How to use an apostrophe

Hatter The Mad · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:44

Ace Modder said:
(you learnt something previously, so you should be writing in Past tense context - Learnt is past tense, and learned is not)

Nah, this isn't true.

Learned and learnt describe "acquiring through learning". My use of the word "learned" there was fine.

Combat squirrel · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:45

Really, who cares, more important things to worry about in life ?

Hamster · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:45

Kenai said:
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/learnt

Thanks. If anyone had asked me before reading this thread whether learnt or learned was of American origin, i would have thought learnt. Guess i learnt something today!!

Kenai · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:45

Ace Modder said:
Surely if you are so bothered about people using the wrong written language then the spoken language should also be as important for you? Anyway, I'm going to take a step back from the thread now.

There are differences though, when speaking you can differentiate between similar things easier with tone. Written text doesn't have this ability which is why decent grammar is important to ensure the correct meaning is conveyed.

Mr^B · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:46

Hatter The Mad said:
I think I just urinated.

But seriously, I respect your opinion - but again, I think you're off this thread's mark. It isn't about "Queens English", it is not about "laziness" - it is about poor literacy in general.

Annoying people like me don't like it. Employers stress over it. The Government are embarrassed by it. Poor literacy is a problem, and it will only get bigger as this generations moves on one.

I recalibrated, and it exploded again.

Therefore it must be deliberate to prove a point - I've highlighted areas of concern just in case it's not deliberate.

1. Apostrophe abuse.
2. Ambiguous sentence; could use some punctuation to clear up the meaning.
3. Use of "and" with a comma - either use one or the other, not both.
4. It's either "this generation moves on one" or "these generations move on one"

For the record, my life isn't empty - I'm simply waiting for VS 2010 Beta to download and my kids are hogging the TV.

Hatter The Mad · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:46

Combat squirrel said:
Really, who cares, more important things to worry about in life ?

Why are you posting in the thread, then? People have different interests - accept it.

Kenai · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:46

Combat squirrel said:
Really, who cares, more important things to worry about in life ?

The people discussing it in this thread?

If you don't care, go and read a different thread about something else.

.one. · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:46

Who gives a ****.

Ace Modder · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:47

Hatter The Mad said:
Nah, this isn't true.

Learned and learnt describe "acquiring through learning". My use of the word "learned" there was fine.

Again, I repeat. My comments were not meant to explain that whether it is correct or not, but whether I (and 99.999% of the other forum members) will understand the post.

gambitt · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:47

I always thought learned and learnt were the same except learnt was perhaps more of "ye old spelling".

Burnsy2023 · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:48

.one. said:
Who gives a ****.

Most people in this thread. Obviously.

Hatter The Mad · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:49

Ace Modder said:
My comments were not meant to explain that whether it is correct or not

Ok, I took:

Ace Modder said:
he is commenting that the correct term should be [...]

To mean you were saying what was correct and what was not. I understand you now!

Hamster · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:56

Ace Modder said:
You completely lost the point I was making in my post.... I pointed out what the other post was talking about. My point was not whether it was accurate, my point was more about that in the grand scheme of reading the thread does the text make sense, in the context of what is meant to be the point of the post.

Sorry i didn't lost the point as i never grasped it in the first place. I hadn't read the previous posts!!

Ace Modder · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:56

The think the thread may have gone a little off topic. (Not helped by the people who have added "who gives a ****?")

I believe that there is a time and a place for 100% perfect written English - however this still doesn't happen. CV's, reports within the workplace, published books, official website ie. Government sites etc, and newspapers. (This is just a small list)

I also believe there are so many other places that the grammar should not be scrutinized so much. OCUK forums is a prime example of this, along with text messages, letters to friends, emails to friends etc.

I can see the argument coming along on the back of this being "but why not do it all the time, if you can do it in the workplace etc etc". I truely believe that the English language is one of the most difficult to learn anyway, and not being 100% clear on where an apostrophe goes, or when to use bought and brought doesn't mean that the person is lesser than somebody who knows the rules. As pointed our previoiusly language's evolve, maybe these rules should/could too? New words get added to the Oxford dictionary on a regular basis.

In the interest of this thread and relating to OcUK forums the whole grammar issue should be relaxed by the members.

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:57

Kenai said:
That doesn't mean you should never use 'it is'

Indeed. In fact for written English they do say you should always write 'it is' rather than use the punctuated version. Although for web forums that can be ignored as it is more informal.

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:58

Ace Modder said:
You completely lost the point I was making in my post.... I pointed out what the other post was talking about. My point was not whether it was accurate, my point was more about that in the grand scheme of reading the thread does the text make sense, in the context of what is meant to be the point of the post.

Incorrect punctuation can often mean that it doesn't make any sense.

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2009 at 14:59

Mr^B said:
3. Use of "and" with a comma - either use one or the other, not both.

This is wrong, using a comma before 'and' is entirely legitimate if you wish to insert a pause into the sentence.

See my post below, and consider how differently it would read with and without the comma.

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2009 at 15:00

gambitt said:
I always thought learned and learnt were the same except learnt was perhaps more of "ye old spelling".

As far as I know, and I remain to be convinced otherwise, they are synonymous and either is equally valid.

Sinque · 15 Nov 2009 at 15:01

Thats' a brilliant website.

Ace Modder · 15 Nov 2009 at 15:02

dirtydog said:
Incorrect punctuation can often mean that it doesn't make any sense.

The point I'm trying to make is that as long as the errors don't affect the readability and understanding, then for me the issue is a none-issue.