Originally posted by PatrickOD
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And so will I continue to...it's ingrained. -
Yes, I too will continue with the 'correct' use of the apostrofee - but (as I am sure I have said elsewhere on these Boards... ) - I am now more forgiving of those who don't - particularly after years spent reading many 18th and 19th century texts where the writers frequently "get it wrong" - I think I adduced the example of Coleridge who regularly uses it's as the possessive...Originally posted by Pabmusic View PostComment
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Is someone who decides to abandon the use of the apostrophe an apostrophate?Comment
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I recently received an email from Eurostar starting thus:
Dear Traveller,
Having previously travelled with Eurostar we would be very interested in your views and opinions about how you perceive the Eurostar brand and how it compares to other companies you may be aware of in order to ensure we are meeting your needs.
What hope is there when a major concern can't even compose such an item without starting with one of the most elementary grammar mistakes (leaving aside 'compares to' instead of 'compares with')?
I'm also not quite sure what other companies we can choose when using the tunnel, but I suppose they could be referring to ferries and airlines.
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Look on the bright side, Don. There are five vulnerable Ss there, and not an apostrophe in sight.
(I may be in for a pasting - what is the plural of s?)Comment
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Leave aside the bad grammar and absence of punctuation. Does it make sense nevertheless? What they seek are your "views and opinions" (could they be different?) of how you "perceive" their brand - not your opinion of their service, note. I suspect that you have a deep insight into such things and the quality of your perception was therefore first class. And, by the way, how was the trip?Comment
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My trip (most recently last April) was fine, though, unlike my perception, it was not first class.Comment
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Fowler [under POSSESSIVE PUZZLES] would suggest s's, since he accepts 'dot your i's and cross your t's as reasonable :-). And watch your p's and q's while you're at it.Originally posted by PatrickOD View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Does that mean, ff, that in future I should address you as f's?Originally posted by french frank View PostComment
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How does this explain the frequent misspelling of lose / loose?Originally posted by mangerton View PostComment
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I suspect this may be to do with predictive text on mobile phones and/or spellcheck in Word etc. As in were/where/wear above. Another frequent misuse is now lead for led, as in 'he lead the procession'.Originally posted by Segilla View Post
As to the 'Was you there' question raised by Shb in message 29: in the naval histories of Patrick O'Brian (early nineteenth century) this usage is much evident among the officers, as in 'Was you at the Battle of the Nile, Sir?'. I assume he based this on historical evidence.
What an entertaining thread. (I'll get me anorak.)Comment
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Originally posted by Segilla View Post
I said that I thought poor pronunciation had "a lot" to do with poor spelling, eg vulnerable, secretary, separate. It's not by any means the only reason.
I think kernelbogey (#72) has hit the nail on the head with his "predictive text" explanation. It's now rare to see "led" spelled correctly, and that situation has arisen very recently and very rapidly.Comment
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