Spelling puzzle.

[Art Doc]

I was not an English major and I readily admit to being mediocre at best when it comes to spelling and grammar. But I can't help but notice a phenomenon on this and other forums that has me a bit puzzled.

Why do people put an apostrophe before an S when making a plural form of a word? Like "I have a pair of Model 10's." Why the apostrophe? It should be "Model 10s."

This is so commonly done I think that more folks do it than don't and I wonder why. I hope school teachers are not instructing children to do this but maybe they are?

 

[ralph7]

I was not an English major and I readily admit to being mediocre at best when it comes to spelling and grammar. But I can't help but notice a phenomenon on this and other forums that has me a bit puzzled.

Why do people put an apostrophe before an S when making a plural form of a word? Like "I have a pair of Model 10's." Why the apostrophe? It should be "Model 10s."

This is so commonly done I think that more folks do it than don't and I wonder why. I hope school teachers are not instructing children to do this but maybe they are?

i've seen it so much it doesn't look right withOUT the apostrophe.

 

[Mickey D]

Though I'm pretty cognoscente about my possessions, I really haven't noticed that particular error. I see more 'an' used for 'and' or vice versa.
BTW, my model 27's a dream to shoot.

 

[Big Cholla]

I minored in English. Why an Engineer would minor in English is beyond me, but I met a lot more girls in English classes than I ever did in Engineering classes. But, I digress....... One of the first things I was taught about the English language is that it is ever changing and evolving. What was 'right' a few years ago becomes passe and is now changed to something else. The use of spelling symbols is evolving right along with the meanings of words. So all I can say is that my Model 63's a keeper! ........... Big Cholla

 

[jkc]

i've seen it so much it doesn't look right withOUT the apostrophe.

The Elements of Grammar acknowledges that either form is acceptable, but notes that omitting the apostrophe is the preferred, more modern form. The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual says "DO NOT USE: For plurals of numerals or multiple-letter combinations." The same manual, by way of example, as regards single letters rather than numbers, suggests that you should "Mind your p's and q's."

I hope that this puts this burning issue to rest...

 

[labworm]

Probably because a lot of us are not English Majors.

 

[arjay]

I blame texting and 15 yr old girl's

 

[keith44spl]

Dang it...I gotta go back and edit all my post now!


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[diamonback68]

Apostrophe S is possessive as in "the dog's hair stood up" "the mule's ears are long", whereas the non apostrophed S is plural as in the "the seven seas" "the fifty states". Got it?

 

[jlrhiner]

Apostrophe S is possessive as in "the dog's hair stood up" "the mule's ears are long", whereas the non apostrophed S is plural as in the "the seven seas" "the fifty states". Got it?

WHEW! Thanks!

 

[arch stanton]

Since this came up I have my own query. Which is correct "I have a S & W." or "I have an S & W revolver."? I've seen it both ways. Generally in publications "an" is used making me think it is proper grammar but I don't know for sure.

 

[Mickey D]

'An' is used before a word beginning with a vowel or word that sounds like it begins with a vowel.

...an apple, an envelope, an S (sounds like es), an L (el),

In your example it depends on how you intend to say the phrase. A Smith & Wesson would be correct.
An S&W (Es & Double U) would be correct.

 

[sophie]

You guys lost me way up the line.


_____
James

 

[joeintexas]

Man what a morning, first I wake up to find out my favorite nuts aren't really nuts and now I don't have a clue where to put my apostrophe's (apostrophes). I think I will just take them back to bed.

 

[A10]

I always use it 'cause it looks better and is a bit more clear. Is it Model 10s or Model 10 S?

 

[gregintenn]

Could we possibly ban grammer posts, much like the current ban on political threads?

 

[Art Doc]

Why do you want to ban this topic? I'm just curious and not flaming anybody. I just wonder why people do things the way they do.

Of course an apostrophe would be correct for the contraction if "is" is the next word. Like "That M18's the best gun on the table."

On the evolving language theory, I don't like it. I understand that new words get added to the vocabulary, but I don't like changing the meaning of existing words. Decimate means to reduce by 1/10th. From the Latin deca, or 10. Like a decade is 10 years. Well now people use decimate as synonymous with annihilate, which means to utterly destroy.

Bugs me.

 

[arjay]

Language evolves fairly rapidly.My father was an immigrant,came here shortly after wwII.On a trip back to his homeland in the late 80s,he was teased about his native tongue.The dialect he spoke sounded very quaint to the younger generations.I don't think english is any different.

 

[Strato]

I hope this sentence doesn't take on a different meaning by the time I click post

 

[H Richard]

I admit that I use the apostrophe, and thinking back (way back) I actually recall the nuns teaching us to use it for indicating a plural. This was in the early 50's. Spelling-wise, a pet peeve of mine on the forum is the correct use of "wear" and "ware". I so often see ...is 50 years old and has little ware. I guess spell check can't tell the difference.