Proper Grammar

Teegate

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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I was asking questions on another forum for a Mac program I use and typed the word "photo's" as I always do. I then received this email from one of the members.

The plural of "photo" is "photos." Why, why, why, would you add an
apostrophe to make it possessive?

After a second email almost as blunt it has become clear to me I have been making that mistake my complete life. So if it has bothered you as it apparently did to this person I want to apologize.

Guy
 
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
Teegate said:
I was asking questions on another forum for a Mac program I use and typed the word "photo's" as I always do. I then received this email from one of the members.

The plural of "photo" is "photos." Why, why, why, would you add an
apostrophe to make it possessive?

After a second email almost as blunt it has become clear to me I have been making that mistake my complete life. So if it has bothered you as it apparently did to this person I want to apologize.

Guy
Click to expand...

I ain't got know problem's with it. :D
 
1Jerseydevil

1Jerseydevil

Explorer
Feb 14, 2009
567
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Now I wonder how many 's I've added to words when it should have been just s.
Possessive, what does that mean, it's mine? We all know Teegate's ['s?] pictures, notice I didn't use photo's, er...photos are his so why can't he be possessive of them?
 
N

NJChileHead

Explorer
Dec 22, 2011
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Ah the grammar police. They typically bring nothing substantial to a discussion, just their bitter condescension and smug haughtiness.

To hell with 'em.
 
manumuskin

manumuskin

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Jul 20, 2003
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I ain't got no respect for those type of folks. It's funny that I was always the top speller all through grade school.The teachers were always raggin on me about my grammar,punctuation,paragraph structure and my attitude was hey,I can out spell you why do I need to worry about all that crap.Now I wish I had learned all that crap because there are situations occasionally where I need to hide the fact that I"m a hick but it frequently shines through in my posts here and elsewhere.And I really do wish I had learned to type.Even pre internet it would have been useful to hide my horrid penmanship but hey! it's all spelled right:)
In sixth grade the teacher told my Mom he wanted to put me in speech class.He put it to me like He thought I would make a great speaker and wanted to hone my skills.I was all for it till I heard him talking to my Mom and he was raggin on my what he called "southern English".I remembered he was always on me about using phrases like "I ain't got none" and once he asked me to do my homework when he caught me reading an unrelated book.I tole him "I done did it"He went off.Once I realized he had no plans to make me a great speaker He just wanted to destroy my Hillbilly grammar I told my Mom if Granny and Pop Pop could talk like this and it was good enough for them it was good enough for me she told him he could can his speech class
 
N

NJChileHead

Explorer
Dec 22, 2011
832
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Al and Teegate you folks are a wealth of knowledge that only a foolish person wouldn't want to learn from. When you guys talk, smart people listen. That says it all.
 
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Jerseyman

Jerseyman

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Sep 10, 2003
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I think my reputation precedes me in these matters. I am all about assisting people to improve their writing style and grammar. I love writing as a mode of communication and I am constantly seeking ways to improve my own skills. You will find me becoming quite cranky and snarky when folks use Internet and texting abbreviations and shortcuts on these and other forums. Otherwise, I think I remain on an even keel in a placid lake, so to speak. We all make honest mistakes in our writing and gentle corrective prodding is always far more acceptable than a snotty retort.

Some may consider me a grammar nazi, but my ultimate goal is help if I have a receptive pupil.

Best regards,
Jerseyman
 
RednekF350

RednekF350

Piney
Feb 20, 2004
5,054
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Similar to Ben, I am a grammar Nazi but I won't disparage someone in a public forum for misuse of the English language.

On the other hand, I do a lot of technical writing in work and I am the proof reader for anything written by one our engineers. I disparage him weekly and often ask him if he kept his receipts for his college tuition because I feel that he is due a refund.
:)
 
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manumuskin

manumuskin

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Jul 20, 2003
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I"m a map Nazi.If things are in the wrong place or things that should be on the map are not I flip out. Thats why I like aerials.The camera forgets nothing and adds nothing. I am quite forgiving of the mapmakers grammar though.
Okay Grammar Nazi's tell me why every time I type the word "Thats" I get a red line under it as if the computer grammar Nazi just smacke my hand?is "thats" not a word?
 
RednekF350

RednekF350

Piney
Feb 20, 2004
5,054
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manumuskin said:
I"m a map Nazi.If things are in the wrong place or things that should be on the map are not I flip out. Thats why I like aerials.The camera forgets nothing and adds nothing. I am quite forgiving of the mapmakers grammar though.
Okay Grammar Nazi's tell me why every time I type the word "Thats" I get a red line under it as if the computer grammar Nazi just smacke my hand?is "thats" not a word?
Click to expand...
That's is a word Al. It is a contraction of the two words that and is.
Thats is correctly flagged in spell checking programs because it is not a word.
 
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46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
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Coastal NJ
RednekF350 said:
That's is a word Al. It is a contraction of the two words that and is.
Thats is correctly flagged in spell checking programs because it is not a word.
Click to expand...

All spell checking programs shoud short circuit :rolleyes: And the world would be a better place if Melvin Dewey had prevailed. :D
 
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ecampbell

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
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Language has, and always been in a constant state of flux. If we were to go back to Philadelphia 200 years ago we would be considered different. I think if I were to go to South Philly today my speech would stand out. The Oxford Dictionary just added a bunch of new words. And how about the Blue Cross slogan "Live Fearless". I must admit that I shout at the TV every time I hear that, but people will become so accustomed to it that it will become "Proper".
So chill dudes, like ya knows what I's saying?
 
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