Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2011 10:35:06 GMT
50 years ago I was taught that a word ending in an "s" [not sure whether singular or plural !] followed by say, dog ,would have an apostrophe at the end. Hence : James' dog. Is it possible in the English language to have two ways as correct, or possibly acceptable ? I agree that some terms like slaughter, massacre, are incorrectly used and I think that the newspapers are guilty of fostering the use of these words.
|
|
|
Post by Pete on May 9, 2011 20:47:40 GMT
50 years ago I was taught that a word ending in an "s" [not sure whether singular or plural !] followed by say, dog ,would have an apostrophe at the end. Hence : James' dog. Is it possible in the English language to have two ways as correct, or possibly acceptable ? Many of us think so, alggomas. But there are some people who insist that there is only one way, and yours isn't it!
|
|
|
Post by Alan Palmer on May 11, 2011 16:25:10 GMT
Is it possible in the English language to have two ways as correct, or possibly acceptable ? It most certainly is possible, and it is common to have more than one way of expressing yourself in English. There is no One Right Way. Most rules can be expressed as ""Deal with this in this way, except when you don't".
In the case you mention, a word like James usually (in British and Commonwealth English) takes an apostrophe and another s, so we get James's dog. However, it is common in the USA for it to be spelt James' dog. Both methods are "right"; the important thing is to be consistent.
|
|
|
Post by Tone on May 11, 2011 19:33:01 GMT
>However, it is common in the USA for it to be spelt James' dog.<
And common in England, Alan. Divided we stand!
Tone
|
|
|
Post by Twoddle on May 11, 2011 21:11:03 GMT
>However, it is common in the USA for it to be spelt James' dog.<And common in England, Alan And probably also in the greater part of the UK, Tone.
|
|
|
Post by Tone on May 12, 2011 19:43:25 GMT
>And probably also in the greater part of the UK, Tone. <Oh, you mean the bits that aren't England do it as well. Tone
|
|