Page 3 | Grammar Police v Wedding Party *MNHQ tweaked title at OP's request*

WillLiveLifeAgain · 2024-10-01T14:27:19+00:00

I'm usually OK with grammar but this one has me scratching my head. Probably lack of sleep (not over this). Went to a wedding at the weekend. They had one of those neon signs with their surname but added an apostrophe. So it said The Smith's (name changed) Shouldn't it have said The Smiths? There were four of them including children. Not one belonging to something/someone. I'm very happy to be proved wrong. I'm not a grammar nazi but would hope something like that would have been right? I know this is AIBU so disclaimer obviously what matters is the happy marriage of two loving people not an apostrophe.

MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:39

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The good old greengrocer's apostrophe.

MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:38

TeaHagTeaBag · 01/10/2024 19:14

No apologies are ever needed for trying to understand something. Does this example make sense?

John and Mary Atkins (no plural, no apostrophe) have 4 children. The Atkins (collective Atkins, no apostrophe) family went to the park to meet some friends. While they were there, the Atkins's (belonging to the family, apostrophe s) dog played with the Smith's (belonging to the Smith family, apostrophe s) dog. The Smiths bought everyone ice cream (plural, no apostrophe).

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The Smiths' dog, surely?

Temptingspread · 01/10/2024 19:37

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MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:36

I don't particularly like it, but I can tolerate GP's much more than potato's.

LoobyDoop2 · 01/10/2024 19:35

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/10/2024 18:56

People think that because "its" = belonging to it, it needs an apostrophe. But don't worry about "his" which is a possessive ending in an s.

I have noticed a couple of rules emerging "If a noun ends in a y or a vowel, the plural needs an apostrophe, eg potato's"; and "Plurals of abbreviations need an apostrophe" so "Three GP's were asked..." I try to remind myself that English is changing, and that written English follows spoken English usage, (I've accepted it's now "different to" not "different from" and "three times greater" not "three times as much") but there are limits!

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I don’t really know why, but the one in “GP’s” annoys me more than all the others. It’s almost ubiquitous these days, but it’s still bloody wrong.

NDblackhole · 01/10/2024 19:34

Totally unreasonable for typing/using nazi though

MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:33

Saw a t-shirt in a well known department store a few years ago with the slogan "Don't fancy your's much".

MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:31

UnionRep · 01/10/2024 19:28

Signs are irritating but at least they could be changed.
I went to a colleague's funeral and while waiting outside I looked at a gravestone which said "We wish you could of lived longer"
I've never forgotten it!

😮

TeaHagTeaBag · 01/10/2024 19:28

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You're right..thats what I get for reading and cooking at the same time!

UnionRep · 01/10/2024 19:28

Signs are irritating but at least they could be changed.
I went to a colleague's funeral and while waiting outside I looked at a gravestone which said "We wish you could of lived longer"
I've never forgotten it!

floradora · 01/10/2024 19:25

Boskit · 01/10/2024 15:37

I loathe the term 'grammar nazi'. There's nothing fascistic about being able to use one's native language with accuracy and discrimination. Once upon a time they used to teach it in schools - imagine!

I loathe it because being particular about correct grammar really, really isn't on a par with fascist ideology, white supremacism and genocide.

MelodyMalone · 01/10/2024 19:18

Used to be a shop near me called Daves Pet's.

I kid you not.

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 19:17

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TeaHagTeaBag · 01/10/2024 19:14

imagiantwitch · 01/10/2024 19:05

Can I ask a question. My surname is Atkins. So if describing my family as a whole, would it be ‘The Atkins’s’? I’ve always wondered this. Sorry I’m too dumb to know, I was barely educated and grew up in poverty.

No apologies are ever needed for trying to understand something. Does this example make sense?

John and Mary Atkins (no plural, no apostrophe) have 4 children. The Atkins (collective Atkins, no apostrophe) family went to the park to meet some friends. While they were there, the Atkins's (belonging to the family, apostrophe s) dog played with the Smith's (belonging to the Smith family, apostrophe s) dog. The Smiths bought everyone ice cream (plural, no apostrophe).

Errors · 01/10/2024 19:10

butterpuffed · 01/10/2024 18:49

In a town near me, a Barber has a large sign outside his shop with Cushty Cut's on it.

That is disgusting

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 19:10

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Errors · 01/10/2024 19:09

WillLiveLifeAgain · 01/10/2024 17:43

No I’m not - are you?

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I’ve only read your posts OP but this thread is classic MN 😂😂
People being offended all over the shop. Fucking hell.

My personal pet peeve is ‘photo’s’

imagiantwitch · 01/10/2024 19:05

Can I ask a question. My surname is Atkins. So if describing my family as a whole, would it be ‘The Atkins’s’? I’ve always wondered this. Sorry I’m too dumb to know, I was barely educated and grew up in poverty.

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 19:02

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5128gap · 01/10/2024 19:00

Pogggle · 01/10/2024 15:37

If it makes you feel any better, I saw a photo that my local tattooist uploaded the other day of one she'd just done that said 'know you're worth'. I actually couldn't believe that neither her or the person having it done thought to just double check that it was right 😬

They can always get 'it' added when they realise.

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/10/2024 18:56

Mnetcurious · 01/10/2024 18:48

Yanbu. I get so annoyed by erroneous apostrophes. Come on, how hard is it to understand that plural = no apostrophe needed. Possessive = use an apostrophe.

Especially astounding when something is in print (or a neon sign!)

Edited

People think that because "its" = belonging to it, it needs an apostrophe. But don't worry about "his" which is a possessive ending in an s.

I have noticed a couple of rules emerging "If a noun ends in a y or a vowel, the plural needs an apostrophe, eg potato's"; and "Plurals of abbreviations need an apostrophe" so "Three GP's were asked..." I try to remind myself that English is changing, and that written English follows spoken English usage, (I've accepted it's now "different to" not "different from" and "three times greater" not "three times as much") but there are limits!

Mnetcurious · 01/10/2024 18:54

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Agree but at least that one makes more sense in terms of following the possessive rule, so I’m more willing to forgive it.

Holdyourpeace · 01/10/2024 18:50

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butterpuffed · 01/10/2024 18:49

In a town near me, a Barber has a large sign outside his shop with Cushty Cut's on it.

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/10/2024 18:49

I once worked for a large organisation who produced a glossy business plan which they circulated far and wide. It was entitled "<Organisation> and it's Customers". I was so embarrassed to find myself working for an organisation whose CEO and entire Board had failed to pick up on that.

I didn't raise it. They'd have probably told me it was me who was wrong.