Posted by dorayme on 11/04/51 11:46

In article
<pan.2006.05.01.00.31.21.90629@thurston.blinkynet.net>,
Blinky the Shark <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:

> dorayme wrote:
>
> > In article
> > <pan.2006.04.30.11.33.59.39823@thurston.blinkynet.net>,
> > Blinky the Shark <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
> >
> >> Hywel Jenkins wrote:
> >>
> >> > Blinky the Shark wrote:
> >
> >> >> What shouts out at me: all the instances of "photo's".[1] Plurals don't
> >> >> require apostrophes.
> >> >
> >> > You could argue that in this instance the apostrophe is correct as
> >> > letters have been omitted.
> >>
> >> If one wanted to appear dense, sure.
> >>
> >
> > I dunno, HJ's was a clever enough point.... It never occurred to
>
> Except for one thing. "Photo" has become a word in its own right.
>

Yes, it is true enough - but not necessarily in every idiolect.
But not so true that it leaves no room for an intentional and
stuffily formal use of "'" in "photo's as a tease to the likes of
all Lords Fussiness.

> And you seem to have missed the *actual* clever suggestion that if an
> apostrophe of contraction *was* required, then it would equally be
> required for the *singular*: photo' (Because "graph" is just as much
> clipped from the singular as it is the plural.)

What makes you think I missed it? I did not. I liked it and
appreciated it. Perhaps I read it after replying to you? The
answer, of course, is that for an idiolect in which the formal
expansion of "photo" is "photograph", the singular "photo'" is
probably correct. What you miss, old son, is that this is not
necessarily so ridiculous.

>
> > me. In fact, come to think of it, with this particular word, it
> > might not be a bad choice. Must remember to stick in an apostophe
> > next time I use it to surprise the stickler brigade with a
>
> You misspelled "those who know how to spell".

I misspelt what? I know I misspelt "apostrophe" a while back...
MT-Newswatcher only underlines what it thinks are mistakes, it
cannot correct them. So I am off the hook, right?

--
dorayme

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