To my chagrin, my copy of "The Observer Style Sheet" is silent on the
matter, but I can't argue with your final point, that English is what we
(all, yes even you colonials) make it, and if there is common understanding,
well that's OK.
Since my gripe was with Gord, here is what Univ of Calgary proposes:
"If the noun is singular and ends in "s," you may form the possessive either
by adding apostrophe s or by simply adding the apostrophe.
Examples: James's novels the boss's car Dickens's heroine
James' novels the boss' car Dickens' heroine
The exceptions to this flexible rule are Jesus, Moses, and Zeus, which
traditionally form the possessive with just the apostrophe:
Jesus' teaching Moses' commandments Zeus' power
Also, Socrates and Xerxes, should be formed with an apostrophe only."
I hesitate to join that illustrious company, so henceforth, anything goes
(offer personal to Gord, and good only not invalidated by law or good
taste).
On the other hand, don't underestimate the serious side.
http://tinyurl.com/5j97h provides evidence of the misuse of apostrophes as a
means of diagnosing focal cerebral degeneration. I didn't expect that, no
sir.
--
Piers
PS Getting your hands on my OM-3 will not be as difficlut as you may think.
I have no scruples, I am mercenary.
PPS Thanks for the amusing interlude :-)
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Walt Wayman
Sent: 23 January 2005 14:44
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: OT: Apostrophe's (sic.) (was: Re: Can anyone use a
Varimagni finder?)
The rule I have always followed I think comes from The Chicago Manual of
Style, which is generally used by Murkin publications, and that is that when
making possessives of words ending in "s," whether to add an additional "s"
depends on whether or not it would be pronounced if spoken aloud. For
example, if referring to one person, you would say/write, "My boss's car is
a Mercedes." If you have more than one boss and you describe their cars
collectively, you would write/say, "My bosses' cars are all Mercedes." "The
witness's answer was false." "All the witnesses' answers were false." And
so on.
It would be, "This is Francis's OM-3" because you would ordinarly pronounce
the extra "s" and say "Francisess," not "This is Francis OM-3." But it it
were Piers' OM-3, you wouldn't say it was "Piersesess" OM-3. And if you can
get your hands on it, you can say, "Now it's my OM-3."
This is just how I do it. Others can do it however they like. As an old
running buddy of mine liked to say, "I may not egrammerate too good
sometimes, but, by God, I'm communicable." So, if we can understand what
you have written, you done good. We ain't marking papers here.
Walt
--
"Anything more than 500 yards from
the car just isn't photogenic." --
Edward Weston
--snip
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