I gotta differ with you. Bigotry, plural, is ‘bigotry’s’ according to MY AOL spell checking program, when I use it.
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The anal-retentive part of me just has to point out - it’s “bigotries” not “bigotry’s”. That pesky apostrophe has a purpose - but it is not used to pluralize a word. (I hasten to add that my spelling and grammar are less than flawless, but the inappropriate use of apostrophes bugs the hell outta me!) So, I guess I am an apostrophe bigot. I can deal with that.
Actually, from what you trying to prove in this post, I reckon it makes you a smart-ass, by taking pleasure in trying to make someone else look bad.
In answer to the other smart-ass question, yeah, I know MarkSerlin. Just like some of you know each other on this board. Sorry, but I don’t know AnitaJ. You got some sort of a problem with that?
OOh! AOL spell check, eh? I’m impressed. (Sorry, sometimes I get SO sarcastic!)
The apostrophe is used for a few things. One is to indicate that some letters have been taken out of a word, or phrase. Like “Let us” becomes “let’s” - “It is” becomes “It’s” “That is” becomes “That’s”. See the pattern?
The other use for apostrophes is possesive - “The cat’s paws held the ball.” “That is David’s cat” “This is my car’s tire.” It implies ownership of some kind, and the possesive word often is followed by the thing it possesses. (For instance, “tire” belongs to the “car”, and so on.)
When you make a word into a plural, there is no apostrophe. More than one cat - cats. More than one car - cars. More than one David - Davids. (That’s an odd example, I know!)
Mark’s use of “bigotries” was a plural. More than one bigotry. He spelled it “bigotry’s”, but the bigotry did not OWN anything. If it did, what did it own? If the sentence had been something like “In bigotry’s name I renounce thee!” then yeah, the “bigotry” owns something - “name”. Nothing like that in Mark’s post.
Just because something is spelled right doesn’t mean it is being used properly in a sentence. Spell check can only do so much. The words “too” “two” “to” all sound the same, but are they the same word? Can they be used interchangeably? Same with “bigory’s” and “bigotries”.
I am no English expert - really. But I plead apostrophe bigotry. One of my bigotries is regarding apostrophes. Get it now?
Sheesh - back on topic now…
Oops! Already noticed a spelling error of my own. “Possesive” should be “possessive”. I knew that word looked wrong! (Yes, anal-retentive, with a hyphen!)
Yeah, I think six pages is long enough for any thread. If anyone wants to start up another one, go ahead. Just put the address to this thread in your starting post.
And in response to one of Mark’s comments, [sarcasm]OF COURSE I’m a stooge.[/sarcasm] Seriously, I would THINK that people would be able to see the “Administrator” title under my name. And maybe even notice who moderates this particular forum. Those who were on the old AOL SDMB know that I was a moderator on that board, too. I’m not a one-post wonder.
I’d make a really nasty comment here, but since I’m closing the thread, I’ll refrain.
Lynn/SDStaff Lynn
Administrator for the Straight Dope
Please close this thread. It’s not a discussion it’s turned into a mud fight. And it’s not very funny. I know it’s the pit but usually people take a stab at being rational. This has degenerated into nothing but name calling.
