Answer Man tracks an apostrophe marked by periodic disappearances washingtonpost.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Immigrants awarded English language certificates without training Times Online Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Examples of poor use of the English language Guardian Unlimited Take a look at an interesting article we found.
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December 11, 2009
Continuing our Friday Lite Language series, after an absence of a few weeks, we attempt the apostrophe, one of our more unsung figures of speech.
(Even if sometimes it is sung.)
Or I should say, “Oh mighty apostrophe, you are power personified, an enormous literary device, as opposed to your pesky namesake that is not fit to punctuate this conversation.”
The apostrophe: from the Greek meaning, "turning away."
A figure of speech in which an absent person, a personified inanimate being, or an abstraction is addressed as though present.
In classical form, it usually starts with an, “O.”
"O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man. That ever lived in the tide of times."
That’s William Shakespeare to earth.
In modern form:
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again…"
It’s a handy figure of speech because it’s always easier to address people that aren’t around.
“Oh Melville, if you were only here to talk your heady brew.”
Knowing Melville it was smart to greet him in absentia.
I suppose we should get to the irritating punctuation mark that has appropriated the same name.
They’re possessive little things and very annoying, since nobody exactly understands them.
Fred’s Car. The Simpsons’ show.
I just follow the rule of putting one after a name that ends with an "s." Works except when it doesn't.
And nobody seems to know whether it’s Charles’s rule or Charles’ rule. Each, I gather, is acceptable, depending on which manual of style you follow.
That's why it's wise in returning to our figure of speech, which is easier to figure.
Although as writer Doug Larson put it:
“If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur."
And to all of you who have been with us everyday, but quietly jealous of the rapport our members display towards each other:
“Envy, be silent and attend!”
(Alexander Pope.)
Figures of Speech englishclub.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Dr. Grammar's Frequently Asked Questions drgrammar.org Take a look at an interesting article we found.
History of the English Language englishclub.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Apostrophe to the Apostrophe
by Eric Nelson
Small floater, you stay above the fr...
Dec. 11, 2009 11:32 AM
Favorite figure of speech?
32% 15% 15% 35% 3%
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Y'all
Now YR ~ we all know that that's the ONLY word in the world when the apostrophe is actually used correctly. :)
RINGS90: Top Marks for you, Young Lady ... Indeed .......
Way to go Rings90!
I find the 's or s' rule even more challanging when writing about someone who's sur name ends in a "z". The Gonzalez's family home, or the Gonzalezes 's or the Gonzalesez' ? I'm sure there is an English rule as the problem does not translate.'
I've got......................... nothin'...........
Here's a very complete and reasonably useful 'set of rules', despite the unconciously hilarious comment at the end: "The rules of apostrophe usage might seem complicated, but they really aren't; and learning them will be well worth any writer's time." Now if I could just figure out how/when to use the following: single quotes, double quotes, curly brackets, brackets, parentheses, and so on.... Oh my! At least I've mastered (I think) the colon, semi-colon, period, and comma.
Oh... reading a biography of Adam Smith, I actually came across the first case of 'nested parentheses': a paranthetical within another parenthetical! I find myself doing this, but I always blame my fling with Basic programming language followed by a long affair with Lotus 1-2-3. I have no idea how deep one is permitted to 'nest' parentheticals in English..... It's interesting that prior to the 20th century, British writers did so using (almost exclusively!) the comma!
Those who think that 'famous British writers' were masters of punctuation should (try to) read Thomas Carlyle. Proceed at this point at your own risk! (The excerpt is from his biography of Frederick the Great). http://books.google.com/books?id=5fQ1AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false
(Dang! You'll need to page down past the 'front stuff' and an Introduction.... Start at Chapter 1...)
Oh, those rules I neglected to put in the first of this series of posts: http://copyediting-grammar-style.suite101.com/article.cfm/rules_of_apostrophe_usage
Oh, EB White, If only your book weren't in the other room- the Elements of Style would be clear to all who would read.
oh, bebe, I've got something, but it isn't much.
http://www.apostropheabuse.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
I can't wait for "National Punctuation Day".
Over at A-Word-A-Day, Anu Garg has been on this topic all week...This week's words were:
rhopalic
periphrastic
epanorthosis
monepic
ploce
As for the apostrophe, contraction trumps possession: e.g. it's vs. its.
And a favorite figure? All of 'em! I'm a fan of Willard Espy's books, along with Mario Pei and Owen Barfield. If anyone can recommend any other authors of similar ilk, I'd like to read them, too!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103140512
My 7th grade daughter'is struggling on her' English comp. class to stay awake as her teacher' is bore'ing the class to death with ad nausea de'tail of sentence struc'ture and the rest. Can't someone figur'e out how to make this all so' important sub'ject fun. Sesame Seed Street' did it at an elementary level surel'y there must be some'one out there???....Perhaps I should hire a tutor.
As an avid reader, I am always adjusting to the writing styles of an author. Who writes like Shakespear? Did he actually walk through the market talking that way? I would hope my readers make an effort to do the same. If I could only have a consistent style, it wouldn't be asking too much. I do have a sister who always corrects my work when she responds. While I am always grateful, I have come to notice that she rarely disagrees with my point of view. I wonder why that is? In the mean time, I am wondering when grammer will include things like "-:)"
I'm just howling at the blue moon above at the top of the page ... ... ... I am simply compelled to do so.
besides, I was poked in the eye once with an errant apostrophe . . .
Doc Nolan, thank you for your helpful and useful information. If only more people could understand and use the apostrophe correctly. I am a returning college student after many years and need all the help I can get.
P.S. You sound like a very interesting person....I enjoyed your photos!
I love what PeterLake said... I'm listening.... It's also a favorite old song.
ON TOPIC: You can't possibly write without the apostrophe, and the feel for where to use it. 'Nuff said.
Tolkien uses ain't instead of aren't...apparently it's a very British thing to do.
Does that put me on the same literary plane as Tolkien? M'Lady?
RY - I think that makes you a Hobbit........
House Guest's sister was impressed by a little ditty that I came up with to explain a punctuation point.
She and I had been having a grade school chucklefest picking out and on our favorite names from a long list. Mine were: "Bill Able Auers," "Helena Hand-Basquet," and the seasonal, "Gaye O'Farrel."
Her brother, suspecting that it was probably what Jalopkin enjoys referring to as an acorn, checked further and found that it had been, in fact, dumb luck based on the clever flow of some words that happened to hit the mark.
But, how do we know for sure that Strunk & White...???
And no, it will not be exposed to vivisection, thank you.
While looking for Wm. Safire's "Words of Wisdom," my eye fell upon Thomas Hoving's novel, "Masterpiece," standing nearby, just as it was reported that he had died.
I had an infatuation with his speaking and writing style for a while and admired him but not on the same level as Safire who stopped by the house every Sunday morning and answered emails.
Our five year-old grandson in his six student, two teacher, two student teacher kindergarten class, expressed his mood by drawing a un-smiley face :( It was the last day for his two sweet and adorable student teachers.
They baked cookies for the occasion and when, in review, he was asked what kind they had made, he answered quietly: "Goodbye Cookies."
Apostrophe to the Apostrophe
by Eric Nelson
Small floater, you stay above the fray,
a wink at nothing's nod,
a raised brow watching p's and q's,
a selfless mote between I and m,
a little horn of plenty spilling plurals,
disdaining the bottom line.
Unlike your twin relatives-groupies of wit and wisdom,
hangers on in the smallest talk-
you work alone, ark of a crescent moon.
Laboring in obscurity, you never ask why,
never exclaim, never tell anyone where to go.
Caught up between extremes,
you are both a turning away and a stepping forth,
a loss and an addition. You are the urge
to possess everything, and the sure sign
that something is missing. more on the honor roll
In sixth grade we had a teacher who was inspired by the series "School House Rock". She wrote a song to teach us the rules of using the comma. She wanted to make it fun so she brought costumes and her husband came and accompanied us on his guitar. We had a blast but I cannot remember the song, just the experience.
Now I'm a punctuation drop out. I use it with reckless abandon and I'm sure incorrectly most of the time. With commas, the go where I feel a natural pause would be if I were speaking the sentence. Everything else is used as the inspiration hits me *#%.
BEBE: Its sposta be " I Got PLENTY OF Nothin' " You can sing that while Peter Lake and Vaughn Monroe are Racing With The Moon .......
He also did a rendition of, "BLU MOON" but the original was done by, GENE AUSTIN back in the late 20's .......
When I grow up, I hope to write as well as some of the folks here at the Eye.
Stoney - I see your grandson has inherited your gift for succinct but touching communication. You will no doubt nurture his abilities.
Now, since it's Friday, and this topic (as Isles described yesterday's, I think) has a limited shelf life, can we talk about food, movies or travel? Or Miss Blue's evening menu?
BLUE MOON , that is .......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsB2KGaX6bg
PETER LAKE: He is too Tall to be a Hobbit ... He might be a Pookah .......
Hahahahaha great link Isles, I haven't seen that movie in ages.
I wonder if there is a collector edition of School House Rock, I need a refresher course...
Nachista: School House Rock is available on DVD. It is like gold when my kids find it on the sheld at the Library.
Tonight will be, for the second time this week, a fasting affair. I am determined not to repeat Tuesday's post-test mischief where-in I knocked over both a blind man and a nun in a wheelchair rushing into Starbuck's.
Doc Nolan, re. the colon. I suppose, medically speaking, a colon means that there is more to follow.
If the moon, and IF the moon is BLUE, THEN is the moon made of Blue Cheese???
"if the moon is made of cheese, and if the moon is blue, then is the moon made of blue cheese?" syllogism, replacing former draft, done without dark roast
STONEY: Before you are overcome with guilt & shame, please be advised that the "blind" man and the "nun" are actually a team of crafty pickpockets.....
Stoney - Nothing stands in the way of a faster when he's zeroed in on his first cup of joe. Is it safe to say that you told the blind man that the nun knocked him over?
IVAN -Excellent point. Besides I'm sure he would rather have furry toes than exxtremely hairy ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8C-IdCW2g4&feature=player_embedded#
stoney: re: yesterday, and Fargo, and me On The Road to Janesville: I couldn't find the money, but I found this woodchipper, imagine that; it looks like it was used hard, once.
Nachista, I think all of Schoolhouse Rock is on iTunes these days. I have the DVD set. "I'm Just a Bill" is still my favorite.
PARK4 -Were you driving a tan Cierra?
I'll comment on the picture up top. It reminds me of a Blue Moon being eclipsed. Now that would be a picture!
Hey Jalopkin, if I don't see you on here again before tomorrow...
Have a very Happy Hanukkah!
ijames: If, as you point out, ""medically speaking, a colon means that there is more to follow" the sphincter of every sentence should not be thought of as a 'period', but simply an 'anal device for closure'. Finis.
Oh dearest JPeterLake, if I told you, I'd have to you-know-what you... I can't even say it when I'm thinking of you. k.k.k.k.-- that word.
I'm watching that movie tonight.
I saw it a couple of weeks ago on tv, and they had to bleep out all the profanity, and it was so funny, because there wasn't much dialogue left after the bad-word-censors got done with it.
But the Minnesota frame of mind and way of talking was all there.
Park4,
In answer to a judge's question regarding how he got his chipper cleaned out after disposing of what we'll just call unwanted pets, a fellow Badger said: "I run about ten twenty pound bags of ice through 'er into," (and this was my favorite part) "the well."
Refreshing beverage anyone?
NACHIISTA: Bless You, and Thank You ... Now is a good time for me to say to you, and all the other Villagers, that Chanukkah is upon us, and it is time to lite the Lights, and publicize the Miracle ... Not the First Miracle and certainly Not the Last Ha'Shem will do for His Chosen Few ...
I Wish You All HAPPY HOLIDAYS , and May Your Season Be All You Want It To Be, Times Ten ... Be Safe, Be Well, May You Have Godly Health Always, Outrageous Good Fortune in Every Aspect of Your Lives, and An Extra Long Life, That You May Enjoy All Your Blessings To The Fullest, Share With Those You Love, and Teach The Children .......
For Those of You Who Do, HAPPY CHANUKKAH !!! CHAG SAMEACH !!!
To You All, HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!!!!
See You Next Year .......
IVAN JALOPKIN
k,k,k, karumba ...
I send my best wishes for a joyous Chanukah to you and yours, dear Ivan!
I'll pass, stoney. Oh, that woodchipper. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ice cubes....!
And:
I'd have to k.k.k.k*ll you. JPL, and I don't like to say that to you.
Anyhow it's a silver Toyota. Isn't every car on the roads today silver colored? Seems like it....;)
Peterman, I don't know if this qualifies as an apostrophe, but I do know that last names with apostrophes don't qualify as real names, at least as far as you ordering process is concerned. It took me three tries to part with my hard-earned wages on your Web site, and I succeeded only after I realized I had to change my last name to do so. I complied-- the Mrs. wants that purse ever so badly-- but is a required abandonment of one's given name for the expedience of technology congruent with Peterman's eye view? Alas!
P4- they ARE all silver- and most of them Toyotas...
Shandonista: Being a grown-up is not all it's cracked up to be. I've tried it on multiple occasions, but consistently rejected it. The more innocent eyes of children {pun intended} trade off nicely for lack of life experience. "Life experience" can harden the heart, constrain the soul, and cause one to succumb to despair. As Kermit Frog said, "It's not easy, being green." But his approach to life, always optimistic, is lost on "adults" all too often. Stay who you are, girl.....we like you that way.
Counselor Poet, I bet they'd include the apostrophe in your name if you called the lovely customer service reps on the phone. They've always been more than accomodating with me!
Doc Noln: Thanks. I think I have the period and question mark down, but the rest is still confusing.
Jalopkin: Happy Chanukah to you my virtual friend. And Zaa Ghizint.
Oh mighty bold one Jalopkin. Happy Chanukah to you too. I believe this should be considered an apostrophe, since I am addressing an absent friend.
Have we tackled the heady subject of asterisks yet?
asterisk's
aster's isks
astersisk's
asterisks'
oh, no.
I hit send.
Ignore.
Ignore.
Ignore.
I now have plenty of somethin'... as in a glass of wine.
JALOPKIN- Happy Chanukah my friend. If my father was still alive- he too would be celebrating...
STONEY- Tell your grandson to enjoy those cookies- I'm sure they will soon be outlawed as evil in the U.S. I bake for my class for special occasions- kids love it, I love it- the P.C. police are gunning for us. I love the term "Goodbye cookies." Maybe Elin will be making Tiger some very soon...
Ivan,
Blessings upon you old friend.
Bert & Peter Lake,
I was remiss in failing to mention that two citations were issued in the Starbuck's incident: "Operating at speeds inappropriate for prevailing conditions."
Neither of them complained though promising to hurl themselves aside the next time that they hear: "Comin' through."
Ivan,
Happy Chanukah! May the extraordinary blessings and light that you emanate, be reflected upon you.
Best,
Penny