Scrabble 736

[bald eagle]

Wondered whether anyone has been able to reach or exceed target score of 77 points this week?

My word is well short of the target and it is baffling me

kind regards

[x-ray]

Yes 77 is possible. It is a 7 letter word begins and ends with S.
Hope this helps...good luck

[Rollo]

You could "cheat" - by using this. It may help:

http://www.scrabulizer.com/

[bald eagle]

Thank you both for your prompt responses
much appreciated

[hadrianjeffs]

I have made 77, with a 7-letter word beginning & ending with S, starting at E9 across. However, having long ago lost my OSW book, I have a dilemma; if it is the word I've used, then, by the Scrabble rules, it's inadmissable, because it is a proper noun, AND, it only works as a plural, and as a fanatical space cadet, I'm well aware the only one of these ever existed.

What to do?

[hadrianjeffs]

PS. I've used Scrabulizer, & the best it gets is 66, with KYBOSH, which I'd already rejected.

[x-ray]

It will be interesting to know what the Telegraph make of this. I have the same word as you and of course, as there is only one of these how can you have a plural.
I feel sure it IS the required solution however

[x-ray]

I have just looked in my Official Scrabble Words (International edition 2002) and SKYLABS is listed

[amalgam]

I believe the official Scrabble rule is that you can pluralise any noun, whether that makes sense or not (cf Countdown, where that is not the case).

[hadrianjeffs]

Still doesn't get round SKYLAB being a proper noun, but I gave up trying to make sense of these things long ago. (Sigh!) Thanks.

[Rollo]

According to Chambers Dictionary it is only a proper noun if you spell it with a capital S at the beginning - thereby referring to the actual one.

If you spell it with a small S it is an improper noun - referring to such an item in general.

[anotheray]

I am confused by all the comments. I have SKYLABS but must confess I didn't realise it was a word.
Eagerly awaiting result in next Saturdays telegraph

[hadrianjeffs]

I'm sorry Rollo, but Chambers is wrong. Skylab is not a generic term, but the specific title of a US manned space station in the 1970's. I'm an aerospace historian, 7 should know.

The generic term for manned satellites is "space station"; nothing else has ever been used (although you could make an argument for Salyut, when discussing Russian spaceflight, as there seven of them). Skylab and Spacelab are both proper nouns.

I'm afraid that Chambers sucks, and the Telegraph should be ashamed of their association. I have the Chambers Dictionary of Quotations, which amongst its other achievements, includes quotes from a completely fictitious Kennedy brother.

About time the Telegraph started using the OED, I'm afraid.

[hadrianjeffs]

I'm sorry Rollo, but Chambers is wrong. Skylab is not a generic term, but the specific title of a US manned space station in the 1970's. I'm an aerospace historian,& should know.

The generic term for manned satellites is "space station"; nothing else has ever been used (although you could make an argument for Salyut, when discussing Russian spaceflight, as there seven of them). Skylab and Spacelab are both proper nouns.

I'm afraid that Chambers sucks, and the Telegraph should be ashamed of their association. I have the Chambers Dictionary of Quotations, which amongst its other achievements, includes quotes from a completely fictitious Kennedy brother.

About time the Telegraph started using the OED, I'm afraid.

[Rollo]

There is no need to say sorry to me - twice even!

Anyway, it does not matter in the real scheme of things. It's only a silly puzzle after all.