The emperors return

[Matt]

I am watching BBC's Frozen Planet with my flatmate and we're discussing whether the title 'the emperors return' (referring to emperor penguins returning to the ice) needs an apostrophe or not.

Does it count as being possessive if the word is a verb?

[Dave]

Previously addressed here.

[Twoddle]

Dec 9, 2011 6:41:57 GMT Dave said:

Previously addressed here.

I get a "Page not found" message for that link, Dave.

Matt, "The emperors return" could mean one of two things, i.e.:
"The return of the emperors", in which case an apostrophe is needed - "The emperors' return";
or "The emperors are returning", in which case an apostrophe would be incorrect.

It goes to show that apostrophes are important in conveying meaning.

(And before anyone suggests "The emperor's return", let me confirm that I saw the programme too and that considerably more than one emperor penguin was shown in it.)

[Dave]

Dec 9, 2011 8:47:09 GMT Twoddle said:

I get a "Page not found" message for that link, Dave.

Link fixed above. Sorry.

[Twoddle]

Dec 9, 2011 9:53:57 GMT Dave said:

Dec 9, 2011 8:47:09 GMT Twoddle said:

I get a "Page not found" message for that link, Dave.

Link fixed above. Sorry.

Thanks, Dave. I don't visit the APS forum these days.

[Verbivore]

Dec 12, 2011 22:58:08 GMT Twoddle said:

[...] I don't visit the APS forum these days.

It seems very few do. I check it once or twice a week and it's rare to find a new post. I suspect that JR's earlier insistence on keeping discussion exclusively to the apostrophe -- against all sensible considerations, suggestions from participants and also from John Hale (admin) -- proved less than wise. What was once a lively forum has almost died, while here we are alive and well. Paul's experiment (this forum) has proven successful.

[Pete]

Some of us are reasonably active on the APS site.

[Alan Palmer]

I stopped going there when JR recanted and allowed non-apostrophe related discussion. It was quite clear that he realised that his earlier decision had driven many of his regulars to this site, and his reversal was a blatant attempt to stifle us at birth.

[Tone]

And now JR has become a "visitor"! (To his own site.)

So, will the "emperor" return?

Tone