Talk:Apostrophe: Difference between revisions
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imported>Peter Schmitt (→Apostrophe abuse: German) |
imported>Martin Baldwin-Edwards |
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:: In German the genitive has no apostrophe, however, it is often used. The (unfortunate :-( orthography reform allows it for proper names. But it often is misused ("idiot's apostrophe") like in "Snack's" as inscription for a little bar. [[User:Peter Schmitt|Peter Schmitt]] 12:23, 19 August 2009 (UTC) | :: In German the genitive has no apostrophe, however, it is often used. The (unfortunate :-( orthography reform allows it for proper names. But it often is misused ("idiot's apostrophe") like in "Snack's" as inscription for a little bar. [[User:Peter Schmitt|Peter Schmitt]] 12:23, 19 August 2009 (UTC) | ||
:::I miss any discussion of the historical origins of the apostrophe. Although I am no linguist, I have always understood that the possessive apostrophe in English is derived from the old form "Martin his book", with the apostrophe indicating the omission of "hi" and the merging of the s with the noun. Doubtless there are many other explanations of these contracted forms, and it would be not only interesting but also helpful to know about them. Similarly with the circumflex in French...[[User:Martin Baldwin-Edwards|Martin Baldwin-Edwards]] 17:07, 10 October 2010 (UTC) | |||
Revision as of 11:07, 10 October 2010
Apostrophe abuse
If this article requires evidence for any claim about passions running high or tempers frayed over 'apostrophe abuse', I recommend this story from the UK tabloid press. I have to admit, I sympathise with him... John Stephenson 11:38, 19 August 2009 (UTC)
- In German the genitive has no apostrophe, however, it is often used. The (unfortunate :-( orthography reform allows it for proper names. But it often is misused ("idiot's apostrophe") like in "Snack's" as inscription for a little bar. Peter Schmitt 12:23, 19 August 2009 (UTC)
- I miss any discussion of the historical origins of the apostrophe. Although I am no linguist, I have always understood that the possessive apostrophe in English is derived from the old form "Martin his book", with the apostrophe indicating the omission of "hi" and the merging of the s with the noun. Doubtless there are many other explanations of these contracted forms, and it would be not only interesting but also helpful to know about them. Similarly with the circumflex in French...Martin Baldwin-Edwards 17:07, 10 October 2010 (UTC)
- In German the genitive has no apostrophe, however, it is often used. The (unfortunate :-( orthography reform allows it for proper names. But it often is misused ("idiot's apostrophe") like in "Snack's" as inscription for a little bar. Peter Schmitt 12:23, 19 August 2009 (UTC)