Get Involved... Let Them Know - Page 2

xoxoxoBruce · 10-09-2007, 08:20 PM

Mayhaps, lettering twenty-teen million damn signs would lessen your objecting.

ZenGum · 10-10-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Mayhaps, lettering twenty-teen million damn signs would lessen your objecting.

In sooth, wouldst not such repetitious practice refine their artistry?

It's not like they are cutting corners by leaving something out. They are adding an apostrophe which isn't needed.

Now plural possessives are another thing. There is a sign "Reader's Room" which should be "Readers' Room". A minute error .. but the sign is in the National Library of Australia!

RK, sorry for hijacking your thread!

glatt · 10-10-2007, 10:00 AM

A sign maker will make the sign the customer requests. Mistakes and all.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-10-2007, 12:35 PM

Indeed, English speech requires inconstancy in idiom, there being no Academie Anglaise.

Misplaced, misused tadpoles -- these are things up with which we shall not put. And we can see an instance of this done unintentionally above: possessive nouns take the apostrophe, but possessive pronouns do not to escape confusion between possessives and contractions. Some possessive pronouns haven't even a chance to acquire an improper apostrophe -- they/their, et cetera.

The difference of meaning between shall and will is not, I think, as observed in American English as in British. However, I observe it carefully, liking the precision. It's also why I use further more seldom than farther. Likewise ensure v. insure.

Come to read it again, Zen, I think I'm going to have to brief you on the usage of the Second Person (Ancient). "Wouldst?" There? I'm throwing the yellow card!

ZenGum · 10-10-2007, 01:00 PM

I need a hari kari Smiley

Sundae · 10-10-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I have been banned from four supermarkets for abusing the staff about the sign wh€ich says "Twelve items of less". FEWER! FEWER!!!! FFFFEEEEEWWWWWEEEEERRRRR!!!!!!!

After the first two, did you not realise that the individual staff are not responsible for corporate signage and perhaps your abuse would be better directed to the head office, in writing?

xoxoxoBruce · 10-10-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Now plural possessives are another thing. There is a sign "Reader's Room" which should be "Readers' Room". A minute error .. but the sign is in the National Library of Australia!

How would one differentiate between a room for a reader, and a room for multiple readers?

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-10-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

How would one differentiate between a room for a reader, and a room for multiple readers?

Just as above. As written, it's a room for just one. Must be small. Move the apostrophe to after the S and now you've got them all covered.

ZenGum · 10-10-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

After the first two, did you not realise that the individual staff are not responsible for corporate signage and perhaps your abuse would be better directed to the head office, in writing?

No. I am very, very slow.:p

allso I doent spell to gude.

10-11-2007, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

In sooth, wouldst not such repetitious practice refine their artistry?

It's not like they are cutting corners by leaving something out. They are adding an apostrophe which isn't needed.

Now plural possessives are another thing. There is a sign "Reader's Room" which should be "Readers' Room". A minute error .. but the sign is in the National Library of Australia!

RK, sorry for hijacking your thread!

Honestly, as long as someone is reading this one, I'm happy.

ZenGum · 10-11-2007, 02:11 PM

Just reflecting on the thread drift here, it seems that we are MUCH more concerned with spelling and the correct placement of apostrophes than with the serious issues RK was raising.

Cue link to generation Q thread.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-11-2007, 09:43 PM

Thread drift -- it's not just on planet Pern any more...

ZenGum · 10-12-2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Thread drift -- it's not just on planet Pern any more...

Wasn't that thread fall?

(wracks brains ... Anne McCafferty? Red Sun Rising??)

Pass me my dragon, would you?

10-12-2007, 04:51 PM

It was a hijack.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-13-2007, 12:52 AM

I think they also took to talking of drift... meaning Threadfall somewhere funny. They were supposed to be pretty good at predicting Thread locations. There are upwards of a double handful of books in the Pern series to look in.

McCaffrey did write Dragonsinger and Dragondrums, but never got to a Dragonbass or Dragonlead.

10-10-2007, 12:35 PM	#19
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Indeed, English speech requires inconstancy in idiom, there being no Academie Anglaise. Misplaced, misused tadpoles -- these are things up with which we shall not put. And we can see an instance of this done unintentionally above: possessive nouns take the apostrophe, but possessive pronouns do not to escape confusion between possessives and contractions. Some possessive pronouns haven't even a chance to acquire an improper apostrophe -- they/their, et cetera. The difference of meaning between shall and will is not, I think, as observed in American English as in British. However, I observe it carefully, liking the precision. It's also why I use further more seldom than farther. Likewise ensure v. insure. Come to read it again, Zen, I think I'm going to have to brief you on the usage of the Second Person (Ancient). "Wouldst?" There? I'm throwing the yellow card! __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course. Last edited by Urbane Guerrilla; 10-10-2007 at 12:40 PM.

10-09-2007, 08:20 PM	#16
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Mayhaps, lettering twenty-teen million damn signs would lessen your objecting.

10-10-2007, 10:00 AM	#18
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	A sign maker will make the sign the customer requests. Mistakes and all.

10-10-2007, 01:00 PM	#20
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I need a hari kari Smiley

10-11-2007, 02:11 PM	#26
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Just reflecting on the thread drift here, it seems that we are MUCH more concerned with spelling and the correct placement of apostrophes than with the serious issues RK was raising. Cue link to generation Q thread.

10-11-2007, 09:43 PM	#27
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Thread drift -- it's not just on planet Pern any more...

10-12-2007, 04:51 PM	#29
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	It was a hijack.

10-13-2007, 12:52 AM	#30
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	I think they also took to talking of drift... meaning Threadfall somewhere funny. They were supposed to be pretty good at predicting Thread locations. There are upwards of a double handful of books in the Pern series to look in. McCaffrey did write Dragonsinger and Dragondrums, but never got to a Dragonbass or Dragonlead.

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