GrammarBlog

"I'm sorry that the item you received an email referring to a refund for your recent order."

Labels: bappy hirthday, birthday

Last week I asked a question: how should those silly folks in the Apprentice have punctuated their card? National Single's Day, National Singles' Day or National Singles Day?

We had quite a few responses in line with my first reaction, such as this one from Andrew.

Singles', because it's both possessive and plural. I don't see why this is hard!

So it's easy. Or is it? I remembered some confusion similar to this during the writers strike (note the lack of apostrophe). I did see one paper refer to it as the "writers' strike" but most took the view that the act was a strike and the word "writers" described who was striking. We all know that a word describing a noun is an adjective and adjectives are not possessive. No apostrophe.

Grammar Girl (whose website is now my primary reference for a sensible and informed opinion on all grammar matters) has this to say.

I believe it's pretty clear that the writers don't own the strike, and that the word writers is there to tell us more about what kind of strike it is. So I'd leave out the apostrophe.

On the other hand, I'd include the apostrophe in homeowners' association, at least when the homeowners actually own or control the association that manages their property.

So the question is, does the day belong to the singles or not?

My view is that National Singles Day is a day to celebrate singles, such as Pancake Day is a day to celebrate the pancake.  So no apostrophe is required.

There are many examples of possessed days; These are usually singular: Valentine's day, St. George's day, Mother's day (contentious I know, but you've only got one Mum). There are also examples, as pointed out by Binary Tales, of plurals owning a day. These include National Parks' Week World Teachers' Day and International Women's Day.

The point here is that the contestants in the apprentice were inventing a new occasion. So they can call it what they choose; National Singles' Day is acceptable. However I prefer National Singles Day, especially in the context of a greetings card, for both logical and aesthetic reasons.

Labels: apostrophe, debate, punctuation

Labels: about effing time, awards, fuelmyblog, GrammarBlog, recognition

If none of these people is going to heaven, I don't want to go there either.

Apart from the spelling and apostrophe abuse, this is priceless. Why pick on freelancers, emos and sports nuts?

Found here.

**Update**

I've just found another picture of the same banner. It's not freelancers; it's freeloaders.

A clip from last night's Apprentice in which the contestants debate the placement of an apostrophe for about 3 hours.

Labels: apostrophe, BBC, the apprentice, video

That would be 'Phoenix' then.

pheonix, originally uploaded by jhcl+.

Labels: portishead, signage, spelling

Labels: poetry, proofreading, spellchecker, spelling, video, YouTube

Labels: apostrophe abuse, bands, camden crawl, fuckshovel, swearing, Wembley

Corey found the following typo in a Hallmark card he bought.

Not content with sending the typo to us, he confronted Hallmark directly via the modern communication channel of email. Luckily for us, he sent a copy of said email along with the scan. And very amusing it is.

I believe I won the grand prize in the "My-First-Grader-Could-Spell-Better-Than-This Typographical Error Contest." I recently purchased the Shoebox card with "Really Dreadful Hemorrhoids" printed on the front. At first glance, "hemorrhoids" would be expected to have the typo. However, you outsmarted me. The error was discreetly concealed in a commonly used word, which some spell-checkers insist is not a word at all. On the inside it reads "are wished upon anyone who **DOENSN'T** wish you a happy birthday." Please send my prize to the address listed below.

Thank you very much.

Corey *********

101 Spell-Checker Way

IdiotTown USA

Labels: hallmark, spelling

IMG_6492, originally uploaded by bblivit.

Our Twitter friend Laura K brought this to my attention.

Just for the record: it's never OK to use quotation marks for emphasis. Never ever. It's also your moral and legal obligation to slap those who do. In the face.

Labels: quotation marks