Re: POUND AS KING

On Jun 10, 9:37 am, Simon Brooke <s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
in message <1181477387.107995.319...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,

dustoyev...@xxxxxxx ('dustoyev...@xxxxxxx') wrote:
"Demo's". Instantly understood.

By greengrocers. If you want a plural of 'demo', that's 'demos'. Yes, it
happens to have the same spelling as the completely different Greek
word 'demos', but so what. Apostrophe 'S' is a possessive. What is it that
you are saying that demo owns?

I'm not saying demo owns anything. I'm saying demo's is a contraction
made plural-- at least for one audience <g> who wants to stickle.
(That's two, two, two asterisks for one!)

For others, who just want to read and understand, the apostrophe plays
a wonderful role in differentiating between demos and demo's, two
entirely different real word meanings.

There are places where the apostrophe works well for this; others
(Apple's for Sale) where it doesn't.

(I noted, somewhat pointedly):

But, of course, everybody is entitled to their opinion. --D-y

(SB replied):
Education helps.

Indeed. I found my old Grammar 360 course very liberating.
"Hypercorrection" was one notable topic. Martha Kolln's text among
those referenced, some fine contributions from her.

Anyhow: One "usage rules" question is: descriptive or prescriptive?
Another usage question is: what context are we in here? Publishing, or
conversing?

IRT your "greengrocers" comment, above, my grammar teacher's retort to
such assertions was: "Don't pretend you didn't understand!" Because
you did, you know? Um, besides seeming a little short on basic regard
for your fellow travellers, Mr Brooke... (What worth hath a man?
Another area of investigation.)

How many centuries *did* it take to get a gender-neutral third-person
possessive into the language, anyhow? Phew, glad to see that "their"
usage (nyuck nyuck! I liked that one!) taking a rightful, functional
place; it was a hell of a struggle! So many ready volunteers swarming
at the ramparts, don't you know!

Again, same thing for the poor apostrophe-- if the basic argument for
standardization of usage is clarity, clarity trumps standardization.
All IMHO, of course. --D-y

.

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