Hi Kevin: Because an " 's " is the standard way to create a plural of a digit or digits in English? (at least historically) :-) It doesn't indicate a possessive in this usage.
See, for example, http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/apostrophe.htm: "An apostrophe is also used to form some *plurals*, especially the plural of letters and digits. Raoul got four _A's_ last term and his sister got four 6's in the ice-skating competition. " Of course, the Chicago Manual of Style disagrees... :-) 73, Mark, KD4D On 7/18/2011 12:19 PM, Kevin Rock wrote: > I have always wondered why it is written in the possessive form. Why not > write it 73s instead if you want to make it a plural and not possessive? > Kevin. KD5ONS > > > > > On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:57:43 -0700, Gary D Krause<[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I think the reason 73's came about is that many of us, myself included, >> repeat >> it twice at the end of a CW QSO. >> >> Gary, N7HTS >> >> >> On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:46:41 -0600 >> "Ken - K0PP"<[email protected]> wrote: >>> "Q" signals were established to facilitate communication >>> between stations that don't share a common language. >>> >>> In usual usage a "Q" signal without punctuation is considered >>> a statement. If it's followed by a "?", it's meant as a question. >>> >>> Needless to say, a purist would never use a "Q" signal in voice >>> communications, but we all do. "The home QTH here is ... (;-) >>> >>> Oh ... 73 is correct. 73's isn't. 73's is equivalent to "Good lucks". >>> >>> 73! >>> Ken - K0PP > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
