Misuse of the apostrophe.

[Lucy Thomas]

It could be that I'm simply noticing more examples of apostrophe misuse than I used to. However, I do think that it is more widespread than it was. Several recent bad examples I have seen include the sign outside my local pub which states 'two course's for the price of one' on its menu board.

On the Centre Parks website there is a page about the amenities at each park with the heading 'restaurants and bistro's.

In my local Somerfield supermarket today there was a sign at the basket only tills which read, 'trolley's must not be used at these tills'

In the last example it is interesting that they use an apostrophe in the word trolleys but not in tills. Perhaps the author wasn't sure so hedged his bets to ensure that it would be at least half correct.

I think that the more this grammatical error rears its ugly head, the more it seems to be accepted as correct.

What do you think?

[wildwood]

jno, did you type "the National Union of Bad Teacher's is agitating..." in irony or did I miss something?

[Gromit]

Lucy Thomas

I may regret this, but will you post a link to a question I have posted in News which is a moan.

I do remember you were unimpressed by the question about the man who sold his amputated leg by mistake, but I don't think the question as I phrased it was a moan.

[Gromit]

Is this an example of a reasoned and intelligent reply when you wrote...

"Fortunately, it isn't up to you who replies to your (badly written) post."

another poster rebuked you with...

"...its getting your point across that matters, sadly the point Lucy Thomas was making was overshadowed by the needless comment in brackets IMO."

[sunday]

I appreciate this question and its responses very much. I have learned a thing or two from everything that was posted on this thread. Thank you all.

[MatydaLover]

Just to add another dimension ... how do you write "How many i's are there in indivisibility?" ?

The alternative is "How many is are there in indivisibility?".

[jno]

wildwood, the National Union of Good Teachers spells its name properly.

[helpmetoo]

blimey you lot are sad

arguing about grammar etc, glad you will never be on my dinner party list

have a word, what normal person reads about centerparcs?

surely the worst place in the world, full of tree hugging lentil crunchers and their minging offspring

[MatydaLover]

There are many reasons to use good English, but only one for not using it.

That one is where you're not really interested in the other person, you can barely be bothered to communicate. Like picking your nose or scratching your bum in front of another - you really couldn't care less.

In which case, save us both time and don't bother at all.

[Marijn]

Matydalover, would it be ... How many 'i's are there....... ?
Is that right? I don't know.

[MatydaLover]

notafish,

That looks like a more readable suggestion - the whole point of being accurate is so that others will understand you.

[jno]

Have you filled out the latest survey question yet, Lucy?

Screenwriters strike! Who's side are you on?

[Lucy Thomas]

Yes I did notice that one.

[DSJ]

Poor Lucy! I bet you wish you had never brought this to our attention. I'm like you, I hate the rogue apostrophe which seems to crop up all over the place nowadays.

[New Judge]

I�ve come a bit late to this discussion and do not normally get involved in matters of opinion on AB. However, as the founder (and so far only) member of SASA (The Society for the Abolition of the Spurious Apostrophe) I feel I have an interest.

The mechanics of apostrophe usage is not complicated. I was taught it at primary school, probably when I was aged about eight or nine. Nobody reading this should need me to explain it to them. Its misuse is now endemic and has expanded from what was previously accurately described as �The greengrocers� (yes, more than one greengrocer) apostrophe� and it can now be found almost anywhere.

As with many things educational, the blame for their ignorance does not necessarily lie with the badly informed. As has been highlighted in this thread, many educational establishments no longer teach these topics now. A large number of them (particularly at primary level, where things like apostrophe usage should be taught) struggle to provide children with the ability to read and write by age eleven. To teach them correct punctuation and grammar must be a pipe dream for many of them.

People who believe it does not matter are deluding themselves. Many readers will have seen some examples of almost incomprehensible �English� among the questions posted on AB. Bad education, coupled with the ridiculous use of �text speak� make some questions intelligible only to the poser.

Apostrophe misuse alone is not a big deal. Indeed, it is sometimes mildly amusing. Unfortunately it is part of a wider malaise which, if unaddressed, will make this country an even bigger laughing stock than it already is.

[Count_Emmup]

Inanimate objects do not take an apostrophe even with possessives, e.g. Saturdays match, last years harvest - so 'Centre Parcs website' is perfectly correct.

Many grammar textbooks are vague about this but my English teacher was most emphatic about it.

[Count_Emmup]

Bewlay Bros
Wed 14/11/07
15:03 To be honest I couldn't give a monkeys' knacker (is that right?)

Then why bother to reply, then?

[Lucy Thomas]

Thank God for a bit of sense.

[Kat213]

So glad it isn't just me that gets really annoyed by apostrophes appearing all over where they are not needed. The jacket potato shop around the corner from me is called (apparently) Just Jacket's!! Grrrr

[natalie_1982]

The misuse of lower case letters at the beginning of a sentence, and the absence of question marks irritates me more than incorrect use of apostrophies.