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Post by J Daes on Aug 11, 2013 17:11:44 GMT
Why is it incorrect to say : your Department's Chairman
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Post by Alan Palmer on Aug 11, 2013 19:03:02 GMT
You wouldn't normally have capital letters there. I'd write it your department's chairman. You'd usually only have capitals in a job title.
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Post by Dave Miller on Aug 11, 2013 20:47:00 GMT
Hi, J
I agree with Alan, but if you've been told that the phrase is "incorrect", there may be another reason. Some people have got the idea that only people (and perhaps animals) can "possess" things, so only they can have a possessive apostrophe.
This is utter rubbish, of course. We can certainly say - and write - that Wednesday's weather was fine, the Earth's atmosphere is polluted, and a diamond's sparkle is inimitable.
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Post by Twoddle on Aug 11, 2013 22:31:00 GMT
I'd say that not only should "Department" have a lower case "d", but "Chairman" should have a lower case "c". Both "department" and "chairman" are being used as a common nouns (as opposed to proper nouns), so neither of them merits a capital initial letter.
... your department's chairman ... ... my chairman ... ... the previous chairman ...
But: Mr Chairman (as a form of address) Dear Chairman (e.g. on a letter to the chairman) Greetings, Chairman.
(The apostrophe's correct, as Dave has already stated.)
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Post by J Daes on Aug 12, 2013 2:36:49 GMT
Thank you all . The question was more related to possessive apostrophe and had been answered .
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Post by P Ford on Aug 25, 2013 16:33:43 GMT
Is it incorrect to use an apostrophe after two or more names as in John's and Mary's house? Should only one apostrophe be used after Mary - eg John and Mary's house? Thank you.
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Post by Twoddle on Aug 25, 2013 16:51:04 GMT
Is it incorrect to use an apostrophe after two or more names as in John's and Mary's house? Should only one apostrophe be used after Mary - eg John and Mary's house? Thank you. That's right. If the house is shared between John and Mary, it's John and Mary's house.
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