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Grammar Gripes and Other Psycholinguistic Squawkings

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Baraka_Guru, Aug 6, 2011.

  1. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Gah! Everyone's adding arbitrary apostrophe's to their family name's in their well wish'es for New Year's!

    *sigh*

    My sister's family home is apparently Busch Gardens.

    I'm not enough of a grammar nazi to correct her (and her friend).
     
  2. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    Ugh.
     
  3. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    You should see what my other sister does. Her family name ends with "z," but she always does "from the Xxxz's" instead of "from the Xxxzes." It's hard enough to consider correcting anyone, let alone those whose names end in "s" or "z." The latter seem like lost causes.

    I think these people consider plural forms of their names misspellings. The apostrophe maintains the integrity of the name or something. I don't know why else people would use one in this case. It's not like they add apostrophes to other types of words. Maybe proper nouns throw them off. For example: a tale of two cities vs. a tale of two Canada's.

    I dunno. It just irks me.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  4. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    Perhaps they just like the way it looks. Throw 'em in wherever you wish. Like adding salt or pepper. The gratuitous apostrophe irks me too.

    Have you looked at the names of any athletes lately? Apostrophe's must be thought to add an extra measure of something to a name. University of Nebraska wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El managed to get both an apostrophe and a hyphen in his name. Can't get more with'it and up-to-date than that.
     
  5. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    I actually like this, though I'm more into the SF/fantasy applications, such as with Drizzt Do'Urden.

    Grammar Girl : Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™
     
  6. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    Thanks, Bara'ka Gur'u for the interesting link.

    L'indy
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    Ha'Sean or "Ha Ha" Clinton-Dix is my favorite one.
    --- merged: Dec 31, 2014 8:32 PM ---
    Nerd.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2015
    • Like Like x 1
  8. redravin

    redravin Cynical Optimist Donor

    Location:
    North
  9. MeltedMetalGlob

    MeltedMetalGlob Resident Loser Donor

    Location:
    Who cares, really?
    I was going to drop this in Pointless Announcements, then thought this was a more appropriate thread:

    [​IMG]

    (Someone else's joke, but my take on it.)
     
    • Like Like x 2