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Pedants' corner

possessives

14 replies

StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2013 10:02

I was annoyed to see one's as a possessive in a book as I feel it's wrong. But later they then used everyone's. Which seems right. So should ones have an apostrophe.
Apologies for errors in this am typing on phone and it's very frustrating.

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StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2013 10:14

Bump

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AgentProvocateur · 29/03/2013 10:18

I think it should, yes. Although I can see why you think it shouldn't, as its the same sort of possessive as his, her, our etc.

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StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2013 10:19

Exactly. But you def could be right.

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StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2013 11:51

So where are all the pedants today?

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 29/03/2013 18:21

"One's" is correct.

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prism · 29/03/2013 18:37

Could we have a context? I can imagine "ones" being correct occasionally- "these apples are riper than those ones" etc, but if it's one's grammar that's under discussion, the apostrophe is the only way to go, surely.

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 29/03/2013 19:01

Prism, your example is correct, but the distinction is that "ones" in your example is a plural.

The OP asked about the possessive. Indefinite pronouns (everyone, everybody, one, everything, etc.) generally form the possessive with an apostrophe.

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StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2013 20:55

Thanks everyone, I'm happy that "one's" is correct, especially as it's then consistent with "everyone's" which definitely looks right. Just looked a bit too much like "the dog and it's ball" to me.
Context could be the Queen saying "One's handbag strap is chafing"
vs
"Ones handbag strap is chafing"

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MrsVJDay · 29/03/2013 23:41

Surely the Queen would never say "Ones handbag strap is chafing"

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Rindercella · 30/03/2013 00:19

The Queen would always write, "One's handbag strap is chafing" I am sure.

On the subject of possessives, will people please stop using an apostrophe in its when it is possessive.

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 30/03/2013 00:28

But she might write "One's quite miffed that one's handbag strap is chafing."

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StealthPolarBear · 30/03/2013 06:36

Rinders, mine was an example of where it's wrong. I also see our's and your's a lot, and assumed one's was similar.

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Rindercella · 30/03/2013 08:26

Stealth, I think it's not a bad assumption at all. Just another of the English language's oddities [busmile]

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jkklpu · 08/04/2013 22:38

Not an oddity, it's consistent with the general possessive apostrophe rule. It's the same as "[name]'s handbag strap" rather than "hers", which could not be followed by a noun.

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