Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte
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Pedants' Paradise
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This is a sticky topic.
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Originally posted by ahinton View PostAs this could be deemed correct with or without the apostrophe, might one assume that there were no grocer's' in those days?
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Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View PostI hope you're not getting into that attributive noun minefield. It normally only applies with singular nouns, though there are exceptions - a Beatles song, for example.
When I think about it, is 'the Beatles' plural? :-)It 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.
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Originally posted by ahinton View PostAs this could be deemed correct with or without the apostrophe, might one assume that there were no grocer's' in those days?
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Originally posted by french frank View PostI've had this 'dispute' with Mark over "listeners group". Absolutely no apostrophe because listeners describes the kind of group (consumers group, readers group, dog owners group) as 'a Beatles song' is normally an identifier, descriptor: there are lots of other sorts of group and song. I can think of contexts where, possibly, 'the Beatles' songs' might mean something - in disputes over copyright, for instance, but even that seems to be pushing it.
When I think about it, is 'the Beatles' plural? :-)
I think I might disagree in the case of a listeners' group, as it's a group of individual listeners' whereas The Beatles is the collective name of a group.
You might have a listener group though. Attributive nouns are nearly always singular.
I have a stolen Snowdon Mountain Railway summit terminus station cafe table placemat in my pocket.
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Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View PostI hope you're not getting into that attributive noun minefield. It normally only applies with singular nouns, though there are exceptions - a Beatles song, for example.
Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post...a listeners' group, as it's a group of individual listeners'...
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Originally posted by jean View PostI've had the argument, too - that's what I meant when I said a Beatles song isn't an exception to anything.
A Beatles' song would be analogous to a Beethoven's symphony, which nobody would dream of writing.
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Originally posted by kernelbogey View PostThe orchestra gets to its feet - or, The orchestra get to their feet...?
Arguably best solved, methinks, by persuading the orchestra to remain seated...
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Originally posted by ahinton View PostThat could be taken as almost like the old chestnut "which is correct? eight and eight are fifteen or eight and eight is fifteen?" (in which, of course, "and" should read "plus" in any case - indeed, in both cases).
Arguably best solved, methinks, by persuading the orchestra to remain seated...
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