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My peeve is improper use of apostrophes with digits. An apostrophe indicates possessive or an omission.
Example: "I'm more experienced now than I was in my 20s."
Many would use "20's," yet there is no omission or possession.
I hope I won't get Strunked to death!
My "Success With Words" book indicates that either way is acceptable, although the form without the apostrophe is probably used more frequently nowadays. [This book was published in 1983.] It also mentions that whichever style you choose, be consistent.
My "Success With Words" book indicates that either way is acceptable, although the form without the apostrophe is probably used more frequently nowadays. [This book was published in 1983.] It also mentions that whichever style you choose, be consistent.
It seems there are a lot of things that have become "legally" acceptable, even though they are grammatically incorrect, merely because making the mistakes is so common. It's like the rules-makers just gave up. Such is also true with new "words" that really aren't words.
Am I the only one who is driven crazy by otherwise educated people doing this on a regular basis? I just don't get it, it is basic English grammar that we should have learned in elementary school!
I cringe when I get emails from my manager at work, and she does this consistently in all of her emails, not to mention not being able to differentiate between "affect" and "effect". Here is a sample sentence from one of her group emails: "Professional nurse's should not be calling off this often, it effects everyone, not just you." This from a woman with a four year college degree!
I'm sorry if this has been addressed here before, I rarely visit this forum, but it just drives me crazy. I also see it consistently in news stories on the local news stations' websites, e.g. "Fifteen resident's had to be evacuated..."
I am beginning to wonder if this is so widespread that someone just changed the rules of pluralization and didn't tell anyone.
This is what I learned. Apostrophes are used to show possession ( after the S) and to make a contraction (I am = I'm, it is = it's, is not = isn't,etc..).
Grammar Girl is an excellent online reference. People aren't taught correct grammar anymore,and people rely way too heavily on spell-check which does not make concessions for homographs ( same spelling different meaning), and by the way, it's not okay to start a sentence with a conjunction. Don't listen to pseudo-intellectuals. Starting a sentence with a conjunction is a weak tool for a lazy mind.
This is what I learned. Apostrophes are used to show possession ( after the S) and to make a contraction (I am = I'm, it is = it's, is not = isn't,etc..).
Grammar Girl is an excellent online reference. People aren't taught correct grammar anymore,and people rely way too heavily on spell-check which does not make concessions for homographs ( same spelling different meaning), and by the way, it's not okay to start a sentence with a conjunction. Don't listen to pseudo-intellectuals. Starting a sentence with a conjunction is a weak tool for a lazy mind.
Class dismissed.
Bring back School House Rock - Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar - Conjunction Junction Music Video
I'm serious! Some of the worst offenders, and not just with apostrophes, are the people who make the handwritten signs in the produce department at the supermarket. I whip it out and fix the signs right there and I don't care who sees me. I just turned sixty, and I am taking my rightful place as weird-old-lady-in-training.
Or perhaps they're confused by those limited instances in which apostrophes are used to form plurals.
Most likely, people have always used apostrophes rather haphazardly, and it has only become more noticeable in the age of social media when we see the casual writing of people on an everyday basis.
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