I had to text Louise the other day to tell her I had a doctor’s appointment. Suddenly, I got all hung up on whether to put an apostrophe in “docs”. It wasn’t possessive (as in doc’s appointment) but should I use the apostrophe of abbreviation? Surely doc is such an accepted abbreviation for doctor that it’s not necessary to identify it as such anymore. A lot of apostrophes get dropped from common abbreviations these days, and I’m all right with it. Then again, a lot of apostrophes get dropped from pronoun abbreviations too, but I fervently disagree with that and will fight for I’ll and They’re till my dying day. But do you see how something as simple as sending a quick message can take much longer than it needs to when you’re an English teacher a neurotic pedant? I should have just written doctors and had done with it. Abbreviations are supposed to save time!
Ben recommended today’s Self-Loathing Song. In case you were wondering: yes, Ben is still around. I just felt people were getting a bit bored of our rambling bull sessions, and besides, all we seem to talk about these days is comics and horror films.
Spanish Love Songs are not from Spain and don't write love songs. They describe their sound as “Grouchrock”, which immediately endeared them to me. Ben said they write “emo for men in their 30s”, which is fine for him, I guess, but 20 years too young for me. He clarified, “not having a breakdown because a girl doesn’t like you, but more existential issues”. Existential angst? Sign me up…
"They’re till my dying day"
ReplyDeleteFormer teacher of mathematics writes : is not "until my dying day" or " 'til my dying day"?
Way to motivate my self-loathing, George.
DeleteSorry Rol.
DeleteWow, I was expecting a slow dirge but quite the opposite.
ReplyDeleteAs for the existential angst I hear you, and I don't know if it's because I spend too much time at home, but I too have been far too preoccupied of late trying to find a haircut that suits me, and a nose, and teeth. Body dysmorphia I think - got to get out more.
I've just posted something new and had a last-minute panic because I'd put the apostrophe in the wrong place in the word O' - I had erroneously put it at the beginning rather than the end when shortening 'of'. Who nowadays would care? I join in on a lot of forums where we discuss things relevant to our businesses and the people who seem to be most successful can't seem to differentiate between There, their and they're - it's all 'there' nowadays whatever the context. Don't get me started on the of/off and to/too mistakes. I feel your pain.
Your last para (para'?!) reminds me of a time years ago when a colleague wanted some help with spelling something and she asked me if it should be "could of" or "could off"....eek.
DeleteI get the same pause over photos/photo's. Damn apostrophe of abbreviation!
ReplyDeleteAlso, when blogging, do you hark back to the ‘70s, the 70s or the 70’s (other decades are available).
DeleteAlyson
There's no apostrophe in 70s unless its possessive. So we grew up in the 70s listening to 70's songs. But it's very easy to get the wrong one. Easier to write Seventies (but do I need that capital!?!)
DeleteI thought I had to apostrophise the 19 bit which is missing in decade references like 70s. Why do we do it for letters but not numbers, I wonder?
DeleteGood point, C. I have no objection to '70s, at least it follows a rule.
DeleteYes, it was one of the things I had to work out when I started my blog so now stick with either '70s or 1970s (saves any debate). The 'Seventies' just doesn't do it for me - too long and wordy for something we always think of in numbers.
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