Apostrophes
Paul Gilmartin
>Jim Elliott, IBM wrote:
>> Weird, they are apostrophes.
>>
>> four Model 65's, three Model 50's
>
>Of course, those apostrophes should simply be removed. This is plural
>not possessive usage.
>
It's (contraction, not plural) an obsolete convention, still
followed by many:
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Apostrophes
# An exception can also be made for numbers and abbreviations,
although some consider this old fashioned, illogical and
unnecessary. MLA guidelines suggest that no apostrophe is
needed following numbers (as when naming a decade).
* "I bought many CD's in the 1990's." Incorrect.
* "I bought many CDs in the 1990s." Correct.
(For many years I've felt guilty for using what I now see is MLA
style.)
-- gil
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Chase, John
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List On Behalf Of Paul Gilmartin
>
> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:51:55 -0800, Edward Jaffe wrote:
>
> >Jim Elliott, IBM wrote:
> >> Weird, they are apostrophes.
> >>
> >> four Model 65's, three Model 50's
> >
> >Of course, those apostrophes should simply be removed. This is plural
> >not possessive usage.
> >
> It's (contraction, not plural) an obsolete convention, still
> followed by many:
>
> http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Apostrophes
>
> # An exception can also be made for numbers and abbreviations,
> although some consider this old fashioned, illogical and
> unnecessary. MLA guidelines suggest that no apostrophe is
> needed following numbers (as when naming a decade).
>
> * "I bought many CD's in the 1990's." Incorrect.
> * "I bought many CDs in the 1990s." Correct.
>
> (For many years I've felt guilty for using what I now see is MLA
> style.)
Still my favorite among semi-literate yard signs: "Puppy's for sale".
No, I've never stopped to ask.....
-jc-
Farley, Peter x23353
> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-...@bama.ua.edu] On
> Behalf Of Paul Gilmartin
> To: IBM-...@bama.ua.edu
> Subject: Apostrophes
>
> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:51:55 -0800, Edward Jaffe wrote:
> followed by many:
>
> http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Apostrophes
>
> # An exception can also be made for numbers and abbreviations,
> although some consider this old fashioned, illogical and
> unnecessary. MLA guidelines suggest that no apostrophe is
> needed following numbers (as when naming a decade).
>
> * "I bought many CD's in the 1990's." Incorrect.
> * "I bought many CDs in the 1990s." Correct.
>
> (For many years I've felt guilty for using what I now see is MLA
> style.)
Sorry, apostrophes following numbers and abbreviations was the way I was
taught to punctuate in the mid-20th century. Those nuns would have my
hide if I forgot proper apostrophe placement, and that lesson doesn't
fade with time.
I'm afraid that's one new-dog trick this old dog won't be learning.
Peter
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