Genealogy Chat

Cath in Hull That’s a humdinger! Must see if I can find one to send to a young relative with a suitable ‘Spot the un-deliberate mistake’ comment (having first copied it to the manufacturers with a rude remark!) QOB

Yesterday in our local corner shop as I was waiting in the queue I glanced at the cards on sale and immediately spotted a card with the words 'Well done on you're exam success'. Being appalled by this, I handed the card to the shop assistant and told her that George (shop owner) might want to send all these cards back to the manufacturer for a refund as he's never going to sell them, but thinking about current literacy levels and being a cynical sort, he probably would. o:)

I’ve just seen and photographed a marvellous non-apostrophe in our local Shoefayre window. Lets just say it had slipped down and become a comma! It was printed – again a promotion - surrounded by big red ‘SALE’ notices. It said ‘KIDS, HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES’! I couldn’t resist going in and asking a rather surprised young man whether it was boys or girls they had on offer! I’ve sent an e-mail to the company but probably won’t hear anything. I don’t suppose they’ll understand what I’m on about but it did relieve my ‘apostrophe rage’! QOB

Ah.......got it, thank you Olde Crone :;:;:;:;:;:; excellent! Now, what else can I think of? Conjugating verbs...............................???? That's another mystery and also all those different tenses.....No idea what any of that's about!! lol Merry

OC Was that a Chicken Coop??!!! A (sounds like a good offer!)

OC- the best one that made my children laugh in the cheap Works/Booksale shop, not a very good offer ,were stickers which said: 2 for 3 Kim

LAURA!!!!!!! Attend to your apostrophe immediately! OC

My local Co-op recently had a PRINTED sign (presumably part of a promotion) Buy one get on free. OC (Chicken coop gone, Co-op shop arrives)

We have a greengrocer's cart which sells fresh vegtable's , Has he not been reading your thread? What about the sale signs that say £'s off? Kim

Merry A colon is used to denote that a list is coming next, or that the second part of the sentence is the result of the first part. E.g. He took with him the following: his spex, his diary and his briefcase. Or - He wrote: please do not sit on this wall. A semicolon is used as a more important comma! Eg It rained today; the football was cancelled. Both parts of this sentence could be divided to make two sentences, but are better for not being separated. Clear as mud, eh? OC

Oooh, what a fantastic thread!! Can we have more of this please? As a child of the '60's and a student of the '70's and '80's, I was not taught any grammar at all after what to do with a full stop and comma. We were taught grammar when learning French and Latin, but the teachers didn't seem to understand that as we hadn't learned any of this in English lessons we had no idea what they were talking about! Now when I'm stuck, I refer to my trusty Readers Digest book entitled, ''How to Write and Speak Better'' which is probably very non-PC, but I think is very useful! Can someone tell me when to use a colon and when a semi-colon please? (the chapter is a bit thick for me to read! lol) Merry

For anyone who wishes to improve their knowledge of grammar, I'd recommend 'Redicover Grammar' by David Crystal. Jan

Don't forget the commonly seen music discs for sale, called cd's of songs from the 1980's etc. There's no need for cds to have the apostrophe (records doesn't, and cds have become a word in common use, as opposed to being C.D.san abbreviation, I think)And for dates like 1970s, 1980s etc, again no need to have an apostrophe-it doesn't do anything except look bad...!

Does the lady with curly legs have wrinkled stockings and go by the name of Batty? Just try writing a complex and unambiguous sentence without punctuation as the legal professionals have to. J

I am useless with apostrophes, apart from the missing letter ones! but I have to say this thead has been wonderful to read, apart from the fact it makes me feel woefully inadequate! Suex

Aside from the irritation of the ill-placed or misused apostrophe - think about the difference which can be made to the meaning of a sentence by the omitting of a comma. Example For sale piano by lady with curly legs Whose legs are curly? the lady or the piano? I hope it's the piano!!

Mmm .. thinking of proof reading … :-) Joy

*snort* MM I missed the missing word! Some proof reader I would make eh? OC

Indeed, O C ... and the word ''to'' was omitted. A little word, but quite vital. Was forwarded to the technical team, months ago.

MM Don't they know the rhyme I before E Except after C When the sound is EEEE. (Which only in fact applies to six words in the English Language) OC