Can anyone settle an argument please? Is it John’s in work early, John is in work early or something else?
Ta

Either…although I think “at” work is better English…

Either.

Although why the **** is John in work early? Shouldn’t he stay in bed?

John need’s to join a Union.

He’s in early because he’s a sign writer with an apostrophe problem to solve before he gets his paintbrush out..

Correct use of an apostrophe?

FTFY

mcmoonter – Member
[/b]an apostrophe

😀

Note stealth edit 8) I was hoping B would be for bold.

Your / is in the wrong place!

The correct use for an apostrophe is as bait for an afternoon’s grammar-pedant fishing.

I can sleep now cheers.

afternoon’s

you could have left that one out to give us pedants some sport…

you could have left that one out

You, surely.

You, surely

You, surely?

Muphry’s law surly ?

whats stout got to do wiv apostrofees?

Thankyou for correcting me.

Dagnabbit (colloquialism, allowed), taken apart by zimbo with a two word sentence. Touche. I don’t know how to do that acute accent thing over the ‘e’ in touche, sorry.

Alt-Gr and e is the easiest way.

é

[option+e] [e]

…assuming you’re on a Mac, most people are these days aren’t they?

mrdestructo – isn’t ‘mothers’ day’ technically correct anyway as it’s a day for all mothers?

Oh well, whilst we’re playing with apostrophes,one I’m never sure of is:

Trustees or Trustees’ as in Trustees’ Meeting? Is it a meeting belonging to the Trustees (a possesive as in Mother’s/Mothers’ Day) or simply a meeting of Trustees (just a plural as in a meeting of minds etc.)?

Thankyou for correcting me.

Thank you… It be two words. 😀

Trustees or Trustees’

I’d definitely go with the apostrophe…

a two word sentence

Was that a sentence? I see no subject, object or verb?

Apologies for any offence caused by my earlier post. Reposted it as the original ninja-edit had been so quick that I assumed it was a posting error.

(Click on the image to see it at full resolution.)

OK riddle me this one batpeeps, which of the following is correct (assuming that this is the title of a book and there is specifically no definite article):

‘Successful Manager’s Handbook’

or

‘Successful Managers’ Handbook’

‘Successful Manager’s Handbook’ – it’s only aimed at the manager that is reading it.
Hey, can I get a copy for my boss?

John need’s to join a Union.

or maybe he just needs a grammar lesson 😉

‘Successful Manager’s Handbook’ – it’s only aimed at the manager that is reading it.
Hey, can I get a copy for my boss?

So you believe that the lack of a definite article, e.g. ‘The’ means that manager is singular?

I don’t know the right answer and I’ve asked this question of dozens of people including English teachers and professors, lawyers and writers, even Radio 4!

I get a 50/50 split between the two options; some believe that the lack of a definite article mean that ‘managers’ must be plural, thus it must be ‘Successful Managers’ Handbook’, others suggest as you’ve done; it’s singular and therefore ‘Manager’s’

You can buy the book but it’s pricey and I doubt if your manager needs it that he/she is going to be receptive to reading it. Need and awareness in these issues are usually strongly and negatively correlated!

or maybe he just needs a grammar lesson

I suspect he’d really appreciate a lesson in punctuation.

others suggest as you’ve done; it’s singular and therefore ‘Manager’s’

I could be wrong 😉

I suspect he’d really appreciate a lesson in punctuation.

given that punctuation is a subset of grammar would suggest both then! 😉 [thought I was fussy!]

I don’t know the right answer and I’ve asked this question of dozens of people including English teachers and professors,

Writing is about style, not rules. Sometimes there is no right answer and trying to find one, or writing as if there was one, leads to bad writing.

Engineers, in particular, seem to find that hard to swallow.

Writing is about style, not rules

That might be true, but like with most art forms, you really need to understand the rules that do exist before you can successfully subvert them

Like missing full stops off! 😕

Effective communication requires some rules. Creative writing may selectively disregard rules for effect, but it is not unruly.

Id of thinked it shud of bin a un-successfull managere’s’ handbook; no? 😳