Album covers with grocer's apostrophes

[Pete C]

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

A What are 'grocers apostrophes'?

B Why isn't there an apostrophe in grocers? I don't know what it means without one.

C I can't see anything wrong with the Howard Roberts' sleeve.

MG

Oh, I see there is an apostrophe in the thread title. When replying, you can't see the title, only in the address line, which omits naughty things like apostrophes.

I still don't know what grocer's apostrophes are, though.

MG

Oh, I see there is an apostrophe in the thread title. When replying, you can't see the title, only in the address line, which omits naughty things like apostrophes.

I still don't know what grocer's apostrophes are, though.

MG

[JSngry]

http://walkinthewords.blogspot.com/2009/05/grocers-apostrophe.html

[Pete C]

IIRC, the term originated in the U.K.

At least the cover I posted didn't say Howard Robert's.

Edited May 23, 2012 by Pete C

[crisp]

Tut tut. It should be "grocers' apostrophes"...

[Noj]

Funny, I just saw a bin labeled "loose wheel's" yesterday and it irked me.

[JSngry]

Punctuation be damned, that's a cute chick!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

http://walkinthewords.blogspot.com/2009/05/grocers-apostrophe.html

Thanks Jim.

So, now I know - and it is strange that the expression originated here, but probably among the upper classes, to few of whom I have ever spoken - I am sure there's nowt wrong with the sleeve. "Pickin's" is perfectly proper, as a G has been omitted.

It would indeed be interestin' to see if there are sleeves with incorrect apostrophisation. I can't think of any except by Booker T & the MG's, and the JB's. But, though I greatly prefer to write or see MGs or JBs, lots of people say this is correct.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I suppose most people would think this is correct, too.

MG

[Pete C]

As a proofreader I have to correct things like 60's to '60s all the time.

Here's how the other living president's stack up:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/george-w-bush-favorable-rating-lowest-living-president-100010623.html

I can't think of any except by Booker T & the MG's, and the JB's. But, though I greatly prefer to write or see MGs or JBs, lots of people say this is correct.

My policy is to allow an apostrophe if the style is all caps but lower case s w/o apostrophe if mixed case. So: DVD'S or DVDs, but not DVD's.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Pete C

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

As a proofreader I have to correct things like 60's to '60s all the time.

Here's how the other living president's stack up:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/george-w-bush-favorable-rating-lowest-living-president-100010623.html

I can't think of any except by Booker T & the MG's, and the JB's. But, though I greatly prefer to write or see MGs or JBs, lots of people say this is correct.

My policy is to allow an apostrophe if the style is all caps but lower case s w/o apostrophe if mixed case. So: DVD'S or DVDs, but not DVD's.

I can see the rationale for that. Is it common in the USA? I mean, is getting it right common

MG

[David Ayers]

As a proofreader I have to correct things like 60's to '60s all the time.

Here's how the other living president's stack up:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/george-w-bush-favorable-rating-lowest-living-president-100010623.html

I can't think of any except by Booker T & the MG's, and the JB's. But, though I greatly prefer to write or see MGs or JBs, lots of people say this is correct.

My policy is to allow an apostrophe if the style is all caps but lower case s w/o apostrophe if mixed case. So: DVD'S or DVDs, but not DVD's.

Pickin's is correct of course.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

As a proofreader I have to correct things like 60's to '60s all the time.

Here's how the other living president's stack up:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/george-w-bush-favorable-rating-lowest-living-president-100010623.html

I can't think of any except by Booker T & the MG's, and the JB's. But, though I greatly prefer to write or see MGs or JBs, lots of people say this is correct.

My policy is to allow an apostrophe if the style is all caps but lower case s w/o apostrophe if mixed case. So: DVD'S or DVDs, but not DVD's.

Pickin's is correct of course.

That's what I said.

MG

A What are 'grocers apostrophes'?

B Why isn't there an apostrophe in grocers? I don't know what it means without one.

C I can't see anything wrong with the Howard Roberts' sleeve.

MG

[Pete C]

No, the apostrophe would only be acceptable for an abbreviation or acronym in all caps where the lack might cause confusion. Pickins should never be Pickin's unless it's a possessive for Mr. Pickin.

Getting matters of orthographic style right is hit or miss in any country in my experience.

[BillF]

No, the apostrophe would only be acceptable for an abbreviation or acronym in all caps where the lack might cause confusion. Pickins should never be Pickin's unless it's a possessive for Mr. Pickin.

Pickin's is so spelt (is it "spelled" in the U.S? ) as the "g" is omitted as in so many jazz titles: Workin'', Cookin', Steamin', Relaxin', etc.

[David Ayers]

No, the apostrophe would only be acceptable for an abbreviation or acronym in all caps where the lack might cause confusion. Pickins should never be Pickin's unless it's a possessive for Mr. Pickin.

Getting matters of orthographic style right is hit or miss in any country in my experience.

It is an abbreviation.

[Pete C]

No, the apostrophe would only be acceptable for an abbreviation or acronym in all caps where the lack might cause confusion. Pickins should never be Pickin's unless it's a possessive for Mr. Pickin.

Getting matters of orthographic style right is hit or miss in any country in my experience.

It is an abbreviation.

Are you a barrister?

[David Ayers]

No, the apostrophe would only be acceptable for an abbreviation or acronym in all caps where the lack might cause confusion. Pickins should never be Pickin's unless it's a possessive for Mr. Pickin.

Getting matters of orthographic style right is hit or miss in any country in my experience.

It is an abbreviation.

Are you a barrister?

Are you a copy editor?

[Teasing the Korean]

C'mon guy's...

[David Ayers]

D'oh!

[Pete C]

Are you a copy editor?

Yes. However, I will grant that a case can be made for Pickin's based on the premise that the apostrophe represents the missing g in the singular. But as an editor I'd still change it.

[Head Man]

Over such things are wars fought!

or should that read "over such thing's are war's fought"?

no...stop it!!!!!

[Pete C]

I prefer to end the sentence with a preposition: Such things wars are fought over.

[Larry Kart]

Years ago a friend in San Francisco saw and made a drawing of (it's on my wall) a grocer's window in which there were these words:

"Bing" Cherries

[Head Man]

Years ago a friend in San Francisco saw and made a drawing of (it's on my wall) a grocer's window in which there were these words:

"Bing" Cherries

Nope...got me there