Re: Poor little hyphen.

Subject: Re: Poor little hyphen.
Author: Pads
Posted on: 2009-02-02 01:29:00 UTC

Funny thing, that, the clearing of ambiguity. English is already unusual in that word order is of paramount importance, thanks to our dislike of declensions. You lose the hyphen, and word order becomes even more important. So I like it, in a way. Losing the hyphen further distinguishes English from other, declining languages. (And by Glod I hate declining things. Old Norse this semester is going to be murder.)

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Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Sedri on 2009-01-31 01:54:00 UTC Reply

They're taking apostrophies out of street signs.

In Birmingham, "King's Cross" is being written on signs as "Kings Cross". The council made it official, after having apparently been quietly taking them out for years.

Quote: "Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate, and are not needed,"

Am I the only one who finds thous OUTRAGEOUS?

Something else I saw yesterday... Not as bad, though. by Sedri on 2009-02-04 00:27:00 UTC Reply

On a bus that was clearly on its way to the depot:

ITS WAY PAST THIS BUSES BEDTIME

If not for the apostrophy abuse, that would have been exceedingly funny. *sigh*
Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Kailani on 2009-02-01 21:28:00 UTC Reply

Apostrophes are often misused or left out. It's really irritating when it happens.
Kings Cross? by Tawaki on 2009-02-01 18:52:00 UTC Reply
1. Kd8?? Ke1++
*blinks* by Anity on 2009-02-01 06:20:00 UTC Reply

Oookay, then. That makes sense, in the same way that my bed is actually a tiger. *rolls eyes*

Run! Before it eats you! (nm) by Makari on 2009-02-01 06:31:00 UTC Reply

Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Heliomance on 2009-01-31 21:28:00 UTC Reply

How does taking the apostrophes out make it more accurate?

See Kings!
See Kings Cross!
Cross, Kings! Cross!

Extra! Extra! Kings Cross Station! Read all abaht it!
If they want to get rid of the apostrophy, then... by Leto Haven on 2009-01-31 11:37:00 UTC Reply

They sould get rid of the `s` as well. It would only make sence. That would keep the meaning straight and not have the grammatically correct up in arms.

Just my two yen.

Leto

Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue easily, though. by wingnut on 2009-02-02 02:39:00 UTC Reply

'Course, people'd adapt, but it'd take a bit of getting used to.

Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Ansela on 2009-01-31 10:43:00 UTC Reply

I saw that on the news last night and was not too pleased. It was the closest I've come to throwing something at my TV in a while. No one who pays attention in English should be confused by apostrophes.

You're assuming, of course... by Relden Calder on 2009-01-31 21:13:00 UTC Reply

...that people DO pay attention.
"What? All those fiddly grammatical rules? Bollocks to that, there's footy on!"
Never mind that even an IDIOT could understand said rules, but then, since when have the British (or American, for that matter) public at large ever been intelligent enough to be called 'idiots'?
Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Makari on 2009-01-31 11:09:00 UTC Reply

Yeah, but who does? I mean, some years ago I was as much as told that I was not, in fact, expected to get anything out of ninth grade English class save social experience.
Admittedly, this was the American school system, and this was near five years ago now, but...
It's going down the tubes, really.
Still. This? Shall not be tolerated. Grr.

Wait, what? by Spud avec on 2009-01-31 10:35:00 UTC Reply

Excuse me whilst I go headbutt a wall. Repeatedly.

*thunk*
Ack! The stupid! by Sara on 2009-01-31 06:52:00 UTC Reply

"Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate, and are not needed"?!

But...plural...if...oh, Eru. *headdesk*
Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Pads on 2009-01-31 04:42:00 UTC Reply

I admit it is outrageous. It is, however, all I ever expected from the Midlands.

Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Ansela on 2009-01-31 10:40:00 UTC Reply

It's not just the Midlands, Pads. ITV news had one of their reporters showing the street sign at one end of a street in London with an apostrophe placed correctly, but missing at the other end. The same reporter asked three pedestrians outside King's Cross the meaning of the apostrophe in the sign for that station, and only one got it correct. ~~I'm not sure where the first guy wanted to put the apostrophe, and the woman wanted to modify it to 'Kings' Cross'.~~

Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Pads on 2009-01-31 12:33:00 UTC Reply

*sigh*

Alright, the entire country's doomed, I suppose. Let's just break out the nukes and have done.

Re: Something to anger all grammar lovers... by Ansela on 2009-01-31 13:30:00 UTC Reply

No, bad Pads, no nukes. Some of us still have to live here, at least until they've graduated from Uni anyway. Let's not let the illiterate minority (who are unfortunately growing to a majority, but they're still a minority if we don't count all the immigrants who can't be bothered to learn English well enough to understand it) win.

Petition, anyone? by Neshomeh on 2009-01-31 17:17:00 UTC Reply

I have very little experience with social rabble-rousing, but I do know that if enough rabble gets roused, it can make a difference.

So... anyone with more experience know how to set up a good petition? "Save the Apostrophe" sort of thing?

~Neshomeh

"Save The Apostrophe!" Sure, why not? by Sedri on 2009-01-31 23:00:00 UTC Reply

Not that I live in England, or anywhere close, but I'll be glad to help out. ...No idea how, but I will.

we could start with my street by Pads on 2009-02-01 12:38:00 UTC Reply

It always drives me mad when my post is addressed to "St Augustines". There should be a full stop and an apostrophe in there.

Sounds good to me. by Neshomeh on 2009-02-01 18:51:00 UTC Reply

I always wondered about the lack of full stops in abbreviations like that. St., Mr., all those sorts of things. I figured it was just one of those British usage things.

I say go out there with some bright red paint and mark in the appropriate punctuation. And make some angry phone calls to whoever sends letters addressed like that.

~Neshomeh

seems that's an old one by Pads on 2009-02-03 17:15:00 UTC Reply

Been reading Origin of Species and Darwin always says Mr or Dr or whatever. Never puts a full stop after.
Re: Sounds good to me. by Pads on 2009-02-01 18:58:00 UTC Reply

Dropping the . after Mr and Mrs is one of those examples of language evolving, similar to how we're currently in the process of doing away with the hyphen. Saint, however, is only ever shortened in street names (well, and actual saints' names, but who ever writes about those?), so one can't really make quite the same argument for dropping the punctuation.

I'd have to go round all the local pubs too. Within three minutes' walk from here are "Queens", "Nags Head", and "St Johns". And buggered if I'm defacing the latter, because it's my local.

Poor little hyphen. by Neshomeh on 2009-02-01 20:15:00 UTC Reply

It's such a useful critter. Clears up so much potential ambiguity, and yet is so unappreciated. And who even knows about the en-dash? Is it weird that I suddenly want plush punctuation marks just so I can cuddle the poor unloved things?

~Neshomeh, who doesn't even think without punctuation.

Re: Poor little hyphen. by Pads on 2009-02-02 01:29:00 UTC Reply

Funny thing, that, the clearing of ambiguity. English is already unusual in that word order is of paramount importance, thanks to our dislike of declensions. You lose the hyphen, and word order becomes even more important. So I like it, in a way. Losing the hyphen further distinguishes English from other, declining languages. (And by Glod I hate declining things. Old Norse this semester is going to be murder.)
Seconded. All of it. by Sedri on 2009-02-01 20:33:00 UTC Reply

There's a furniture warehouse in my city called "My Mate Johns". It makes me want to tear my hair out.

On the other hand, I like dropping the full stop after "Mr" and "Mrs" - otherwise it's far too easy to misread it as the end of a sentence. As for saints... bleh. Same story, I guess.

*hands around the buckets of paint* Forward, march!

I don't have a problem with thous. by Neshomeh on 2009-01-31 02:41:00 UTC Reply

This, however, is the height of stupidity. Are they saying that the plural is more accurate than the possessive? 'Cause that's what it is now. And, maybe this is just me, being raised American and all, but when I see Queens English, I think the accent and dialect associated with an area in New York City. {= P

~Neshomeh, who apologizes for nitpicking the typo, but thought it was funny. ^_~

... by Buta no Kaabii on 2009-01-31 12:04:00 UTC Reply

That actually makes more sense than this decision, actually. *Miles Edgeworth head shake* Some people are just too ignorant. Appalling, to be quite honest. At least your comment was worth a laugh, which is more than I can say for this ruling.
*blush* I was angry. I typed too fast. by Sedri on 2009-01-31 03:39:00 UTC Reply

Was meant to be "this".