Apostrophiles

[straycat]

[Following on from the Yoyos thread]

Something I don't believe apostrophiles can quite comprehend is the amount of sheer intellectual pain it causes some of us to see an abused apostrophe. It isn't just a minor error that we have a pendantic wish to correct. It's more like a minor assault on the senses, and it makes it very hard to concentrate on the text, when there's a humiliated apostrophe staring forlornly out of the screen, begging to be put out of its misery.

Spelling mistakes I can take, typos, grammatical mistakes - fine - I can even put up with sms-speak if I must, mind-numbingly horrifying though it is. The systematic persecution and degredation of the humble apostrophe though - now that is more than I can bear.

[batnurse]

[Following on from the Yoyos thread]

Something I don't believe apostrophiles can quite comprehend is the amount of sheer intellectual pain it causes some of us to see an abused apostrophe. It isn't just a minor error that we have a pendantic wish to correct. It's more like a minor assault on the senses, and it makes it very hard to concentrate on the text, when there's a humiliated apostrophe staring forlornly out of the screen, begging to be put out of its misery.

Spelling mistakes I can take, typos, grammatical mistakes - fine - I can even put up with sms-speak if I must, mind-numbingly horrifying though it is. The systematic persecution and degredation of the humble apostrophe though - now that is more than I can bear.

Yes, yes and yes again.

[Magic Hans]

[Following on from the Yoyos thread]

Something I don't believe apostrophiles can quite comprehend is the amount of sheer intellectual pain it causes some of us to see an abused apostrophe. It isn't just a minor error that we have a pendantic wish to correct. It's more like a minor assault on the senses, and it makes it very hard to concentrate on the text, when there's a humiliated apostrophe staring forlornly out of the screen, begging to be put out of its misery.

Spelling mistakes I can take, typos, grammatical mistakes - fine - I can even put up with sms-speak if I must, mind-numbingly horrifying though it is. The systematic persecution and degredation of the humble apostrophe though - now that is more than I can bear.

Lol

Check out Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

'a non-fiction book written by Lynne Truss, the former host of the BBC's Cutting a Dash radio program. In the book, published in 2003, Truss bemoans the state of punctuation in the United Kingdom and the United States and describes how rules are being relaxed in today's society. Her goal is to remind readers of the importance of punctuation in the English language by mixing humour and instruction. Truss dedicates the book "to the memory of the striking Bolshevik printers of St. Petersburg who, in 1905, demanded to be paid the same rate for punctuation marks as for letters, and thereby directly precipitated the first Russian Revolution."'

[Andy McGregor]

[Following on from the Yoyos thread]

Something I don't believe apostrophiles can quite comprehend is the amount of sheer intellectual pain it causes some of us to see an abused apostrophe. It isn't just a minor error that we have a pendantic wish to correct. It's more like a minor assault on the senses, and it makes it very hard to concentrate on the text, when there's a humiliated apostrophe staring forlornly out of the screen, begging to be put out of its misery.

Spelling mistakes I can take, typos, grammatical mistakes - fine - I can even put up with sms-speak if I must, mind-numbingly horrifying though it is. The systematic persecution and degredation of the humble apostrophe though - now that is more than I can bear.

For me sms-speak almost up there

What makes the plight of the apostrophe so sorrowful is that it's so small and helpless. Like a second-class postage stamp going over the falls it stands no chance at all when it's in the wrong place

p.s. Is this the Grumpy Old Forumites corner?

[dep]

Is this the Grumpy Old Forumites corner?

Yes, I'm here.

[StokeBloke]

I am not siting on the ledge about to throw myself off over an extra (or a missing) apostrophe. However, misuse can make text difficult to understand, and anything that gets in the way of clear communication is distasteful. What I really dislike is the way in a discussion that misuse can make an intelligent person look so hopelessly thick. The apostrophe rules are not that difficult to grasp.

The other thing that seems to make someone look incredibly thick is the wrong use of their, there and they're. Is it so difficult to ask for people to know what three different words mean just because they make the same sound?

[Steven666]

I lieks' pie'z.

...

Can grammar, or the lack of, form the of making a mature point?

(and for a one man portset, Il'l be miseplilng and msiusnig the good ol' "'" form now on)

[dep]

their, there and they're. Is it so difficult to ask for people to know what three different words mean just because they make the same sound?

is this an English thing?
They sound different where proper/correct English is spoken.
Pedants rule!

[jivecat]

What I really dislike is the way in a discussion that misuse can make an intelligent person look so hopelessly thick.

Or alternatively, a thick person can make themselves sound much cleverer than they actually are by correct use of English!

[Gav]

What I really dislike is the way in a discussion that misuse can make an intelligent person look so hopelessly thick.

An occasional comma wouldn't go amiss either.

[Steven666]

I lieks' pie'z.

...

Can grammar, or the lack of, form the of making a mature point?

(and for a one man portset, Il'l be miseplilng and msiusnig the good ol' "'" form now on)

After re-reading, it's quite unintentionally irony being the "is".

Do'h. (yes do'h is correct)

[Beowulf]

Your spot on Stray. Theirs nothing worse than people who misuse they're apostrophe's

You coul'd say its a right Capostrophe .. but I wouldnt would'I ?

[robd]

we have a pendantic wish to correct.

Pendantic?

Like my shirty, am I missing the irony?

[Lou]

Do'h. (yes do'h is correct)

D'oh! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

[Steven666]

D'oh! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

Not been viewnig my ltaset pstos. As I siad Do'h is crorcet.

[Lou]

Not been viewnig my ltaset pstos. As I siad Do'h is crorcet.

Nice try...

[StokeBloke]

An occasional coma wouldn't go amiss either.

Ha ha ha... no seriously... aaahahaha ha ha

[straycat]

Your spot on Stray. Theirs nothing worse than people who misuse they're apostrophe's

You coul'd say its a right Capostrophe .. but I wouldnt would'I ?

[David Bailey]

Spelling mistakes I can take, typos, grammatical mistakes - fine - I can even put up with sms-speak if I must, mind-numbingly horrifying though it is. The systematic persecution and degredation of the humble apostrophe though - now that is more than I can bear.

I have to ask - why?

I mean, I don't like them either, but I don't think they're worse than the other problems you've listed, from an objective barrier-to-communication point of view.

Basically, people should learn to write effectively*. Or failing that, they should do what I do and briefly review every post after posting it. It's not that difficult; if you take the time to write something you should take the time to read it.

* But, obviously, not too effectively, or I'd be out of a job.

[DavidY]

Shouldn't it be the apostrophobes who are the apostrophe misusers?