KJ:
They ALWAYS put an apostrophe because that is the rule for a plural noun that is a number (5’s, 10’s, 20’s) even though it is suppose to be written out. (Fives, Tens, Twenties)
According to you, the correct form is “I’ll give you a 20 for four 5s” 5s? That is like saying “five s”.
My pet spelling peeves:
‘seperate’ instead of ‘separate’;
‘separate’ when ‘disparate’ should be used;
‘desperate’ instead of ‘disparate’;
‘pacific’ instead of ‘specific’;
‘revelant’ instead of ‘relevant’;
discuss amongst yerselfs . . .
The incorrect spelling of ‘loose’ for ‘lose’ is increasing to the point where I’m afraid it’ll become accepted usage. This mistake was rare twenty years ago. Now it seems that half the people on the net do it.
The KJ/Louie exchange is the reason I rarely spend much time on these types of threads. I try to post in a coherent and grammatical manner, avoiding as many spelling errors as I can. However, the language is changing. It is quite possible to find a usage in the Chicago Manual of Style that is either ahead of the curve or behind it when compared to a college text or the Associated Press style book or any of several other good references. Using apostrophes to indicate the plural of acronyms and numeric figures is currently in a state of flux (note Monty’s post). People who enjoy getting worked up about this stuff can come close to ripping the heads off people with whom they disagree. It just isn’t worth it.
There are problems in writing that irritate me, too. :::shrug::: Declaring a specific usage as wrong is generally an invitation to a head-butting contest with someone who uses a different style book.
Of course, it also seems to be a Law of Nature that any post taking someone to task for a misspelling will contain at least one misspelled word.
Tom~
To dougie_monty – my teachers used
to “ww” papers as well – I wonder if
they still do that? Probably now; the
parents would likely ask them how
they dare tell Junior his word choice
was “wrong.” “It’s just different,not
wrong; he’s being creative!” But
that’s another rant.
Tom: Getting worked up about these
things is my job, and some things are
just wrong. Grammar and usage are not
yet entirely matters of opinion –
not that I think you’re saying that
they are, but I also think sometimes
you just have to concede that
something is simply incorrect. The
plural of numbers and abbreviations
isn’t one of those areas – there are
a number of right ways to do it,
depending on house style. The trick
is to pick one’s battles!
Re: people getting worked up: Though
I am quite capable of a spirited
debate about the utility of
semicolons or a tirade on mixed
metaphors, I don’t notice any
especial lack of civility among
professional editors. I am on
enormous copy editor’s mailing
list,and it’s by far the most
civilized list I’ve ever been on.
In my experience, the people who tend to get most rudely exercised about grammatical matters are those who know a little bit but who don’t really understand the concepts. For instance, those who get worked up over all uses of “hopefully.” There is absolutely nothing wrong with using “hopefully” as an introductory adverb: “Hopefully, I’ll catch the train.”
The problem with “hopefully” is in uses such as “He’ll hopefully come to dinner” when you mean “I hope he’ll come to dinner.” But a lot of anti-hopefully people don’t understand the difference and rant away about both.
Catrandom the Editrix, who has undoubtedly made an error or two in this post, and who feels honor-bound to point out that some people object to introductory adverbs, too. Those people are just wrong. If I knew how to make a smiley on this board, I would put one here.)
I recently flew on American Airlines and was shocked to see written, on the back of every seat,"…flotation device…". Immediatly upon returning home I checked and was even more surprised to discover that this is actually an accepted spelling. It still doesn’t seem right to me.
My very favorite mispelling, was a sign on saw on a beach in Asia, advertising ‘Patty Tonigh’, them meant, of course: Party Tonight. This still cracks me up. In this country they also seemed to believe that video was spelt VDO, how to explain that one to them.
Well, if we’re getting into English in foreign countries…my very favorite English saying on a t-shirt (seen in Russia) was “Don’t forget to wipe your ass.” Next to this reminder was depicted a large, smiling cartoon toilet.
I have noticed that people have a hard time choosing the correct word in spellcheck…I remember puzzling over a student’s paper in which he was describing a soldier changing his “elegance” to the other side. Poor kid, he was dyslexic…I cut him some slack.
MaryAnnQ Spake:
Such is the vagueness of some people’s speech. Literally yes, you are right. What she wrote means that you are supposed to rinse out the bowls with bleach, not water.
To me, it seems that she was implying: “Please rinse out bowls with bleach in them”. I think she thought everyone knew that the bowls wouldn’t be rinsed with bleach but with water, and she didn’t need to add the “in them” part(probably what everyone assumed she was saying also so they didn’t see the big deal).
Yes, I knew what she meant, and I know the others knew it. But I believe that when you make a sign (professional or not) that you should use proper spelling and grammar. If someone said those words to me it wouldn’t bother me. However, when I see something written down, it jumps right out at me if it’s not proper. I don’t know why it bothers me, it just does. 
Mistakes on this board don’t bother me, either. It’s when it’s a sign. :::shrug:::
MaryAnn
Sometimes life is so great you just gotta muss up your hair and quack like a duck!
Forget it, I’m probably wrong once again.
Hey, Elbows, English in foreign countries, huh?
Have you ever seen the sign on the T-shirts worn by waiters at “Carlos and Charlie’s” restaurants in Mexico?
It says: “We don’t speak English… but we promise not to laugh at your Spanish”.
BTW, proofreading is always a good thing. Check your own: “My very favorite mispelling, was a sign on saw on a beach in Asia.”
Seen on a dusty Asian side road; a sign reading;
Drive slow to must dust!
Monty, I promise not to feel picked on, so long as you do the same:
You critiqued my use of the passive voice when I said, “Oh yeah, and reading your messages for clarity of thought before posting sure would be appreciated!” I have three responses to your critique.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the passive voice. Overused, it becomes confusing and decidely wishy-washy. Used in moderation, however, when there is no chance of creating confusion, the passive voice can be a welcome relief from a consistent drill sergeant-like active voice.
I quite purposely used the passive voice in that sentence. Why pin the appreciating down solely on me when there are doubtless hundreds of others here who would appreciate proofreading too? (Yourself included, I have no doubt)
Your very condemnation of my passive voice committed the same sin you so decry:
This too is passive. An active-voice question would read, “Granted, but who would appreciate it?”
~ Complacency is far more dangerous than outrage ~
The other one that really bugs me is the increasing use of lead as the past tense of “to lead”. That one gets by the spell-check, too, but I think it is on the verge of becoming accepted. It drives me crazy.
And whatever happened to the perfectly good word “lend”? Now all the ads say “We’d love to loan you money.”
Catrandom
Stark:
No problem; I enjoy editing–even editing of my writing :). Your posting above actually highlights why that particular usage is one of my pet peeves. It also shows why I used the particular phrase I used. What I was attempting to show is that particular usage seems to me to be missing two important elements: the preposition by and then the object of that preposition.
Cheers!
-Chip
p.s. How would you have counselled the Sailor in the following situation:
One Sailor (“John”) in my division drafted a letter for our commandign officer’s signature. I was the first person in the “chop chain” for that letter. I edited the letter and returned it to John so he could retype the thing.
Well, John came to me and told me “it’s rude to correct someone’s writing.”
Silly of me, I guess. I thought it was my <insert expletive of choice> job!
Whoops. commandign above should read commanding.
Passed a semi on the highway yesterday with a sign on the back that read “Saftey First”…and spelling last, apparently. The most frustrating thing about it was my husband was insisting that’s the way it’s spelled and he should know because he writes it a dozen times a day. At NASA. Where he’s working on the project that will either prove or disprove the theory of Relativity. OBVIOUS math guy! My question is, how can anyone not know how to spell “safety”? I mean Men Without Hats had a whole song about it!
Yet another spelling pet peeve: mispelling for misspelling. There’s a double s in that word!
Oh my! My first post on this Message Board!
I am heartened and gratified to see that so many people are as annoyed with the
inappropriate use of apostrophes as I am. (Or, would it be apostrophe’s? ;)) This drives me absolutely CRAZY, and yet I cannot seem to find anyone else who cares. I have a
co-worker who uses apostrophes indiscriminately. She is apostrophe-crazy. It takes all the power in me not to say anything, and not to scribble out her damned apostrophes!
I know that my grammar is far less than perfect, and while it concerns me, I realize that my grammar is probably better than most people these days. (Which is really pathetic, isn’t it?)
I have noticed the “loose” spelling used instead of “lose”, it is starting to get to me also. But the apostrophe thing is on the top of my list. I know I have found kindred spirits here on Straight Dope - you all are as aggravated by apostrophe misuse as I am!