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Sashadroogie

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21795179

johnslat · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject:

Dear Sasha,

I have notified the appropriate authorities:

http://www.apostrophe.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-for-the-Abolition-of-the-Aberrant-Apostrophe/169796623154857

http://www.killtheapostrophe.com/

Regard's
John Very Happy

Xie Lin · Joined: 21 Oct 2011 Posts: 731

As fond as I am of a good apostrophe, I fear that it is not long for this world. It will become one of the casualities of texting as soon as the next generation is old enough to rewrite the rules of standard usage.

When I use my phone to text, I cling to an obnoxiously dogmatic principle of correct spelling and punctuation--as if I could keep the tsunami of mispelling at bay with my phone. But even I have given up using the apostrophe when I text. It takes me . . . let's see here . . . nine, yes, nine clicks to insert an apostrophe. (And, yeah, I do know I could upgrade, but I'm an infrequent texter, and I just don't need/want a full dedicated keyboard on my phone.)

Given the impact that IM and texting has already had on the ability of many (English speaking) teens to recognize correct spelling and punctuation, I think we'll see a major rewrite of the rules wthin a generation. Beginning with the apostrophe. Crying or Very sad

.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The International Society For The Complete And Total Abolitiuon Of The Apostrophe welcomes new members.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I'm a fan of the apostrophe. I'm also partial to commas, full stops, semi colons et al. But I feel your pain, Xie Lin. I can't even find the comma on my phone, while to use an apostrophe (or bracket) I have to change keyboard and go to the numbers, rather than stay on the letters. Major pain in the you know where.

Anyone else find that punctuation problems are more confined to native speakers than to non native speakers? My high-school Italian students have a greater awareness of punctuation than most Brits. (True, they write i for I and capitalise in the oddest of places, but rarely mistake they're for their for there.)

johnslat · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:44 pm Post subject:

Dear Teacher in Rome,

I think that may be because EFL learners still (usually) get taught at least the basics ( and often a lot more) of grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

From what I've seen, here in the States, at least, such items seem not to be covered very much, if at all, in the public schools.

We have two NNS teachers at the community college where I teach. They know MUCH more about grammar, punctuation and capitalization than almost all the NS teachers - excluding myself, of course. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Apostrophe mistakes in pictures:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/gallery/2013/mar/15/apostrophe-abolish-mistakes#/?picture=405695182&index=0

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:59 pm Post subject:

Hee hee! All the funnier coming from The Grundian.

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Its very important to use apostrophe's correctly.

But how about:

We just have to dot the i's and cross the t's.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:45 am Post subject:

We can use apostrophes correctly in that situation as the alternative would make no sense whatsoever.

We just have to dot the is and cross the ts.

Capital letters won't really help either - do we dot capital I?

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Not really, just common sense writing.

Never use long words when diminutive ones will suffice.
The passive voice is to be avoided.
And never start sentences with a conjunction.
Avoid clich�s like the plague.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:08 pm Post subject:

Dear Hod,

Small revision: "Forswear employing sesquipedalian designations when diminutive ones will suffice." Very Happy

Regards,
John