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Obligatory sandbox for people who can't use an apostrophe?

neebneeb Posts: 4,385
edited March 2016 in The cake stop
Here's an idea - every time someone starts a thread with a title including incorrect use of the apostrophe (especially using it for pluralisation), the mods move that thread to a special sandbox subforum, in which volunteers (kindly, patiently and without chastisement or ridicule) teach the OP the very simple rules of apostrophe use. Once the OP has demonstrated full understanding, the thread (with corrected title) is moved back into the main forum.

It's a win-win situation - we don't need to look at those fingers-on-blackboard-screeching abominations of punctuation abuse, and the OPs are forced to invest the five minutes required to learn something that will massively benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Posts

  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,113
    or you could get a life?
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    Says the bloke with 16000, almost all completely pointless, one-liner posts...
  • ballysmateballysmate Posts: 14,769
    Well that was a quick bite.
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 14,156
    neeb wrote:
    Says the bloke with 16000, almost all completely pointless, one-liner post's...
    FTFY.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,305
    ddraver wrote:
    or you could get a life?


    This forum needs a "like" button
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • chrisaonabikechrisaonabike Posts: 1,912
    neeb wrote:
    Here's an idea - every time someone starts a thread with a title including incorrect use of the apostrophe (especially using it for pluralisation), the mods move that thread to a special sandbox subforum, in which volunteers (kindly, patiently and without chastisement or ridicule) teach the OP the very simple rules of apostrophe use. Once the OP has demonstrated full understanding, the thread (with corrected title) is moved back into the main forum.

    It's a win-win situation - we don't need to look at those fingers-on-blackboard-screeching abominations of punctuation abuse, and the OPs are forced to invest the five minutes required to learn something that will massively benefit them for the rest of their lives.
    Yes, yes, YES.

    Not sure about the 'without chastisement or ridicule' though. :twisted:

    How about this as a candidate for the worst ever?

    20140202_131320-1_zpsm0ww8nxr.jpg~original
    Is the gorilla tired yet?
  • FingerbobsFingerbobs Posts: 39
    neeb wrote:
    Here's an idea - every time someone starts a thread with a title including incorrect use of the apostrophe (especially using it for pluralisation), the mods move that thread to a special sandbox subforum


    Mods...short for moderators, so shouldn't that mean that it should be mod's?
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    97th choice wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    or you could get a life?


    This forum needs a "like" button
    "+ 1" usually serves the purpose. You could join the appropriate keys together with a bit of cardboard and draw a thumbs up symbol on top of it.
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    Fingerbobs wrote:


    Mods...short for moderators, so shouldn't that mean that it should be mod's?
    Nah, mod short for moderator. Otherwise the posessive apostrophe could get messy. (Mod's' or mod's's...)
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 52,620 Lives Here
    Take it as a guide for the expected quality of the thread.
    _
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 43,963
    neeb wrote:
    Says the bloke with 16000, almost all completely pointless, one-liner posts...
    It's really hard to decide who to back on this one :D
    Whippet
    Bruiser
    Panzer
    Commuter

    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    chrisaonabike wrote:

    How about this as a candidate for the worst ever?

    20140202_131320-1_zpsm0ww8nxr.jpg~original
    That's just brilliant... Although it's difficult to tell if it's strictly an incorrect use of the apostrophe! They could have used "you're" instead of "your" and then abbreviated it (incorrect word, correct apostrophe use). Language GBH however you decode it though! :shock:
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,113
    PTP is good/bad for one's post count...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,113
    ballysmate wrote:
    Well that was a quick bite.

    Meh, it was 2 am and I was a little over full of Dutch Lager...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 52,620 Lives Here
    victoria_to_bow_road017.jpg
    _
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    ddraver wrote:
    ballysmate wrote:
    Well that was a quick bite.

    Meh, it was 2 am and I was a little over full of Dutch Lager...
    Ah, that'd be the life you were suggesting I should get.. Nah, I'll stick with British ale and being a militant nerd.
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,113
    on your own...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    ddraver wrote:
    on your own...
    Nah, we are legion. Massive turnout at the Friday evening punctuation pedantry piss-up last night.
  • finchyfinchy Posts: 6,689
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    victoria_to_bow_road017.jpg

    Nothing wrong with that.
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,305
    neeb wrote:
    97th choice wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    or you could get a life?


    This forum needs a "like" button
    "+ 1" usually serves the purpose. You could join the appropriate keys together with a bit of cardboard and draw a thumbs up symbol on top of it.

    I'm not into padding my post count unnecessarily.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,385
    finchy wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    victoria_to_bow_road017.jpg

    Nothing wrong with that.
    Agreed, although it's controversial. Both " James's " and " James' " can be used.

    The possessive apostrophe is often dropped in place names (e.g. "Kings Road" is often used instead of "King's Road"). Kudos to TfL for not doing that.

    But "Princes Street" in Edinburgh (sic) should be "Princes' Street" (not "Prince's Street), as it was named after two princes (George III's two eldest sons).
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