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APS Message Forum :: General :: Apostrophe Use & Abuse :: apostrophe in "ladies" Author Topic: apostrophe in "ladies" (Read 234 times) hstaylor New Member member is offline Joined: Apr 2012 Gender: Female Posts: 1 apostrophe in "ladies" « Thread Started on Apr 28, 2012, 2:33pm » Can anyone help me with where the apostrophe goes in the word ladies (plural) - for example "ladies glasses". Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged hubertus Senior Member member is offline Joined: Jan 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 465 Location: W. Yorkshire, England Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #1 on Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm » If it was a singular lady, the convention would be the lady's glasses. If the ladies were plural, it would be ladies' glasses. As you wouldn't be able to distinguish the two in spoken English, I argue that we shouldn't bother to use the apostrophe to distinguish the written forms of the possessive. But in this respect, I believe I'm in a minority of one: at least on this forum. « Last Edit: Apr 28, 2012, 4:53pm by hubertus » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dave Advanced Member member is offline Joined: Feb 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 704 Location: San Jose, CA Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #2 on Apr 29, 2012, 7:53am » Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm, hubertus wrote: If it was a singular lady, the convention would be the lady's glasses. If the ladies were plural, it would be ladies' glasses. Correct! Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm, hubertus wrote: As you wouldn't be able to distinguish the two in spoken English, I argue that we shouldn't bother to use the apostrophe to distinguish the written forms of the possessive. But in this respect, I believe I'm in a minority of one: at least on this forum. Yes, you are! And just what spelling would you use? ladies ladys ladees ??? Keep in mind that your writing shouldn't have stumbling blocks for your reader. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dave hubertus Senior Member member is offline Joined: Jan 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 465 Location: W. Yorkshire, England Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #3 on Apr 29, 2012, 10:39am » Ambiguous post of mine: apologies. Yes of course you would always be able to distinguish by context in verbal and written forms. I would end up distinguishing the singular or plural forms of the written words too as i would respect the conventional spelling: ladys and ladies, though not the apostrophisation. But I admit this is unlikly to supplant the existing convention. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged hubertus Senior Member member is offline Joined: Jan 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 465 Location: W. Yorkshire, England Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #4 on Apr 29, 2012, 10:42am » Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm, hubertus wrote: If it was a singular lady, the convention would be the lady's glasses. . At the risk of quoting myself, strictly, the subjunctive should be used. Thus my sentence would start: If it were a singular lady ... « Last Edit: Apr 29, 2012, 10:44am by hubertus » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dave Advanced Member member is offline Joined: Feb 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 704 Location: San Jose, CA Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #5 on Apr 29, 2012, 4:18pm » Apr 29, 2012, 10:42am, hubertus wrote: Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm, hubertus wrote: If it was a singular lady, the convention would be the lady's glasses. . At the risk of quoting myself, strictly, the subjunctive should be used. Thus my sentence would start: If it were a singular lady ... And the married ones? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dave Pete Advanced Member member is offline Punctuation is the virtue of the bored! Joined: Feb 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 738 Location: Leicester, UK Re: apostrophe in "ladies" « Reply #6 on Apr 30, 2012, 11:07am » Apr 28, 2012, 4:35pm, hubertus wrote: But in this respect, I believe I'm in a minority of one: at least on this forum. I'm not sure that you are the only one, hubertus, but I am pretty sure that you are in the minority. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Forum Jump--------------------» Home--------------------» General--------------------- Apostrophe Use & Abuse --- Welcome, APS Policy & Forum News- Other English Language Problems

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