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The Much Abused Apostrophe Mark

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The Much Abused Apostrophe Mark

 

(John Richardson was a former news copywriter, often correcting the use of apostrophes)

 

 

As founder of Society

Like-Minders (patent 'plied)

With sadness I've just read about

One which has just died

 

Apostrophe Protection

Society was formed

By 96 John Richardson

(Two thousand one, it dawned)

 

John and his group have given up

Their fight for 'postrophe

We've now become so ignorant

Ignorant and lazy

 

Don Matthews January 2020

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-02/apostrophe-protection-society-closes-down-john-richards/11756830

 

 

 

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Comments

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Don Matthews

Thu 23rd Jan 2020 06:42

MC I can't find 'tottaly'
In my dictionary
The one that Master Po has used
In comment made to me

Now does this mean that 'tottaly'
Is in an upgrade dic
One that I just haven't got
Or am I just bit thick?

Another thing that bothers me
PM'd him I did do
He hasn't changed the bloody thing
Choogaloogaloo

Now MC don't get panic-like
Choogaloogaloo's
A word-invent that I made up
While riding kangaroo

boing...boing

Don't you dare say my apostrophes are in the wrong place......I'm trying to uphold John's ? British tradition......I care MC I'm not a lazy poet like some on here....I can't answer for Bert....he only went to kindy so we must give him some slack .......

?



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M.C. Newberry

Thu 23rd Jan 2020 02:09

Writers deal in words - the tools of the trade. It behoves us to use
them correctly as in any other trade in which it is desired to be taken
seriously. Who would rely on a carpenter to do a trustworthy job with a bag of blunt rusty tools?
I have no spell-checker but instead rely on a small range of reference
works that include the Oxford English Dictionary, Roget's Thesaurus
and a number of volumes on the use and abuse of the English language. Between them, they provide a wealth of illuminating information to answer any uncertainty I might face or question I might have. The human element acknowledges that the occasional blip
might sneak past in the typing (typo!) of any material but having a novel published is a salutary lesson in the need to read and re-read
one's written efforts to ensure they are as near perfect as possible, not least to keep costs down prior to submission to the printers.

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Don Matthews

Wed 22nd Jan 2020 21:04

I thought MC youd' be it's commenter....

?

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M.C. Newberry

Wed 22nd Jan 2020 17:26

Hi Don - a while ago I posted a humorous blog about the difference
between the use of "it's" <abbreviating "it is"> and "its" <denoting possession>.
The frequent misuse of both continues apace! It's an ongoing comedy of errors with its examples often seen. ?.

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