Thursday, February 24, 2011

Appalling Apostrophe

Definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe
A flying comma?  An eyelash   One half of a quote, A small right side parenthesis? Bottom half of a semi colon?  A very misunderstood little wisp of punctuation that unleashes passionate opinions in the writing world.
IS THAT AN APOSTROPHE ON THE LEFT? NO, A SUN ARROW

The ads started the week before the weekend of it.  The weekend and the day when we now celebrate two presidents. They would be Washington and Lincoln.  And what they share in addition to a mandated birthday is that nemesis of all punctuation, misused, misunderstood and debated, the apostrophe.
I know I whine about it every year. Thing is, I still do not know the correct answer.about its use for this Presidential celebration.
  
Here is the online ad I received from CVS : Carol, Presidents' Week Savings! Up To $20 Off.  http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/home/home.jsp the apostrophe is after the word Presidents.
and from Macy's- no Apostrophe- Presidents Day Sale: 
extra 15% off petite  looks + Free Shipping!
http://www.macys.com/
and at Eddie Bauer, apostrophe before the "s"
at Edie Bauer www.eddiebauer.  President's Day Clearance! Four Days Only.


Googling shows a lot of variation and justifiable explanations for using the apostrophe before the "s"  and after, as well as just forgetting the apostrophe.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_apostrophe_in_presidents_day

and my research has added to my knowledge in an unexpected way- we had two names ending in "s" in my nuclear family, Charles, and Lois.

I always thought that the possessive of a Proper name ending in s was like this  Charles' car, Lois' home.  No,
Charles's car, Lois's home.  per this website http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/ffjh/thompson/apostro/nrules.htm

The way I see it now, for me the best way out of all this is the car of Charles, The home of Lois and the day on which we celebrate the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. Those Presidents of the United States.
IS THAT AN APOSTROPHE TO THE LEFT? NO A SUN DOT
THAT'S LIKE IT! TO THE LEFT OF MY FOOT
That is why the blog is Liamlicks.   Avoiding the problem of  Liam's Licks. or Licks of Liam.
Actually if we eliminated the use of the apostrophe or the apostrophe's use, we all would still get what the writer is saying.   There are groups advocating just that.
ANY APOSTROPHES NEXT DOOR?
RUNNING
Liam just wants the discussion to end and runs and hides

AND HIDING

   Woof Woof
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7 comments:

  1. WingerFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    Charles's car sounds quite awkward, I'll stick with Charles'. Too bad TK isn't around to mediate this. He would know.

    Izzy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Timothy WarkeFebruary 24, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    I always used Strunk’s “The Elements of Style” (1918) as my guide. It is written so well that a quick glance will usually give you an answer.
    http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Carol McNiffFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    Hey Izzy- I know!

    Tim-thanks for the link. There was so much disagreement wherever I looked.

    ReplyDelete
  4. -nFebruary 25, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    Lose the apostrophe? Never! Or as Clyde Haberman wrote in yesterday's NYT:

    But if you belong to the ranks of those who believe the apostrophe remains an essential tool, you will probably object when others dismiss it as an irritant. If won’t is your wont, you simply can’t stand the cant.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/nyregion/22nyc.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=apostrophe&st=cse

    ReplyDelete
  5. JudyFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    I go with no apostrophe for Presidents Day Sale because "Presidents Day" is the holiday to which the sale is referring' it's not President's Sale. You don't write "Veteran's Day Sale", you write "Veterans Day Sale", which is about the same - Veterans is plural, Presidents is plural because it's referring to Washington and Lincoln.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carol McNiffFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Judy,

    I like your reasoning. This way we could throw in several other worthy Presidents and forget the possessive entirely.

    In some articles I read, the explanation for the use of 's is that it is not for Lincoln at all, just for George and as such he possesses the day. Some places do not celebrate Abe still.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Carol McNiffFebruary 25, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    N-
    how did I miss this article? I have the NYTs online and in paper form all week. Thanks for sending. Loved the piece-clever writing.

    I do like apostrophes in some words like 'tis, and in can't.

    and I cringe when I see it used in its.

    Not going for Charles's though. Like Charles'

    ReplyDelete

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