grammar is a basic requirement of the job (or the ability to use a good dictionary and recognise when you need to do it!).

I love those internet pictures where cake decorators or signers have taken instructions literally and iced something like "Happy Birthday Emma! Put words under the Balloon on the Left".

Slinky

KiKi wrote: »

I love those internet pictures where cake decorators or signers have taken instructions literally and iced something like "Happy Birthday Emma! Put words under the Balloon on the Left".

That reminds me of the road signs done in Welsh which turned out to read something like 'I am on holiday and will deal with your translation request on my return'

Or the large ones painted on roads where the letters have been mixed up.

thorsoak

I do confess that a long time ago, when I was a young, inexperienced typist transcribing dication from a dictation machine, I typed a long letter to "Mr A Clarkwithanee" .........

And that was in the days when one typed using a manual typewriter plus carbon copies :eek: !

caevans

Kiki thank you so much :-)

Sparklebabey

thorsoak wrote: »

I do confess that a long time ago, when I was a young, inexperienced typist transcribing dication from a dictation machine, I typed a long letter to "Mr A Clarkwithanee" .........

And that was in the days when one typed using a manual typewriter plus carbon copies :eek: !

That made me chuckle:rotfl:

To be honest I am pretty astounded at the original question....it's hardly out there with the head scratchers of plain English.
I must confess I am pretty rigid about spelling and I do read some posts and wonder how people have got through life as there is clearly not a basic grasp of writing and spelling....everyone makes mistakes but you can clearly tell the difference between hitting a wrong key and someone thinking that is how they spell it. And if you can't spell/be bothered to learn then the bad habits just get passed on to the kids etc...but as I say, I am pretty rigid about my spelling and grammar as I think it reflects what kind of person you are are....but I am first to agree that this is my weird 'thing'!!!

The worst is a girl in my team makes a card for someone if they are leaving which is nice and they are always pretty but she always puts on the front 'Sorry your leaving' and it just sets my teeth on edge..:o

Just to add as well OP.....weve is actually spelt we've. The apostrophe is to indicate that it's 2 words combined, in this case 'we have'.

KiKi

My other grammar / spelling bug bear is 'should of', 'would of'.

Should've, would've!

But I totally know I shouldn't have posted that, as it will now turn from a 'lighthearted with information' thread to one where people(s) argue how (un)reasonable it is to pass comment on spelling and grammar at all in this world.

Should I get the popcorn out now?

onlyroz

Isn't "lots" terribly bad grammar? I thought "a lot" was the correct phrase.

Gloomendoom

"Lot" was one of those words that we were actively discouraged from using when I was at school. Along with "nice".

j.e.j.

There's no need to get too an*l about it, imo. There's something very 'Daily Mail' about people who get nit-picky about things being absolutely correct. I just find incorrect grammar or spelling on shop signs a bit quirky. As long as it's not an English essay or something that needs to be correct, like if you're writing for publication, what does it matter, really.

Having said that a relative of mine teaches 6th formers in a college in London and she finds the kids often use textspeak even when writing essays! That does seem a bit sad and inappropriate!