Pedants' Paradise

[french frank]

I would think that "Brahms 1st" (like "Shakespeare plays" or indeed "cat food") is not a possessive but a compound noun and therefore does not require an apostrophe.

No. Brahms 1 does not require an apostrophe, but if you use 1st (which implies at least a 2nd) an apostrophe and the pronunciation Brahmsiz Second is logical because it follows a more general rule. And therefore - to my logical mind is preferable.

[vinteuil]

.
... most style guides provide sound solutions to these apostrophe questions (and often different editors will use different style guides with different (valid) solutions). Charles's but Aristophanes' &c.

The one I really object to is the London hospital - which they spell St Thomas' - but then expect you to pronounce St Thomasiz






.

[LMcD]

Brahms 1st - well done Johannes! Who came 2nd?
Britannica has 'Throughout Brahms's career .....'

[gurnemanz]

Brahms's 1st, or Brahms' 1st? Both 'correct', but I prefer the latter.

Brahms's 1st, or Brahms' 1st?
I would regard the latter version as incorrect. The reason one might be inclined to write it is that in speech one might prefer "Brahms 1st" to the more ungainly "Brahmziz First". I would think that "Brahms 1st" (like "Shakespeare plays" or indeed "cat food") is not a possessive but a compound noun and therefore does not require an apostrophe.

[Roger Webb]

It's strange how some conventions produce what some (such as myself) would consider ungainly. I would have written "The recommendation of Which? is....", or "Which? recommends...".

One issue which I never manage to resolve in my own mind is the use of the possessive apostrophe for words ending in -s. Should the following be "John Stevens's bands included...", or "John Stevens' bands included..."?

Brahms's 1st, or Brahms' 1st? Both 'correct', but I prefer the latter.

But it has to be Delius's 'Paris'....you see Delius' written as a possessive quite often, which seems wrong to me because you can't say it like that....what you write should be what you say.

[Serial_Apologist]

Which?'s recommendation is......

It's strange how some conventions produce what some (such as myself) would consider ungainly. I would have written "The recommendation of Which? is....", or "Which? recommends...".

One issue which I never manage to resolve in my own mind is the use of the possessive apostrophe for words ending in -s. Should the following be "John Stevens's bands included...", or "John Stevens' bands included..."?

[kernelbogey]

I don't think this was dealt with in our house style guide (which did specify 'Rumania' and 'protestor' - though it never seemed to be noticed when we erred). This was mere journalism, however, so if a sub queried it they'd probably be told to recast the sentence.

Always, IMV, the best solution to such dilemmas.

[french frank]

.
Perhaps some of the sub-editors here could advise?

I don't think this was dealt with in our house style guide (which did specify 'Rumania' and 'protestor' - though it never seemed to be noticed when we erred). This was mere journalism, however, so if a sub queried it they'd probably be told to recast the sentence.

[Pulcinella]

I suggest elision. One only is required in such cases.

I think I concur (but I might check some style guides later).
Doubling up seems ungainly and unnecessary.
But a succession of different symbols is surely correct in a case such as this (referring to the consumer magazine Which?):

Which?'s recommendation is......

[smittims]

I suggest elision. One only is required in such cases.

[vinteuil]

.
... I have been worrying about the case when a word ends in an apostrophe - I was thinking of maître d' - : when it is in the possessive does it require a second apostrophe?

"The maître d' 's insufferable expression"

( and here the first apostrophe to be in italic, the second in roman... )

I suppose similar instances might arise with words ending in exclamation marks -

"Wow - what a conflagration over there at Westward Ho! !"

- or question marks

"Has anyone seen my copy of Where's Wally? ?"

In the end elegance may take priority over logic. Perhaps some of the sub-editors here could advise?

[Serial_Apologist]

At least your apostrophe missed by only one letter.

Seen in a charity shop, a mug commemorating the death of The Peoples Princess'....I assume they knew it needed one somewhere!

[Roger Webb]

............ The café was located in the Servant's (sic) Quarters.

At least your apostrophe missed by only one letter.

Seen in a charity shop, a mug commemorating the death of The Peoples Princess'....I assume they knew it needed one somewhere!

[Old Grumpy]

We recently visited Brodsworth Hall on the return trip from a visit South. The café was located in the Servant's (sic) Quarters. This individual must have had a lot to do in a pile of this size!

[kernelbogey]

From a Costa Coffee shop 'bookswap shelves':

Suggested donations:
[...]
Kids books 50p
CD's £1.00