Apostrophe Abuse/neglect - Page 2

TheDaVinciChode · 10-28-2009, 09:29 PM

With no prior context, "B" is the correct option.

Don't let this so-called "teacher" direct you to any conclusion, other than the above.

Makes you fear for the child's education, eh?

"A" is never correct.

"C," however, could be, depending on circumstance, and diction.

(Do they all play the same sport, or, multiple sports?)

ZenGum · 10-28-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaVinciChode

"A" is never correct.

A could be correct (but isn't). It is a plural possesive - there are several sports and these teams "belong" to them.

C is singular possesive. There is one sport and these teams belong to it.

B is my pick - "sports teams" is a phrasal noun, and doesn't need an apostrophe.

Hang on a tick, I'm in a room full of English teachers, I'll ask one.

monster · 10-28-2009, 09:34 PM

ENOUGH ALREADY!

I wrote (B)

he corrected to (A)

I may have to kill him.... but he hasn't yet sent Thor to the principal so perhaps i can show leniency.

(multiple sports)

TheDaVinciChode · 10-28-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

ENOUGH ALREADY!

I wrote (B)

he corrected to (A)

I may have to kill him.... but he hasn't yet sent Thor to the principal so perhaps i can show leniency.

(multiple sports)

He corrected it, to the only incorrect answer?

English is such a butchered language, these days. I fear for it; My beloved, mother-tongue, warped beyond plausible recognition.

classicman · 10-28-2009, 09:36 PM

(a) and if it isn't correct, it should be. Pbbbllllt!

Cloud · 10-28-2009, 09:39 PM

terrific (sarcasm). The teacher doesn't understand grammar. I would ask him to show you his authority for the apostrophe.

monster · 10-28-2009, 09:44 PM

I am doing... but I wanted a little back-up before I went gung-ho.....

zen, I agree a is possible, but Sports has to be a noun in that sense and i'm not sure it is here.

Think about it, I could also say... The "Academic Teams" when talking about the Spelling Bee and math games people.... would we add an " 's " to Acedemic there?

jinx · 10-28-2009, 09:44 PM

It's totally an adjective.

monster · 10-28-2009, 09:47 PM

or should we be saying Academics in the first place?

or should we change Sports to Sporting.......

Perhaps I need to say Sport not Sports like Americans say Math not Maths?

pehaps it needs to be IM Sport Teams?

Cloud · 10-28-2009, 09:54 PM

no, I think "sports teams" is either a compond noun or a noun phrase. The proper possessive would be sports teams' something. My Chicago Manual of style says this:

"in compound nouns and noun phrases the final element usually takes the possessive form. [such as:]

student assistants' time cards." Except there's no possessive here, right?

for an opposite reaction (thereby making me wrong) it says:
"the line between a possessive or genitive form and a noun used attributively--as an adjective--is sometimes fuzzy, especially in the plural. . . . Chicago dispenses with the apostrophe only in proper nounts or where there is clearly no possesive meaning:

the women's team (clearly possessive)
a consumer's group

It's a pretty hard grammatical problem, but I really don't think there's any possessive there, so I still think no apostrophe

xoxoxoBruce · 10-29-2009, 02:10 AM

The teams are not a possession of sports.

Spexxvet · 10-29-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

...
a) Intra-Mural Sports' Teams
b) Intra-Mural Sports Teams
c) Intra-Mural Sport's Teams

It's a title referring to several school teams who play a sport against teams from other schools. The teams are the people doing the fundraising the poster is about, ...

They are teams fundraising for sports. No possessive.

BTW, if they are playing against other schools, they are interscholastic, not intramural.

monster · 10-29-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

BTW, if they are playing against other schools, they are interscholastic, not intramural.

Oh just don't get me started. I really do try not to cause trouble because I manage enough without trying....

lumberjim · 10-29-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

4. Skitt’s Law
Expressed as "any post correcting an error in another post will contain at least one error itself" or "the likelihood of an error in a post is directly proportional to the embarrassment it will cause the poster."

TheMercenary · 10-29-2009, 11:57 AM

I say b) with a variation:

b) Intra-Mural Sport Teams

10-28-2009, 09:29 PM	#1
TheDaVinciChode Chews Food Coming In, And Going Out Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 339	With no prior context, "B" is the correct option. Don't let this so-called "teacher" direct you to any conclusion, other than the above. Makes you fear for the child's education, eh? "A" is never correct. "C," however, could be, depending on circumstance, and diction. (Do they all play the same sport, or, multiple sports?) __________________ "O' Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;" "The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;" - Walt Whitman / Leaves Of Grass.

10-28-2009, 09:34 PM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	ENOUGH ALREADY! I wrote (B) he corrected to (A) I may have to kill him.... but he hasn't yet sent Thor to the principal so perhaps i can show leniency. (multiple sports) __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-28-2009, 09:36 PM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	(a) and if it isn't correct, it should be. Pbbbllllt! __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

10-28-2009, 09:39 PM	#6
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	terrific (sarcasm). The teacher doesn't understand grammar. I would ask him to show you his authority for the apostrophe. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-28-2009, 09:44 PM	#7
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I am doing... but I wanted a little back-up before I went gung-ho..... zen, I agree a is possible, but Sports has to be a noun in that sense and i'm not sure it is here. Think about it, I could also say... The "Academic Teams" when talking about the Spelling Bee and math games people.... would we add an " 's " to Acedemic there? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-28-2009, 09:44 PM	#8
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	It's totally an adjective. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

10-28-2009, 09:47 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	or should we be saying Academics in the first place? or should we change Sports to Sporting....... Perhaps I need to say Sport not Sports like Americans say Math not Maths? pehaps it needs to be IM Sport Teams? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-28-2009, 09:54 PM	#10
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	no, I think "sports teams" is either a compond noun or a noun phrase. The proper possessive would be sports teams' something. My Chicago Manual of style says this: "in compound nouns and noun phrases the final element usually takes the possessive form. [such as:] student assistants' time cards." Except there's no possessive here, right? for an opposite reaction (thereby making me wrong) it says: "the line between a possessive or genitive form and a noun used attributively--as an adjective--is sometimes fuzzy, especially in the plural. . . . Chicago dispenses with the apostrophe only in proper nounts or where there is clearly no possesive meaning: the women's team (clearly possessive) a consumer's group It's a pretty hard grammatical problem, but I really don't think there's any possessive there, so I still think no apostrophe __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-29-2009, 02:10 AM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The teams are not a possession of sports. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-29-2009, 11:57 AM	#15
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	I say b) with a variation: b) Intra-Mural Sport Teams __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

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