John Taylor wrote:
>Lau
>
>There is no missing apostrophe. The people's, yes, but in this case
>peoples is plural.
>
>John.
>
>
>
>On 31 May 2006, at 13:01, Laurence Reeves wrote:
>
>
>
>>John Taylor wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I know everyone on here would deplore political correctness.
>>>The last few days have seen an avalanche of grammar corrections.
>>>Correcting other peoples faults is a very satisfying occupation.
>>>And the most beautiful words in the English language are "I told you
>>>so."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>And... should we put the missing apostrophe before or after the "s" in
>>"peoples"
>>
>>
>>
Other than exceptions (where would english be without exceptions?), such
as "its, yours, etc, possessive forms have an apostrophe.
The problem with "peoples" is that the "people" might be the simple
plural of "person" ("persons" is so yucky), when the apostrophe will go
before the "s" - giving the most common way to form the possessive:
stick apostrophe ess at the end. Alternatively, "people" might be the
singular noun for an ethnic group, or some such (e.g. "The ancient
peoples of the southern chunk of America were the Aztecs, Incans,
Mayans, Toltecs, Olmecs, Moches, Mixtecs, Nazcas...)"). In this case,
"peoples" would be pluralising the groups, when, to form the possessive,
the apostrophe would come at the end. I suspect you intended "people's"
--------------
A la TF, I deplore the loss of meaning specificity that a missed
apostrophe causes
Punctuation rules!
Eats shoots and leaves. (Probably, has a diet of both parts of a plant).
Eats shoots, and leaves. (Consumes some young bean plants in a
Chinky(bleugh!), say, then exits).
Eats, shoots and leaves. (Has a meal, fires a gun and departs).
Eats, shoots, and leaves. (Ditto, but often with a little less
ambiguity) (Ambiguity? A gun? How so?).
----------------
Can I go sit quietly in the corner now?
--
Lau (pedantic - and proud of it)
http://www.bergbland.info callto://LauReeves (see http:www.skype.com)
Get a domain from http://oneandone.co.uk/xml/init?k_id=5165217 and I'll get the
commission!
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