ok, this article is about apostrophes and I am resolutely a quotation mark blog, but nonetheless, it was fascinating and hilarious and you guys might want to read it.
Better too few than too many. I believe it was Dave Barry, in his Mr. Language Person persona, who once wrote that the purpose of an apostrophe was to warn the reader that an S was coming.
Why can't they just change things like "King's Hospital" to "King Hospital", or from "St. Paul's Square" to "St. Paul Square" like they do in America? It seems to make sense, and it destroys the debate entirely.
I agree with Peter. As sad as I am to see the apostrophe's demise, it makes so much more sense to eliminate the S as well. The whole bit about it being confusing to have apostrophes is ridiculous; I think it's much more confusing now. But that's just me.
That's like defining pi to be 3. Government can't realistically just come in and decide what the rules of language are.
ReplyDeleteBetter too few than too many. I believe it was Dave Barry, in his Mr. Language Person persona, who once wrote that the purpose of an apostrophe was to warn the reader that an S was coming.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S., the Board on Geographic Names ruled long, long ago that nothing can have apostrophes in them. Not like the locals ever care. :^)
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they just change things like "King's Hospital" to "King Hospital", or from "St. Paul's Square" to "St. Paul Square" like they do in America? It seems to make sense, and it destroys the debate entirely.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Peter. As sad as I am to see the apostrophe's demise, it makes so much more sense to eliminate the S as well. The whole bit about it being confusing to have apostrophes is ridiculous; I think it's much more confusing now. But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI am very upset about this. I will never go to Birmingham again.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is so cool. LOVED reading these "signs".
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is the fact that Birmingham has a "transport scrutiny committee"... why don't American cities have those?
ReplyDelete