The Pedants' Arms

[Tim Hall]

One of those would be a Glottal stop.

Glo'al, surely.

 

[robjh]

When I rule the English language, the possessive apostrophe will be the first thing to go. I predict that the entire English-speaking world will heave a collective sigh of relief and wonder why we ever put up with it for so long.

 

[mr_hippo]

[rare moment of pedantry]
I'm not convinced that you are are correct with James''. A single apostrophe indicates the deletion of one or more letters.
Examples:
o'clock from of the clock
fo'c's'le or fo'c'sle from forecastle

Two adjacent apostrophes is more commonly known as a quotation mark, inverted commas or a speech mark.

The plural of James is Jameses so a car belonging to them would be written as the Jameses' car. It could be a clumsy pronunciation but it is unambiguous.

I've not read any style guide that advocates the use of a pair of apostrophes. Though I would love to be proved wrong about their non-existence.

[/rare moment of pedantry]

Congratulations, you are now a member of the Worshipful Company of Closet Pedants. The two adjacent apostrophes in my post was a typo not spotted by me; I do know that an apostrophe indicates the deletion of one or more letters.- it is mentioned in my post.
Two adjacent apostrophes exist only in the world of Big Fingers and Small Keys!

 

[vernon]

Congratulations, you are now a member of the Worshipful Company of Closet Pedants. The two adjacent apostrophes in my post was a typo not spotted by me; I do know that an apostrophe indicates the deletion of one or more letters.- it is mentioned in my post.
Two adjacent apostrophes exist only in the world of Big Fingers and Small Keys!

When engaged in pedantry, proof reading is a must.

You are still wrong with the plural form of James. It's Jameses not James's, the latter indicates possession by James and not a contraction of the plural of James.

 

[Aperitif]

James doughnut = insufficient
James' doughnuts = a few more
Jameses doughnuts = two bagsfull is enough
Jam = big raspberry's

 

[Haitch]

When engaged in pedantry, proof reading is a must.

Never forget Muphry's law.

 

[classic33]

Glo'al, surely.

We had to make it so people outside Yorkshire could pronounce what it was they were using.

 

[Dan B]

The English language is a fluid and dynamic entity. The Oxford English dictionary is about to delete the word pedant as it doesn't have a place in a fluid and dynamic language.

I hear they're going to be removing the word "gullible" at the same time

 

[vernon]

I hear they're going to be removing the word "gullible" at the same time

You fell for it so there's still a place for gullible if only to accommodate you.

 

[Aperitif]

Gullible:

The propensity for one's seaside breakfast to be sampled by something other than oneself

@Tim Hall

 

[Tim Hall]

Gullible:

@Tim Hall

@redfalo more like

 

[robjh]

Come the revolution, anyone who doesn't know the difference between 'less' and 'fewer', or 'sex' and 'gender', will be the first up against the wall....

Revolution? It sounds more like the Pedants' Revolt to me.

 

[Aperitif]

@redfalo more like

Not so much an @redfalo, more a 'from' redfalo... 'The chips were down' true enough - Olaf's chips ha ha! (Sorry, a bit off topic - and the plate!)

 

[Tim Hall]

Revolution? It sounds more like the Pedants' Revolt to me.

Led by Which Tyler.