Topic: I harshly judge people who use an apostrophe for a plural.
Indy !!3hypt7fkt started this discussion 11 years ago #39,473
In reference to Becky's spelling post, I must admit: when people use an apostrophe for a plural, such as, "I love carrot's!", I consider them to be not only stupid and uneducated, but morally inferior. What do you think?
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later[^] [v] #525,466
Yes! I hate it a lot. The only time I find it acceptable is when pluralising single, lowercase letters ("cross your t's!") and abbreviations when full stops are used, e.g. P.h.D's.
And of course speakers of certain foreign languages are forgiven, e.g. Afrikaans and Dutch which uses apostrophes to pluralise sometimes to keep the vowel long ("foto's").
And of course speakers of certain foreign languages are forgiven, e.g. Afrikaans and Dutch which uses apostrophes to pluralise sometimes to keep the vowel long ("foto's").
(Edited 44 seconds later.)
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,467
It's nowhere near as bad as abusing Greek plurals. http://mentalfloss.com/article/50149/9-extremely-pretentious-latin-and-greek-plurals
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 27 seconds later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,469
@525,466 (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
But those are wrong. Here are the correct forms:
1. Cross your Ts.
2. PhDs.
There is NEVER a case, in English, when an apostrophe is used for a plural. Never.
As for non-native speakers, I agree that it is a different matter.
But those are wrong. Here are the correct forms:
1. Cross your Ts.
2. PhDs.
There is NEVER a case, in English, when an apostrophe is used for a plural. Never.
As for non-native speakers, I agree that it is a different matter.
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,471
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,473
@525,469 (A)
Yes, you can make them uppercase if you want, in which case Ts would be used. But if they're lowercase, it's completely acceptable to use an apostrophe for the plural.
Even the Chicago Manual of Style agrees!
Yes, you can make them uppercase if you want, in which case Ts would be used. But if they're lowercase, it's completely acceptable to use an apostrophe for the plural.
Even the Chicago Manual of Style agrees!
Capital letters used as words, numerals used as nouns, and abbreviations usually form the plural by adding s. To aid comprehension, lowercase letters form the plural with an apostrophe and an s.
Plurals of lowercase letters with apostrophes have been used for a very long time.(Edited 59 seconds later.)
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,474
@previous (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
Wrong. Apostrophes are only used to represent missing letters, and there are never missing letters in plurals.
Wrong. Apostrophes are only used to represent missing letters, and there are never missing letters in plurals.
Anonymous C replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,475
@previous (A)
Not all plurals add an "s" at the end. Sometimes they replace the end of the word with the letter "a".
Not all plurals add an "s" at the end. Sometimes they replace the end of the word with the letter "a".
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,476
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 17 seconds later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,477
@525,475 (C)
Yes, there are some English irregular plurals. My point is simply that apostrophes should never be used to indicate plurality.
Yes, there are some English irregular plurals. My point is simply that apostrophes should never be used to indicate plurality.
Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 11 years ago, 20 seconds later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,478
@525,476 (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
According to the history of the apostrophe from Old English until today.
According to the history of the apostrophe from Old English until today.
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 9 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,481
@previous (A)Pic related: excerpt from A common-school grammar of the English language, published in 1866.
All you have to do is search Google Books and find hundreds of uses of t's, i's, etc. Thanks.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,483
@previous (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
As an EXPERT on languages, especially ancient and Medieval ones, I can assure you that apostrophes are meant to replace missing letters, not to indicate plurals.
As an EXPERT on languages, especially ancient and Medieval ones, I can assure you that apostrophes are meant to replace missing letters, not to indicate plurals.
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,484
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,485
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 53 seconds later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #525,486
Look you little shit, you are very close to crossing the line. I want you to know that once I "go TTEH" on someone, it is over. I have ruined lives, destroyed careers, bankrupted people, even provoked one suicide. You may think I am "bawwing" and "mad in space," but you have no idea, man. I will not hesitate to destroy your fucking life. So back off, and let's keep it at a fun level. Thank's.
dw joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,501
TTEH !FFSTTEHV7. replied with this 11 years ago, 6 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,502
@previous (dw)
This. You limit yourself if you insist on making plural letters uppercase. Rs =/= r's.
This. You limit yourself if you insist on making plural letters uppercase. Rs =/= r's.
Anonymous D replied with this 11 years ago, 13 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,507
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 9 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,509
What kind of mora judges people on how they form their pluralæ?
Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 10 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,510
I would like to complain about misuse of the word whom, and inappropriate semicolon usage.
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 4 hours later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,532
I feel the same way. Normally I'm forgiving of bad grammar if they seem like decent people otheewise, but this shit is the worst. Especially when somebody writes out a whole article or something and keeps doing it.
@525,486 (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
What does "going TTEH" on somebody involve?
@525,486 (TTEH !FFSTTEHV7.)
What does "going TTEH" on somebody involve?
(Edited 18 seconds later.)
Anonymous C replied with this 11 years ago, 4 hours later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,583
Anonymous C double-posted this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #525,584
@525,477 (A)
> Yes, there are some English irregular plurals. My point is simply that apostrophes should never be used to indicate plurality.
How should we then, pray tell, indicate whether or not something should be pronounced as one word, two words, or pronounced in French?
> Yes, there are some English irregular plurals. My point is simply that apostrophes should never be used to indicate plurality.
How should we then, pray tell, indicate whether or not something should be pronounced as one word, two words, or pronounced in French?