[Closed] Another grammar question.

The first one doesn't mean anything. Even with the "'s" in the second line, it's a rather poor sentence. Is 'Prof' an abbreviation? Would 'system administrator [b]for[/b] the... group' not be better?

System administrator[b] for[/b] David [i]Essex's[/i] [b]group[/b] sex parties

Good point. Prof is the abbreviation of Professor. I like the for better than the of
Cheers 😀

later apostrophe only is when the word ends on s because it is a plural

however with names ending in s [smiths jones etc] either use is acceptable

You only drop the possessive 's' for a plural that ends in 's'. Viz the following sentence: Tom Jones's voice pleases Essex's ladies' ears, but babies' and children's voices do not.

An abbreviation needs a period, so the sentence, as I understand it, should read:

System administrator for Prof. Essex's group.

Beat me to it fish

Plenty of written style guides omit the full stop(s) from abbreviations these days, especially salutations.

Period? WTF is a period? Americanisms <sigh> thread merge or what..?

It's not an Americanism at all. The term [i]period[/i] means a mark of finality; hence it is used to mark an abbreviation so that he reader knows that a term is complete and not inadvertently missing any letters. Americans use the term [i]period[/i], deliberately referring to it, to emphasise the finality of the point that they are making - in the same way that somebody might say ".... end of story". So the use of the word [i]period[/i] in that way at the end of sentence [u]may[/u] be considered an Americanism; but the term itself is perfectly normal in English, even if it doesn't form part of your own vocabulary.

I know I probably didn't pay quite as much attention as maybe I should have at school, but never once do I recall a full stop being referred to as a period.

3 fish speaks the truth. Full stop or period is UK english though it is more associated with US English it is perfectly correct usage esp in grammar.

Being correct isn't the same as being acceptable.

If a Frenchman asked me what the English for [i]poubelle[/i] was I would answer "dustbin" not "garbage can".

boblo is correct imo, there is no reason to use the term [i]period[/i] when there is a perfectly acceptable and universally used British term.

perfectly acceptable and universally used British term.

It is a perfectly acceptable British term in grammar.

I will have to disagree, full stop BrE, period AmE. I can't find anything that says otherwise.

As an aside can you be correct and unacceptable in grammar?

Splitting the infinitive?

nice suggestion like it
http://www.examples-help.org.uk/punctuation/period.htm
uk web address and on internet must be true 😉

A period is something girls do.
[i]System administrator of the Prof Essex’ group
or should I use
System administrator of the Prof Essex’s group[/i]

You should use 'System administrator of Prof. Essex's group.'

From your link Junkyard :

[i][b]"Referred to as a Full Stop in the U.K."[/i][/b]

unlike you ernie I will admit an error

I'm happy to admit to an error.

What error do you want me to admit to ?

Plenty of written style guides omit the full stop(s) from abbreviations these days, especially salutations.

AIUI you use a full stop when there is a bit missing at the end, so - Prof.

But not when there is no bit missing at the end, so - Mr

Being correct isn't the same as being acceptable.

If a Frenchman asked me what the English for poubelle was I would answer "dustbin" not "garbage can".

boblo is correct imo, there is no reason to use the term period when there is a perfectly acceptable and universally used British term

Does this [i]really [/i]bother you ernie, or are you just trolling? 😕

Does this really bother you ernie, or are you just trolling?

No it doesn't really bother me, and no I'm not trolling either.

I just happen to think boblo's comment was valid. Add to that the fact juan is trying to get his head round the eccentricities of the English language, I don't think it helps to complicate matters for him by using American terms quite unnecessarily.

Personally I can't understand why all the fuss caused by pointing out that in Britain the term "full stop" is used
.......but there you go, eh

Junkyard - Member

nice suggestion like it
http://www.examples-help.org.uk/punctuation/period.htm
uk web address and on internet must be true

But a little reading pulls up "analyzing" suggesting the page is written by an American. 😉

Ok, correct the grammar here:

Lots of people posting on this STW thread are just being pedantic farquhars

[s]Lots of[/s]Some people posting on this STW thread are just [s]being pedantic farquhars [/s] having fun

Sorted 🙄

Smartass! 😆

Yup!

Personally I can't understand why all the fuss caused by pointing out that in Britain the term "full stop" is used.

I was in Britain when I used the term [i]period[/i]; therefore, in Britain both terms are used.