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From: ndiamond@watdaisy.UUCP (Norman Diamond)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.misc
Subject: Re: STUPID PEOPLE'S COURT: The case of Outraged English Majors VS. The Net
Message-ID: <7159@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 31-Mar-85 11:13:59 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.7159
Posted: Sun Mar 31 11:13:59 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Apr-85 04:05:56 EST
References: <468@vax2.fluke.UUCP> <147@ncr-tp.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
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Xref: watmath net.flame:9050 net.misc:7718

> It is incredibly easy to use the apostrophe correctly if you realize
> that it indicates that something was elided.

True.

> This rule holds for ALL uses of the apostrophe in English

False.

> (Female chauvanists will point out that it doesn't make sense to expand
> "Mary's flowers" into "Mary his flowers", but that's (==> "that is") how
> the possesive form started.  Think of it as evolution in action.)

In German, the possessive form is indicated by adding an "s" without an
apostrophe.  I am glad that English adds the apostrophe as well (except
that it's absent from "its"); but I do not believe it originated by
eliding the word "his".

Incidentally, since this discussion concerns grammar rather than spelling,
I won't complain about the misspelled word in the quotation.

-- 

   Norman Diamond

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"Opinions are those of the keyboard, and do not reflect on me or higher-ups."