Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 2000/12

From: Karel Vahala <vahalakv@-----.au>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: The Definitive Answer: Apostrophes
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 21:29:48 -0500

Tim, what I had learned was that it is acceptable to write Roberts' clarinet,
but the pronunciation remaines as if the second "s" was present; i.e. the
apostrophe signifies that a letter has been omitted .

Karel

Tim Roberts wrote:

> On Wed, 06 Dec 2000 01:02:21 -0800, Gary Truesdail <gir@-----.net> wrote:
> >
> >The mystery of the 'Apostrophes' has been solved. Make of it as you will.
> >
> >Check out this site:
> >http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html
>
> There is one aspect of this that is definitely NOT definitive. As someone
> whose last name ends in "s", I can assure you that there is essentially no
> agreement on whether you should write "Tim Roberts' clarinet" or "Tim
> Roberts's clarinet". I learned it the latter way, and it caused a heated
> discussion with my daughter's 5th grade teacher.
>
> Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" clearly says Roberts's.
>
> Devries "Writer's Style Guide" says Roberts's unless the resulting word is
> hard to pronounce, then use Roberts'. For example, she suggests "Jesus'
> birth".
>
> The Bowie State University style guide says the choice is personal
> preference. That's probably the most accurate assessment.
>
> The well-respected Chicago Manual of Style says Roberts's.
>
> The equally well-respected AP Style Guide says Roberts'.
>
> The Editor's Guide for Church Newsletters says Roberts'.
>
> The following article by grammar curmudgeon James Kilpatrick sums up the
> current thinking on this topic:
>
> http://www.uexpress.com/ups/opinion/column/jk/text/1999/05/jk9905026998.html
>
> --
> - Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
>
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