Apostrophes - Do they exist?

quote:

"CD's" is correct if "the CD's in" is intended to mean "[the] CD is in [the store, the CD player, etc.]."

I contest this. The apostrophe is to indicate the absence of the i. Thus the correct construct is "The CD 's in .........."

The gap is critical.

Fraser

quote:

"CD's" is correct if "the CD's in" is intended to mean "[the] CD is in [the store, the CD player, etc.]."


I contest this. The apostrophe is to indicate the absence of the i. Thus the correct construct is "The CD 's in .........."

The gap is critical.

Why?

When we abbreviate words, denoted by the apostrophe, we don't leave a space even when the missing letter(s) is(are) ar the start of the word.

Such as: "You will ..." becomes "You'll ..." not "You 'll ..."

Who is "we"? This thread demonstrates that 'we' operate rather differently.

The construct "You 'll" is correct, I think. The contraction may be commonly used but it is still 'wrong' in purist terms. I guess that it 's tolerated because it doesn't introduce any possibility of misinterpretation, while the construct 'xxxxx's' does.

I don't have a problem with 'doesn't' as you can tell from the previous sentence.

Fraser

quote:

I don't have a problem with 'doesn't' as you can tell from the previous sentence.

Neither do I, but then it seems that some people are simply happy to pick and choose from the rules, rather than try to identify the rules and comply with them.

Your logic would suggest that "doesn't" should appear as "does n't". Which IMHO is silly. "Doesn't", "isn't" etc are representative of actual speach. Formal writing would convert these to their full form "does not" "is not" etc

Cheers

Don

quote:

From Hamlet, as MacDuff crouches over a wounded soldier:

I think you'll find that was actually from Macbeth. As a pedant I'm sure you would want your schoolboy howler corrected.

I was at school with a chap who went on to become a real "hang 'em and flog 'em" Tory MP and who read that exact line that you quote as "Go get him, surgeons" to the great amusement of all present.

quote:

Originally posted by Fraser Hadden:

The construct "You 'll" is correct, I think.

If that's what you think, then I'm afraid you think wrong, even in "purist" terms. There is no extra space before the apostrophe ... the apostrophe itself holds the place of the omitted letter(s), no extra space needed.

Just do a little internet research on the proper usage of apostrophe. For instance, on the site The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation you will find this:


Rule 1. Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.

Examples:

don't, isn't
You're right.
She's a great teacher.


Or, if you insist, provide us with documentation that your version is correct.

All best,
Fred

Fair enough. Good site.

I am so pleased to learn this that I will not comment on the construct "you think wrong" - oh bugger, I've done it!

Seriously though, thanks. I am always pleased to improve myself in any direction.

Fraser

No space is required. Ever. Fraser, you're wrong on this .

The "rules" don't apply perfectly in other areas, however. "Won't" is a valid contraction of "Will not" but is obviously very different to "Doesn't" as a contraction of "Does not".

English is apparently one of the (theoretically) hardest second languages to learn. Inconsistencies in rules of grammar and spelling abound. This is offset by its generally widespread use that makes familiarisation and practice much more straightforward for a lot of peoples' given circumstances.

quote:

Originally posted by Fraser Hadden:

I am so pleased to learn this that I will not comment on the construct "you think wrong" - oh bugger, I've done it!

Seriously though, thanks. I am always pleased to improve myself in any direction.

You're quite welcome.

By the way, "you think wrong" was used intentionally as an ironic colloquialism.

All best,
Fred

I met up with a friend on Saturday, Dr Williams from my old university days in Nottingham. We visited a bookshop and later I started to write the usual "This book belongs to...." on the inside of the front cover.....a habit of old!

I noticed Dr Williams writing "This is Dr William.......book" instead of "This book belongs to Dr Williams"

I could easily have written "This is Don Atkinson's Book". However, I am not certain I would know how to complete "This is Dr William....Book"

Is it Dr Williams's or Dr Williams' or what?

Cheers

Don

PS He did civil engineering as well, so I can't rely on the fact he has a PhD to know whether his use of "Williams's" is right!

quote:

Is it Dr Williams's or Dr Williams' or what?

Either is technically correct. The first way is clumsy, so I'd be using the second.