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Pedants' corner

The Apostrophe

(14 Posts)
grannyrebel7 Sun 01-Dec-19 10:08:34

Just heard on the news The Apostrophe Protection Society is closing down because "ignorance and laziness" have won. What a sad day for English grammar. I expect in years to come the apostrophe will disappear altogether.

WOODMOUSE49 Sun 01-Dec-19 11:03:01

I agree to some extent grannyrebel7. I am a stern advocate of a correctly used apostrophe.

However, if the apostrophe were to disappear altogether, I believe it might cause less confusion than continuing to be used incorrectly.

It would be left up to the reader to come the correct conclusion/meaning.

I am sure my very good friend, Ann, will still carry around her thick black pen and whip it out occasionally and get a pat on the back from me.

BBbevan Sun 01-Dec-19 11:53:54

It will only cause less confusion to those who don't know Otto use it .

BBbevan Sun 01-Dec-19 11:54:47

How to !!!!! Not Otto

Cotswoldslass Sun 01-Dec-19 11:56:20

Another dumbing down - what a shame!

sodapop Sun 01-Dec-19 12:19:39

Let's keep the flag flying for the correct use of the apostrophe on GransNet or should that be Gran'snet grin

Greenfinch Sun 01-Dec-19 12:43:23

Or even Grans'net grin

love0c Sun 01-Dec-19 12:55:00

Cotswoldslass I quite agree! So sad.

Pittcity Sun 01-Dec-19 17:45:35

I thought that the Association for the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe died with it's founder, Keith Waterhouse.

GranE Sun 01-Dec-19 18:20:16

A sad day indeed.

Pittcity, was your apostrophe ironic or was it the dratted auto-correct?

Pittcity Sun 01-Dec-19 19:28:29

I'd like to think both GranE

Autocorrect has a lot to answer for......

mrsmopp Sun 01-Dec-19 20:40:59

Our greengrocer has a blackboard outside his shop.
Written in chalk it says:
Cabbages’
New Potatoes’
etc. etc,
I haven’t the heart to tell him.

eazybee Sun 01-Dec-19 20:45:40

Yes, a sad day; laziness has won.

Newquay Sun 01-Dec-19 22:00:18

Yes I think they may as well be abandoned. Don’t think they’re taught any more-too busy with these, what are they-fronted adverb things?