The Flying Apostrophe

[gurnemanz]

A blackboard wiper hidden in the sleeve of a gown and swung at the back of the head, in my day.

I used to teach German, including adult education evening classes. Being scatty, I often forgot to bring a board wiper and would improvise (usually Kleenex, even fingers). This became a bit of a standing joke and at the the last lesson of the course (A Level German), a member of the group stood up and made a thank you speech and presented me with a lovingly crafted whiteboard wiper finished in quality wood and felt, which he had produced in his home workshop. It even had a properly inscribed commemorative brass plaque. I now have no use for this unique artefact but still have it somewhere.

[eighthobstruction]

Sort of 'Follow the Via Dolmarosa'?

Yep, good grief that's....right up my strasse

[alycidon]

But would the correctness or othewise of that not depend to some extent upon whether the house in which Margaret and David live is solely owned by either one of them or whether jointly owned? and, for that matter, if the latter, whether that ownership is on a joint tenants or tenants-in-common basis?

A very fair point, ah. My original text simply said 'going to Margaret's and David's' - as one would usually say, and with with no mention of house. But I suppose the word house is implicit in that statement. And what about ownership? Personally, I don't believe that such a phrase implies legal ownership - rather that one is going to where Margaret and David live. But it is a moot point.

[Pabmusic]

...Personally, I don't believe that such a phrase implies legal ownership - rather that one is going to where Margaret and David live. But it is a moot point.

You may have missed post 55, which says more-or-less what Ahinton said, but without questions of legal status. This is a well established convention, so it's not a moot point.

It all depends on whether "Margaret and David" are treated by you as one unit, not on the legal status of their house.

[ahinton]

If you look a little closer, you might notice that there areat least 4 deliberate mistakes in my post. I thought you would of noticed. Answers on a postcard too some one whose interested.

Of course I noticed! That's why I thought that it might be fun to add another one! After all, why spoil the ship for a ha'porth (sp.?) of tar when you can do so for a couple of quid's worth?!...

[Serial_Apologist]

just at the moment, apart from potato and tomato, I can't think of other examples where the plural becomes -oes

so might the rule be that the singular must end -to ? is it frescoes ?

To, toes?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

not in Moses Supposes That Toses are Roses! Erroneously albeit.

[salymap]

And then, there is/are the problems with singular and plural.

At a Messiah rehearsal the conductor stared at the score and said "Err, His Stripes is or are out."

Still not sure myself.

[Flosshilde]

If you look a little closer, you might notice that there areat least 4 deliberate mistakes in my post. I thought you would of noticed. Answers on a postcard too some one whose interested.

Oh - they were delib'rate, where they?

[Beef Oven!]

Oh - they were delib'rate, where they?

You no they were.

[ahinton]

You no they were.

Well, at least I no that they wear, which is why I tryed to add to them by suggesting yet another won.

But seriously, I am still reeling from the effects of the UK première of Sorabji's Sixth Piano Symphony, so anything that I might seek to contribute to this thread is likely to be a load of old Koblenz anyway; this I am sure that you would well understand, having experienced this utterly magnificent performance for yourself!

[Beef Oven!]

Well, at least I no that they wear, which is why I tryed to add to them by suggesting yet another won.

But seriously, I am still reeling from the effects of the UK première of Sorabji's Sixth Piano Symphony, so anything that I might seek to contribute to this thread is likely to be a load of old Koblenz anyway; this I am sure that you would well understand, having experienced this utterly magnificent performance for yourself!

Jokes aside, the Sorabji/Powell experience is still whizzing through my consciousness! Went for a walk through the forest this late afternoon and so much of the concert kept appearing in my head. Initially I was listening to Schnittke's Piano Quintet on my iPod and the long decay of some of the piano notes brought back Jonathan Powell's mastery. How did he manage to suspend time in those quiet chords? And you too have wondered how those Herculean fffffffffs were such a thing of beauty and not chaotic clatter.

I count myself very lucky indeed to have been there!