My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Pedants' corner

Apostrophes in school

15 replies

Jossysgiants · 20/01/2013 09:23


My daughter is in reception and the teacher has now divided the class into 4 groups. They drop their book bags into boxes related to these groups in the morning. The boxes are labelled 'Sunshine's' 'Rainbow's' 'Lightning's ' ' Thunder's '

I suspect they have intended these names as plurals and therefore have placed an apostrophe unnecessarily. But I am not sure - I suppose they might argue the box belongs to the sunshine. This has been bothering me more than it probably should. Do you think I would be unreasonable to ask the teacher what she intended?
OP posts:
Report
TheNebulousBoojum · 20/01/2013 09:27

No. I'd ask what the possessive apostrophe is related to.

Report
dischordant · 20/01/2013 09:30

Book bags? I mean they are 'Rainbow's book bags' in this box.

Report
Jossysgiants · 20/01/2013 10:09

thenebulous I will ask. dischordant - it's possible, but the book bags still belong to the children IMO.

OP posts:
Report
dischordant · 20/01/2013 10:32

I agree, they certainly belong to the children but when they're in the boxes they are in that 'group' - If you know what I'm getting at?

It's a bit odd anyway!

Report
dischordant · 20/01/2013 10:33

Perhaps she asks a particular group to collect form the boxes throughout the day (Or perhaps I'm overthinking this...)

Report
Feenie · 20/01/2013 10:41

My ds's school Reception class had a box labelled Book's, which wound me up no end.

It was one of the things I decided to Let Go.

Am trying similar with a rant note aimed at me from his Y2 class teacher regarding reading levels, which includes dont and its (as a contraction). Having to sit on hands a lot.

Report
dischordant · 20/01/2013 11:17

Oh dear, I would find it hard to keep quiet.

Report
Jossysgiants · 20/01/2013 11:51

I know what you mean dischordant . As if the group is the temporary custodian of the book bags. Feenie you are very restrained. I am going to have to ask them. To say it is eating away at me is a slight exaggeration. But not much. I have to know!

OP posts:
Report
cumfy · 22/01/2013 23:46

Meh ++

You could read it any which way though couldn't you ?

Rainbow's could (correctly?) mean: Rainbow's container for Rainbow group members' bookbags ... couldn't it ?

I'm sure there are numerous such contractions which would be "correct".

But in the context it would be far more sensible to label the box Rainbow.

Report
somebloke123 · 23/01/2013 10:52

No you wouldn't be unreasonable to mention it. The woman is a teacher and ought to get these simple things right.

Report
SignoraStronza · 24/01/2013 22:25

Surely if it refers to the possession of the books by a particular group (plural) then it should be written:
Rainbows'
Sunshines'

Report
Jossysgiants · 24/01/2013 23:50

I agree cumfy that there are multiple possible interpretations. However only if the structure used matches the intended meaning is it really correct.

OP posts:
Report
JessieMcJessie · 06/02/2013 05:34

Please come back and tell us what she said. I think she's wrong, and she meant that each kid is a "Sunshine" so it's either labelled "Sunshines" as a simple declaration of who the box is for, or it should be "Sunshines' " as in the box belonging to the Sunshines. Think how toilets are labelled- either Ladies' or Ladies, Gents or Gents'.

Report
WMittens · 06/02/2013 12:26

I agree with somebloke123; the whole comma abuse issue which is commonplace is just being reinforced by incorrect use in education.

Also echo what SignoraStronza and JessieMcJessie said*.


*Typed? Put? Declared?

Report
JessieMcJessie · 09/02/2013 02:36

Any update OP?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.