07-11-2013, 11:14 PM | #1 |
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Apostrophe now: Bad grammar and the people who hate it
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07-12-2013, 04:35 AM | #2 |
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The problem is that sometimes you are supposed to use an apostrophe when something is plural, when something is an abbreviation.
For instance, RPG's (role playing games) or NPC's (non player characters). And so people started using it all the time. So in a way, it's the grammar crazy people who started it, by insisting that you should use an apostrophe some of the time. |
07-12-2013, 05:20 AM | #3 | |||
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I always write RPGs and NPCs. Another example: if you search Google for HGV's you don't see any examples of that apostrophe in the returned results, at least on the first few pages. Road signs that mention HGV's always annoy me, and I'd be mortified if I find out that it's grammatically correct! Edit: this site says that the apostrophe can be used with abbreviations, numbers or letters only where its use is helpful and unambiguous: http://www.grammar-monster.com/lesso...reviations.htm but goes on to note that: Quote:
Quote:
Graham Last edited by Graham; 07-12-2013 at 05:32 AM. |
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07-12-2013, 10:51 AM | #4 | |
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Then again, my recent argument with Catlady shows just how many ways there are to teach grammar and basic writing. One textbook's hard rules are another's recommendations and not even mentioned in a third. |
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07-12-2013, 03:25 PM | #5 |
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07-12-2013, 06:41 PM | #6 |
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I can so see myself as a prissy nitpicker in that article (excuse the poor grammar when I do it, but let anyone else dare).
There is a time and place for both good and poor (or is it differently abled) grammar and even the occasional expletive. English grammar is pretty hard for ESL people, and as I keep trying to convince myself, few have died due to grammar mistakes. Thanks for the good article. Helen |
07-12-2013, 08:51 PM | #7 |
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07-12-2013, 09:31 PM | #8 |
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LOL. One little comma changes the inflections of the words and thereby the entire meaning of the sentence. Nice one.
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07-12-2013, 09:44 PM | #9 |
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07-12-2013, 10:19 PM | #10 |
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A better example might've been something like this:
Code:
In the 1970s... In the 1970's... |
07-13-2013, 01:55 PM | #11 | |
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