Klarinet Archive - Posting 000279.txt from 1999/05

From: "B. Keplinger" <bcaslin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: Plural of Thank You ;)
Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 01:53:13 -0400

At 11:45 PM 5/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
>The use of apostrophes in English is formally defined.
>I believe that people have become so stigmatized against
>using them incorrectly (i.e.; inappropriately indicat-
>ing the possessive case) that they find it hard to ac-
>cept that using them as a form of pluralization is, in
>fact, correct under the right circumstances. For example,
>"thank you's" as a plural of "thank you" is correct. It's
>a good example of how illogical English is, even to native
>speakers.
>
>-- Neil
As a matter of fact, I have at various times checked both the Associated
Press and the Chicago Style Manuals and I have found that what you say is
correct; it also holds true for making a plural of an abbreviation, for
instance, "abbrev's." Such things didn't bother me until I noticed the
increased misuse (or perhaps I just became more sensitive to it) of the
apostrophe.
Just my old age showing, I guess...
-Bruce

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