Why Should The Use Of Apostrophes Confuse Anyone?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9932152/Council-bans-apostrophes-from-all-street-signs-to-avoid-confusion.html

[anotheoldgit]

Thank you for all your interesting answers although I think that I am now more confused than I was at at first.

Sorry to notice however that even when I post a fairly reasonable and harmless question, there are still just a few who cannot help but try and get in a cheap dig at myself.

[THECORBYLOON]

It's a harmless question but the impression given is that YOU know when to use an apostrophe and YOU are surprised that others do not. As YOU have used it incorrectly in other postings, I thought it should be pointed out.

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON

/// It's a harmless question but the impression given is that YOU know when to use an apostrophe and YOU are surprised that others do not. As YOU have used it incorrectly in other postings, I thought it should ///

You appear to read into things that just are not there simply just to have a dig.

If you are intelligent enough to read the report you should not have failed to notice that it's headline states, COUNCIL BANS APOSTROPHES FROM ALL STREET SIGNS TO AVOID 'CONFUSION'

I was simply asking "why should it confuse anyone"? a perfectly reasonable question to ask, so that others might care to explain, I was not stating that I knew the answer.

It also saves others from asking, "WHAT'S THE QUESTION"?

[mikey4444]

jno. Read Lynne Truss and all will be revealed !

EG...The Boy's hats...the hats belongs to the boy.
but...The boys' hats...the hats belongs to more than one boy.

Without the correctly placed apostrophe, the meaning of the sentence is unclear.

Its not difficult. It just takes a bit of education and thought !

[THECORBYLOON]

I did not say you knew the answer but the implication is that the correct use of apostrophes is simple and why is anyone confused. Your writing, "it's headline states..." is an example of incorrect use of the apostrophe.

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON

/// I did not say you knew the answer ///

Er wasn't it you who put;

/// It's a harmless question but the impression given is that YOU know when to use an apostrophe and YOU are surprised that others do not. ///

If not why the emphasis on YOU?

[THECORBYLOON]

I said the impression was that you knew how to use apostrophes, I did not say you knew the answer to why the use of apostrophes should confuse anyone.

[Old_Geezer]

The rules on apostrophes could be simplified so they are more instinctive, and in my opinion should be, but the simple use wrt a person's name and what they possess, is a dumbing down too far.

[chrisgel]

I'd like to know if there has ever been an instance where a missing or misplaced apostrophe has caused any major calamity. It would be interesting to know because of all the examples given in this thread it seems that common sense on the part of the reader would negate any confusion.

[THECORBYLOON]

Imagine a newspaper report of a court case involving two folk, Michael Smith and John Michaels. If the paper wrote, "Michael's guilt was proven." rather than "Michaels' guilt was proven." a libel case could follow.

[New Judge]

I think, AOG, this passage from the end of the report is most telling:

“Mid-Devon Council declined to comment further and did not elaborate on who might be confused by the use of correct punctuation.”

So, "Don't ask me to elucidate on the ridiculous statement I've just made. I've said it and that's that and if you think you're going to get a sensible explanation from me, a representative of an organisation that is taking these decisions at public expense, then think again"

So the answer to your question is that anybody who knows about the correct use of apostrophes will not be confused by their use. The issue really is that there are increasing numbers of people who have no grasp of many of the most basic rules of grammar and punctuation and who also have little grasp of simple arithmetic. (Last week a report was published which suggested that one in five adults cannot add together two numbers over a hundred without a calculator).

I find that very strange when we are told that the academic standards achieved by youngsters is now, allegedly, better than it has ever been. Yet vast numbers of them struggle with grammar, punctuation and arithmetic.

The rules for the use of apostrophes are simple. I think I learnt them in less than half a day at primary school. It is clear that such simple instruction now no longer takes place or if it does it is not very accomplished. Of course there are some anomalies which have been mentioned, but that should not consign the entire principle to the dustbin. So, as with many things that become “too difficult”, the answer is to suggest that they are no longer relevant, no longer needed, overcome by evolution or some other some other excuse to explain why children are not taught properly. It is true that apostrophes seldom make huge differences to the meaning of phrases or sentences (although thecorbyloon has shown that they sometimes can). But they are a part of the grammar “package” to which we should all subscribe. They should not be summarily dismissed as no longer needed when the true explanation is “we can’t be bothered to learn about or teach them”.

[mikey4444]

New Judge...You have said everything that needs to to be said on this subject...more power to your elbow !