Rincewind Posted 28 July 2013 Author Posted 28 July 2013 I did see a few years ago that the Star Trek writers had made a big mistake. At the beginning where they say 'to boldly go' and it should be 'to go boldly' If it hadn't been pointed out I it probably would have not bothered me but almost every time I see it now I think of it. Please tell me that either usage is OK.
Jordan Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 What annoys me, is that many people from overseas know,, and can speak our language better than many of our own people. No wonder this country is going to the dogs, Not being able to speak or write one's own language correctly, shows how we are one of the most illiterate nations in the western world.. Take note, you illiterates, and feel ashamed, as indeed you should. I would be prepared to bet my life savings that illiteracy in the UK is at its lowest level ever, and that literacy/language proficiency has been improving continuously since statistics of these abilities began to be assembled and recorded.In every generation, our elders have bemoaned the sorry state of the English language, particularly as it is used amongst youths. Yet for centuries, literacy has improved to the point where illiteracy--in the UK and the world at large--is at its lowest rate in history. I would recommend You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity by Robert Lane Greene as an excellent exploration of this. Greene touches on some of the theme covered by the article about apostrophes--that difference in language use between persons and peoples is less about the language itself as it is a tool we use to separate "us" vs "them." As an aside, I've found it ironic that every time I try to type "its" in this thread, my iPhone tries to autocorrect it to "it's."
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 I did see a few years ago that the Star Trek writers had made a big mistake. At the beginning where they say 'to boldly go' and it should be 'to go boldly' If it hadn't been pointed out I it probably would have not bothered me but almost every time I see it now I think of it. Please tell me that either usage is OK.
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 I would be prepared to bet my life savings that illiteracy in the UK is at its lowest level ever, and that literacy/language proficiency has been improving continuously since statistics of these abilities began to be assembled and recorded. In every generation, our elders have bemoaned the sorry state of the English language, particularly as it is used amongst youths. Yet for centuries, literacy has improved to the point where illiteracy--in the UK and the world at large--is at its lowest rate in history. I would recommend You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity by Robert Lane Greene as an excellent exploration of this. Greene touches on some of the theme covered by the article about apostrophes--that difference in language use between persons and peoples is less about the language itself as it is a tool we use to separate "us" vs "them." As an aside, I've found it ironic that every time I try to type "its" in this thread, my iPhone tries to autocorrect it to "it's." Nice one, Jordan.
Zingari Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 I once got slapped by a lady at the golf club when I asked her if I could play a round with her .
Smudge Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 I once got slapped by a lady at the golf club when I asked her if I could play a round with her . Only on the men's tee, can a woman wash their balls.
AyewJoking Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 Not necessarily my views. Middle-class problems: Apostrophes By Simmy Richman Let's make this clear from the start: grammar and punctuation are important. As one joker recently put it, "[They] can be the difference between knowing your shit, and knowing you're shit." Yup. Grammar and punctuation can change the narrative when a panda with a poorly edited wildlife manual walks into a café and orders a sandwich. They really can. Truss me on this. But there is another side to this debate, and it is one that really reveals itself only after half a lifetime spent working with words. In a nutshell, it is this: many educated middle-class people seem to have taken it upon themselves to use a person's lack of understanding of how apostrophes work as a tool with which to patronise those who may be foreign, dyslexic, under-educated or simply uninterested. We have even given a name to this phenomenon: the greengrocer's apostrophe. "Darling, I simply couldn't buy my fruit from that establishment. I mean, the sign on the produce outside read 'APPLE'S and ORANGE'S', for goodness sake!" Well woop di doo and la di da. Bully for you. You understand how the apostrophe works, and that poor sod who barely made it out of the war-torn place of his birth and then had to adjust to a foreign language and culture doesn't. Give yourself a hearty pat on the back. Well done, you. So yes, attention to linguistic detail is important. But punctuation pedants take note: whether the sign reads "APPLE'S" or "APPLES" really isn't worth worrying about. The core meaning is surely the same. if couldnt is short for could not, should not the apostrophe be placed after the d? not taking the piss, i've never known for sure.
Harry - LCFC Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 if couldnt is short for could not, should not the apostrophe be placed after the d? not taking the piss, i've never known for sure. Apostrophes are used to show where letters have been missed out, so in the case of "couldn't" the O from "not" has been missed out so the apostrophe goes between the N and the T.
theessexfox Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 if couldnt is short for could not, should not the apostrophe be placed after the d? not taking the piss, i've never known for sure. I think it's that the apostrophe is replacing the o, so it goes there.
AyewJoking Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 so the same goes for shouldn't? what about havent?
Rincewind Posted 28 July 2013 Author Posted 28 July 2013 so the same goes for shouldn't? what about havent? Same. The apostrophe goes after the final letter if it is a plural as in Citizens' Eye. If it was one person I expect it would be a citizen's eye Correct me if I am wrong as I am no expert but I hope I know the basics to get by.
fleckneymike Posted 28 July 2013 Posted 28 July 2013 so the same goes for shouldn't? what about havent? There are two types of apostrophe, possession and omission. This poster might help http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe
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