> -----Original Message----- > From: Ian Darwin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: March 30, 2006 12:56 PM > To: Jim Van Meggelen > Cc: 'TAUG' > Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] summary of conference call last > night (tues mar 28th) > > > > There is some debate in various style guides as to how an > apostrophe > > should be used to indicate possession in words that end with "s". > > There are currently two popular choices; one is to put an > apostrophe > > after the "s", as in James' (meaning "belonging to James"), > the other is to add an extra "s" > > after the apostrophe, as in James's. > > > > We are Asterisk users, so our group is correctly named the > Users Group > > (if it was the "user" group, it would only represent one of us). > <pedantic-quibble> > "group" is a collective noun, like "family". User (in > this context!) is an adjective. > So "Asterisk User Group" is similar in structure to > "Smith Family". > To say "The Smith Family" refers (collectively) to the > members of that family > To say "The Asterisk User Group" refers to the members of > that group.
<PEDANTIC, SEMANTIC HOLY WAR> Are we "The Asterisk User" or "The Asterisk Users"? To my mind, that matters. Gramatically, your argument sounds far more well-researched than mine, but I do think that sometimes grammar must give way to something that reads well. Which of couse begs the question as to whether "User" or "Users" reads better (or, "User's/Users'", for that matter). For me, the real question has suddenly become whether this has already occupied far more of my time than I can reasonably justify. So, now that we've sufficiently muddied the waters, I say we insert that @$%&# apostrophe wherever we feel it will fit best, and any further debate on the matter should be fueled by alcohol, if for no other reason than to ensure it stays entertaining. </PSHW> > </pedantic-quibble> > > Since the group > > belongs to us, it is correct to use the apostrophe to indicate > > possession, thus Users' is correct (or, if you'd like, Users's). > > > > To me, typing James's or Users's simply looks awkward. We > don't speak > > it that way, so why write it so? > > > > > Yes, I agree, double-ick to anything ending in "s's", for > Jim's reasons. > > Unless there is a pressing argument otherwise, how about we > settle on "The Toronto Asterisk Users' Group", allow in our > formal style guide that it can be written "Toronto Asterisk > Users Group" > if you're in a hurry or your apostrophe key is broken, and > move on to more important issues (like WRT54G model numbers :-)). Yeah. I say we can type it any way we want, and, just to keep things fair, we should each do it a bit differently, and see if anyone notices :-) Jim Toronto Asterisk User'z' Group -- Jim Van Meggelen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 "A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three. This makes me rich." Guy Kawasaki -- -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.3/296 - Release Date: 29/03/2006
