Discussions of the Day

My thoughts entirely about the need for two apostrophes in DH or none at all. I think everyone would agree it would look ridiculous with two. Consider longer acronyms too - for example, G'N'H'Q' .

There is a similar debate regarding decades: 90s or 90's? I cannot for the life of me see what the apostrophe is for and yet it is the example without the apostrophe that spell check has underlined. If anything, there should be one at the beginning, to indicate omission of '19'. For my money it should be '90s, but again, spell check disagrees with me. (Though I do realise that spell check is probably American and can therefore be disregarded )

Some things bother me and some don't. Question marks are ok.
But a misplaced apostrophe screams at me.

I went to Secondary School followed by a 2 year Secretarial Course.
No A levels for me.....family could not afford the cost of Grammar School requisites. At Secondary S edchool I did do a great deal of typing (on an old Imperial machine that went ding at the end of each line) which was to a very high level with distinction accuracy grades. Also shorthand to 130 words per minute.

Perhaps the use of correct punctuation has gone the way of shorthand. I consider poor punctuation to be sloppy.

My formal education did not go to Third Level but many years of constructing a good letter obo my employer has stood me in good stead.

If you use an apostrophe there, you need one in DH. Two even.

I wouldn't use an apostrophe there.

Me too. My eyes are drawn to them immediately.

It doesn't look better to me - it looks awful!
And it may be sad that I do give a flying flip, but that's just me...

Oh, who gives a flying flip anyway!

Yes. But it just seems to be more natural to put an apostrophe in. Not for the usual missing letter reason, but because it looks better.

Yes - I get that - but some people disagree, as in my editor!

But a lot of letters are missing already in DH - ear and usband - and there are no apostrophes in that. The plural of one DH is two (or more) DHs just as the plural of dear husband is dear husbands.

The apostrophe in plurals of such things as DH is a debatable issue, as there is a school of thought that regards the apostrophe as indicating that some letters are missing. I used to work on a magazine and the editor insisted that it should be there.

www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_41.htm

There is quite a good online course on grammar from Bristol university I think?

#feelinghuffy

I will consider my wrist well and truly slapped.

Well, I would, but if I click on Contact us it says 'the default mail client is not properly installed'...

What's an anonym?? Something you don't want anybody to know the name of?

I see GNHQ have cunningly got round the plural DH problem...

It's quite hard to pluralise an anonym.

Oh! I hadn't noticed Lara reply. Which I consider to be unnecessary apologising.

Oh that's mean! Nothing wrong with the question marks. The apostrophe in the 'DH's' could be debatable. Perhaps DHs would not look right. You don't have to stick to rules all the time.

Thank you for all the replies.
Interestingly, one of the adverts that popped up when I opened this page was entitled 'Get the skills you need to get that job'
I think the shows that proper use of language is still important in both creating an image, and conveying a meaning.
I realise that language evolves, new phrases become fashionable, and certain words 'date' the user, but some things are set in stone, and the correct use of apostrophes to me is one of those things.
Perhaps the use of question marks when a question isn't actually being asked, reflects the tendency of some younger people (when speaking) to end their sentences on a higher note, as if they are asking a question, even though they are making a statement.

It never occurred to me to complain via private email to GNHQ, partly because I have no idea who actually compiles the Discussions of the Day box, and in any case it was not a personal complaint, so I saw no need for confidentiality.
It was more a comment on the appearance of the Gransnet Forums page, and I suspected that others might feel as I do. I realised too that others would disagree, and starting an open discussion rather than a private complaint would give both sides an opportunity to make their points.

Personally I would prefer to be corrected privately, not in front of others. However, as I've said, this is just my opinion.