[QUOTE=MrSquishy]
I don’t understand the distinction between “ma’am” or “fo’c’sle” and “gov’t” or “int’l”; why are the former single-word contractions and the latter abbreviations?
[/QUOTE]
“Ma’am” and “fo’c’sle” are written representations of spoken contractions – the way they appear on the page is how they’re pronounced. “Gov’t” and “int’l” are only abbreviated that way in writing – you’d never say them like that.
It would appear that the illiterati have unilaterally decided that the plural of any foreign-looking word or of one ending with a vowel [e.g. the almost ubiquitous “pizza’s”] should have an apostrophe because, well, it looks better, dunnit?
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture]
You’d think a straight A student would know that. Then again what do I know, my report cards were always full of Bs.
[/QUOTE]
Ever get stung?
[QUOTE=WotNot]
“Ma’am” and “fo’c’sle” are written representations of spoken contractions – the way they appear on the page is how they’re pronounced. “Gov’t” and “int’l” are only abbreviated that way in writing – you’d never say them like that.
[/QUOTE]
Aha, thanks.
I think I’m going to start saying “gov’t” and “int’l”, just to piss people off.
[QUOTE=seosamh]
It would appear that the illiterati have unilaterally decided that the plural of any foreign-looking word or of one ending with a vowel [e.g. the almost ubiquitous “pizza’s”] should have an apostrophe because, well, it looks better, dunnit?
[/QUOTE]
I was wondering if that was the case with “knive’s and forks”; the vowel on the end somehow makes the difference.
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture]
Roger, that!
[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I’m not a condosexual.
I’ve got to take my…mind…out of its gutter