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Pedants' corner

New apostrophe blunder

40 replies

prism · 15/04/2012 15:31

Just saw this in a job advert: "My client who are part of one of the largest communication groups' in the world".

Never seen this before- maybe they think that saying "group's" is in actually wrong, but think they just have to get that apostrophe in for some reason? They go on to make the usual mistakes with "incentive's", etc later on, so they're obviously genuinely illiterate, and not just mistyping.

Where will it all end? Sad

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anniewoo · 15/04/2012 15:32

Never seenGrin

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MooncupGoddess · 15/04/2012 15:32

I saw a sign over a newsagents the other day bearing the words:

LATEST NEW'S HERE

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ArgyMargy · 17/04/2012 17:53

I think it will end by being overtaken by a potentially even more annoying trend that I have spotted - the erroneous hyphen. I have seen it in newspapers and elsewhere, and it consists of a completely unnecessary addition of a hyphen such as "we are in for some lovely-weather" or "she is wearing blue-trousers" or "I had to get-up very quickly". Anyone else noticed this?!

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Nanny0gg · 17/04/2012 22:35

My client who are???

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mummybare · 17/04/2012 22:40

If the employment agency's client/clients has/have any sense, it/they will be taking its/their business elsewhere pronto!

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iklboo · 17/04/2012 22:51

Client who are?!

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Katisha · 17/04/2012 22:58

New cafe in our town has a large laminated sign on the frontage saying "baguette's". Don't the signwriters or whoever makes these things correct the brief or don't they know/care either?

Haven't noticed the hyphen thing as yet but no doubt will keep seeing it now!

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StealthPolarBear · 17/04/2012 23:01

No I have never-noticed the hyphen either

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SkiBumMum · 17/04/2012 23:01

We done

Every bloody day at nursery handover. DD says it too now. Grrrrh.

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poppyknot · 17/04/2012 23:07

Just reminded of the Extra Apostrophe in Alice (reading to DD at the moment...)

Ca'n't etc

Such fun!

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StetsonsAreCool · 17/04/2012 23:10

OMG I saw this too!!

My client who are indeed. SIOB.



And I saw a sign by the the road the other day: Dog's available for rehoming. I'm still wondering what the poor dog did to warrant being given away Smile

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StetsonsAreCool · 17/04/2012 23:13

And I saw an ad that said something about 'the companies expansion'. FFS. Company's!!

And if a job ad has mistakes, that's one off my list to apply to. They're all marketing/writing/proofreading jobs too. OK it might be a numpty at an agency rather than the employer, but still!

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Alinta · 18/04/2012 02:50

Never mind the apostrophe - what about "my client who ARE" ??

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TroubleAndFyfe · 18/04/2012 03:00

A newsagent I passed advertised 'Sandwitch's available here' double whammy! Grin

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MooncupGoddess · 18/04/2012 14:08

A deeply traumatic experience here. Yesterday I passed a bus stop bearing the legend "St Barnaba's Church". This is an official sign designed and produced by Transport for London!

If anyone is familiar with St Barnaba I will of course eat my words.

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CatWithKittens · 18/04/2012 17:04

If anybody had been too familiar with her she would presumably not be a Saint.

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MirandaGoshawk · 18/04/2012 20:49
Grin
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StetsonsAreCool · 18/04/2012 21:32
Grin
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prism · 19/04/2012 18:07

Yes, the "client are" thing is dreadful too; it's just so happened that the novel misuse of the apostrophe got me. Despite all this the job pays fifty grand- I might apply, just so I can look at them over my horn-rimmed glasses and ask them if they have noticed anything amiss with the advertisement...

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HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 19/04/2012 18:23

Just saw this in an email from The Gro Store:

With lots of brilliant 5 star reviews from mum's and dad's on our website

Honestly, what is it with these rogue apostrophes?!

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TodaysAGoodDay · 19/04/2012 23:11

I think when people aren't sure where to put the apostrophes they sneeze over the page and put one in where the splats are. How hard is it to remember that plurals don't have apostrophes?

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Mabelface · 19/04/2012 23:28

It makes me twitch.

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MrsWembley · 19/04/2012 23:34

I remember the joys of teaching/reminding a yr7 class about apostrophes.

Oh, if only I could have a crack at some of these grown-up illiterates.

(Now I'm worried about the hyphen!)

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EthelredOnAGoodDay · 19/04/2012 23:36

I think many people, who are maybe not so confident in their use of written language, are so used to seeing the misused apostrophe that that they are just not sure where to use them.I must admit though, it makes me want to get my marker pen out.

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cattj · 28/10/2012 01:08

The Thick of It Series 4 Episode 5 at 09m:21s; apostrophes!

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