Apostrophes
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Apostrophes
Two different scenarios... based on rugby training sessions for backs (ie not forwards)
1) Here is a session on backs moves
2) This is a backs moves session.
Where do the apostrophe's go. I'm happy with here I think they should go ( on the word backs in both sentences) but I have met with some disagreement. So what do you clever people think?
didds
1) Here is a session on backs moves
2) This is a backs moves session.
Where do the apostrophe's go. I'm happy with here I think they should go ( on the word backs in both sentences) but I have met with some disagreement. So what do you clever people think?
didds
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 471
- Joined: November 8th, 2016, 1:42 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Backs' moves.
But the sentence sounds awkward. Could you not say ' moves for backs' or something similar?
But the sentence sounds awkward. Could you not say ' moves for backs' or something similar?
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Re: Apostrophes
If only it were that simple... (in the case I need it for where I am proofing somebody else's words!)Gaggsy wrote:Backs' moves.
But the sentence sounds awkward. Could you not say ' moves for backs' or something similar?
Ive been directed to http://archives.cjr.org/language_corner ... essive.php which would decree that 2) doesn't have an apostrophe.
didds
-
- 2 Lemon pips
- Posts: 195
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:25 pm
Re: Apostrophes
They're both badly worded. But backs' is surely correct for the first one as the phrase fairly clearly infers the plural. For the second, I'd be inclined to put back's - you need something to indicate the possessive but it could be discussing the moves that a back should make.
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2401
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:36 pm
Re: Apostrophes
I am not into rugby myself. Is "backs" treated as a mass noun or a plural? Does the singular exist?
"Here is a session on moves performed by backs"
or,
"Here is a session on moves of type 'backs'"?
In the former case, there would be an apostrophe after the "s". It would be of the same form as "Here is a session on fielders' moves".
In the latter case, there would be no apostrophe. It would be of the same form as "Here is a session on fielder moves". One could also surmise that there should be no "s" after "back" either so the correct form should be "Here is a session on back moves". It depends upon how the word "backs" is treated.
All IMHO. I am not an authority on grammar.
Julian F. G. W.
Does this mean:didds wrote:Two different scenarios... based on rugby training sessions for backs (ie not forwards)
1) Here is a session on backs moves
didds
"Here is a session on moves performed by backs"
or,
"Here is a session on moves of type 'backs'"?
In the former case, there would be an apostrophe after the "s". It would be of the same form as "Here is a session on fielders' moves".
In the latter case, there would be no apostrophe. It would be of the same form as "Here is a session on fielder moves". One could also surmise that there should be no "s" after "back" either so the correct form should be "Here is a session on back moves". It depends upon how the word "backs" is treated.
All IMHO. I am not an authority on grammar.
Julian F. G. W.
-
- 2 Lemon pips
- Posts: 177
- Joined: December 14th, 2016, 5:46 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Lock him up.didds wrote: Where do the apostrophe's go.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6203
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 1:12 pm
Re: Apostrophes
If you look at https://www.rugbycoachweekly.net/rugby- ... cks-moves/ you'll see a lack of apostrophes.
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Funny you say that PD...
didds
didds
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6203
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 1:12 pm
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Cos i was actually after an answer not a heated debate over the rights of wrongs of the butcher's (<<--- apostrophe
didds
didds
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6203
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 1:12 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Do you have the answer(s)?didds wrote:Cos i was actually after an answer not a heated debate over the rights of wrongs of the butcher's (<<--- apostrophe
didds
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2947
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:46 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Which is American and therefore automatically suspect for British English usagedidds wrote:Ive been directed to http://archives.cjr.org/language_corner ... essive.php which would decree that 2) doesn't have an apostrophe.
I'd be more inclines to look here http://www.eng-lang.co.uk/apostrophe_rules.htm.
My own opinion would be that in each case backs is a plural (yes you can have one back) and you are talking about a possessive, whichever wat the sentence is constructed, so it should be backs' moves in both cases.
Slarti
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Re: Apostrophes
I agree with you Slarti!
didds
didds
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4547
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
Re: Apostrophes
PinkDalek wrote:Do you have the answer(s)?didds wrote:Cos i was actually after an answer not a heated debate over the rights of wrongs of the butcher's (<<--- apostrophe
didds
No. LOL.
It's friendlier here
didds
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6203
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 1:12 pm
Re: Apostrophes
I don't agree as "backs" refers to "The backs". Being a term referring to all of the nancies as one (having been one of them, that is a polite reference).Slarti wrote:...
My own opinion would be that in each case backs is a plural (yes you can have one back) and you are talking about a possessive, whichever wat the sentence is constructed, so it should be backs' moves in both cases.
Slarti
Anyway, I'd prefer:
"This is a session on moves for the backs."
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 588
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:15 pm
Re: Apostrophes
What is the point of the question mark?
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6203
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 1:12 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Which particular question mark or is this a brand new DAK?Stonge wrote:What is the point of the question mark?
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 261
- Joined: April 11th, 2017, 5:27 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Proofing someone' elses work does not necessarily exclude changes to bad structures.
Regards,
ep
Regards,
ep
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2659
- Joined: November 6th, 2016, 9:58 pm
Re: Apostrophes
Do you mean "...clearly implies the plural"?Biggles wrote:But backs' is surely correct for the first one as the phrase fairly clearly infers the plural.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6263
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:35 am
Re: Apostrophes
Strunk & White would probably go with backs's ....