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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 16:47:20 GMT
Do I use an apostrophe when writing 'Puffins Class' on a door sign? I've been using 'Puffins' Class' thinking that as there are 30 Puffins in the class it should be the same rule as a plural.
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Post by Twoddle on Oct 15, 2014 18:42:15 GMT
Either version would be OK, Atticaunt. You could use Puffins adjectivally, i.e. the class of the type, "Puffins", or the possessive plural, Puffins', because it's the class of/used by/reserved for the Puffins. I prefer the latter, but others here would probably suggest the former.
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Post by Tone on Oct 15, 2014 20:15:23 GMT
I'll agree with Twoddle, there.
Tone
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Post by Paul Doherty on Oct 16, 2014 11:40:46 GMT
I'm going to muddy the waters. I think we're barking up the wrong puffin here: both Puffins Class and Puffins' Class sit uneasily with me. But it's not an apostrophe issue, it's a singular/plural issue.
I'd prefer Puffin Class. What are the other classes called?
My local primary school has Oak Class and Beech Class; cubs and scouts have Badger Troupe and Red Six.
Oaks Class, Beeches Class, Badgers Troupe, Reds Six all sound very odd, and bunging in an apostrophe isn't going to help!
I'd say it's definitely not possessive: Wolverhampton Girls' School would be a school for girls and Puffins' Class would be a class for puffins rather than children. So it must be adjectival, and although we have sports car and accounts department, they are unusual. Department stores have a shoe department, not a shoes department.
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Post by Twoddle on Oct 16, 2014 12:10:01 GMT
You're absolutely correct, Paul: you have muddied the waters. It's good to see you back here, nevertheless.
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Post by Boulevardier on Oct 16, 2014 12:42:13 GMT
I think Paul has clarified things a lot - it's like the difference between "Football Club" and "Footballers' Club", it just depends what is in your mind when you say/think it. From that analogy, I think, like Paul, that "Puffin Class" works much better.
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Post by Twoddle on Oct 16, 2014 17:00:04 GMT
Puffins Class, Puffins' Class, and Puffin Class all look fine to me, but each says something slightly different. (We weren't asked about the singular, so I didn't comment on it.)
Puffins Class: The class known as Puffins; Puffins' Class: The class for the group of children known as the Puffins; Puffin Class: The class known as Puffin.
The only one to avoid would be Puffin's Class, unless but a single Puffin were in it.
I don't think examples such as "Shoe Department" necessarily set a precedent. The same shop might have a "Children's Department" and a "Soft Furnishings Department".
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Post by Paul Doherty on Oct 17, 2014 16:01:13 GMT
I don't think examples such as "Shoe Department" necessarily set a precedent. Just an example of how attributive usage tends to be singular. Nothing is clear-cut though when it comes to language, is it? It would be nice to hear from atticaunt what the other classes are called.
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Post by Sue M-V on Oct 18, 2014 13:26:25 GMT
If the sign if for a classroom door, can't we assume that what is inside there is likely to be a class? In that case, the only useful information to put on the door is "Puffins".
Sue
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Post by Dave on Oct 18, 2014 18:17:48 GMT
So sensible, Sue!
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