# Two pits in one - Advertisers who should die and another example of rogue apostrophe. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857 "2004-01-31T00:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/1 "2004-01-31T00:55:38Z")
Advertiser who should die - the creator of that parody of ‘Trisha’ in which the woman says she can’t take the guy seriously anymore because of his glasses and then the host says “You should have gone to specsavers”. Fucking stupid advert. I hate adverts that make particular products out to be the centre of people’s lives. Rogue apostrophe - On the way home I spotted a sign (proper, internally lit perspex sign) for a fishing tackle shop - “Nod’s Rod’s” THERE’S NO FUCKING APOSTROPHE IN ‘RODS’ IDIOT! Next time I pass the shop, if I think, I will go in and inform them their sign is broken. (the shop was closed when I first saw the sign) Feel free to add your rants about stupid adverts (not _deliberately_ stupid, but ads that are trying and failing to be effective or genuine), and expensive signs documentss etc ruined by stupid punctuation. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/2 "2004-01-31T00:59:35Z")
I mean. How can **PROFESSIONAL SIGN MAKERS** not spot a glaring mistake like that?! How many people saw that sign from it’s conception to it’s hanging on the wall??? I am sure glad I wasn’t educated in the Isle of Man! ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/3 "2004-01-31T01:33:18Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > How many people saw that sign from **it’s** conception to **it’s** hanging on the wall??? I am sure glad I wasn’t educated in the Isle of Man! It’s that simple. I do sympathise though, in fact I’m preparing a list of advertisers who will meet their end at my hand, and when they find out how they’ll wish they’d made a dinner date with Armin Meiwes. The Specsavers people are certainly on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/4 "2004-01-31T01:55:59Z")
I thougt my apostrophes were correct as “It’s conception” means “The conception of it” In other words the conception belonging to it - A situation where an apostrophe is appropriate (or so I thought. Same applies to “It’s hanging”) But “Rod’s” is surely much worse as there is no ambiguity, no confusion. ‘rods’ is plural of ‘rod’ there is no hint of posession anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/5 "2004-01-31T01:59:53Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I thougt my apostrophes were correct as “It’s conception” means “The conception of it” In other words the conception belonging to it - A situation where an apostrophe is appropriate (or so I thought. Same applies to “It’s hanging”) Sorry, no. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/6 "2004-01-31T02:00:58Z")
“Its” doesn’t need an apostrophe any more than “his”, or “hers” or “ours” does. “It’s hanging” means “it is hanging”. “Rod’s” is worse though. Sometimes I think they do it deliberately to wind people like **jjimm** up. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/7 "2004-01-31T02:02:15Z")
Egg on my face, big discrace, kicking my spam all over the place. In my defence - I am one person, posting is easy. It’s ok for one person to break a complicated apostrophe rule in a cheap post. It’s not ok for countless people to break a SIMPLE apostrophe rule in an EXPENSIVE and PERMANENT shop sign. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/8 "2004-01-31T02:04:46Z")
> [@everton](#): > > “Its” doesn’t need an apostrophe any more than “his”, or “hers” or “ours” does. “It’s hanging” means “it is hanging”. “Rod’s” is worse though. Sometimes I think they do it deliberately to wind people like **jjimm** up. Ahh, but in my case “It’s hanging” doesn’t mean “It is hanging” It means “when it was hanged” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/9 "2004-01-31T02:07:57Z")
In My op, to rephrase, I mean “From when it was conceived to when it was hanged” (describing the event of conception and hanging) But your apostrophe rule seems to imply I meant “From it is concieved to it is hanged” (stating the fact that it is concieved and hanged) which doesn’t make sense. Do the apostrophes still not count? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/10 "2004-01-31T02:19:09Z")
I just want to establish the rule so that I don’t make the mistake in future… “It’s hanging” meaning “It is hanging” - No apostrophe. I get that. “It’s hanging” meaning “The time/event when it was hanged” (in a sense a time/event **belonging** to it) - Should there be an apostrohpe or not? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/11 "2004-01-31T02:41:21Z")
Its hanging, meaning, the hanging that belonged to it? The event of hanging that was uniquely for it? No apostrophe. Don’t feel bad, it wasn’t so long ago that I did the its/it’s thing too. I’m sure I commit many grammar/spelling/punctuation abomonations regularly. I do agree, however, that the “Rod’s” thing is especially horrid. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/12 "2004-01-31T02:44:05Z")
Apostrophes can serve two functions; to show possession or to show omission. The word “it’s” only ever take an apostrophe of omission - that is, to show that it’s short for “it is”. It never takes an apostrophe of possession - so “it’s” never means “belonging to it”. “It’s hanging” can only mean “it is hanging”. “Its hanging” means “the hanging possessed by it, or associated with it”. So you did make a mistake, but since you didn’t post it in 6 foot neon letters, who cares? And advertisers are a shower of bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/13 "2004-01-31T02:47:07Z")
> [@yosemitebabe](#): > > Its hanging, meaning, the hanging that belonged to it? The event of hanging that was uniquely for it? > > No apostrophe. > > Don’t feel bad, it wasn’t so long ago that I did the its/it’s thing too. I’m sure I commit many grammar/spelling/punctuation abomonations regularly. I do agree, however, that the “Rod’s” thing is especially horrid. Thanks for the answer 🙂 I just wanted to know either way. The more ‘correct’ my own punctuation gets (or “get’s” as my boss would say) the more right I will have to criticise other people’s (or is it “peoples” I am not sure anymore, wahh) No bad feelings. That gaudre’s law thing sure is consistent. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/14 "2004-01-31T02:53:29Z")
I see in preview that this may have been a waste of typing, but this was my effort… > [@Lobsang](#): > > “It’s hanging” meaning “It is hanging” - No apostrophe. I get that. No, that’s when you _do_ need an apostrophe - to show the contraction of “it is”. > [@](#): > > “It’s hanging” meaning “The time/event when it was hanged” (in a sense a time/event **belonging** to it) - Should there be an apostrohpe or not? No apostrophe needed. Even a time event is something that pertains to the sign, so you _would_ need a possessive word. The reason why you don’t use an apostrophe in this case is because there is already a possessive pronoun - “its” - that is all one word with no apostrophe in. Like “yours” or “hers” or “ours”. If you rewrote the sentence to use the _noun_ instead of the _pronoun_ you would need an apostrophe: “From the time the signwriter first spoke to Nod, to the sign’s hanging” Who the hell calls themselves Nod anyhow? That’s a weird island up there, mate. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/15 "2004-01-31T04:54:59Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Egg on my face, big discrace, kicking my spam all over the place. Has anyone ever kicked Spam? It sounds like it might be kinda fun. I bet it makes a funny sound. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/16 "2004-01-31T08:57:46Z")
The thing is, it’s got to the point where I can tolerant. If you get “it’s” and “its” muddled up, well, it’s easy to do. If you forget what to do when describing something that belongs to multiple copies of the possissive form of “Jesus”, well, understandable. But there’s like a hierarchy. 1. Don’t use apostrophes where you’re not sure. 2. Use apostrophes for possessives. 3. Work out the rules for “it’s” and “its.” 4. Figure out the other common exceptions. 5. Preferably, yearn all the obscure details. 6. Start campaigning for the way you’d _like_ to see apostrophes used. But these are in order of importance! If you can’t be bothered to start from 0 and try to learn 1, don’t try to use 3 or 4! I assure you, learning these rules in order will make you look least stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/17 "2004-01-31T10:57:52Z")
What with all the student fees drama going on here recently in the UK, I thought I’d share the two prominent slogans on posters observed at my department: “Education is a right, not a priviledge!” and “This is your last chance to stop Top Up Fee’s” I don’t mind telling you that I would have wept, had I not been laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/18 "2004-01-31T11:51:34Z")
I spotted a rogue apostrophe yesterday (“Key’s cut here”) and let out an involuntary “Argh!”, drawing stares from my fellow commuters. An awkward moment followed. No discussion of apostrophe abuse can be complete without a link to [Bob the Angry Flower’s Quick Guide to the Apostrophe, You Idiots](http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif) (now available as a poster!). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/19 "2004-01-31T14:20:48Z")
Slight hijack: A mortgage company mailed a flier to our 3,000 Realtors with the slogan: Lawyers Love Us. And You Should To. Would you let those people handle your $200,000 mortgage? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857/20 "2004-01-31T17:25:43Z")
I saw a computer-printed sign in CompUSA last week that actually _needed_ an apostrophe and didn’t have one. It was such a refreshing change! Still made me twitch, though. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-pits-in-one-advertisers-who-should-die-and-another-example-of-rogue-apostrophe/226857.md?page=2)