topic Re: Error on the website in Plusnet Feedback

Error on the website

Alansmithee — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:48:56 GMT

You know where it says (under usage)
Check how many GB's you've used this month

It should be "Check how many GBs you've used this month"

Re: Error on the website

RPMozley — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:20:16 GMT

Well... Yes and no. Apostrophes can be used to shorten words, so some may say that is grammatically correct. When you look at it with the usual apostrophe s uses it probably doesn't look right. Probably just a case of personal preference?

Re: Error on the website

w23 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:45:58 GMT

I'm with the OP here - seeing apostrophes used for plurals (even plurals of abbreviations or acronyms) really annoys me (I know - 'get a life') but I was taught that apostrophes don't belong in plurals.
I'm fed up with seeing shops advertising 'CD's', 'DVD's' etc. (I've even seen 'grape's' on a market stall) and I think it's just plain wrong, a sign of poor educational standards or just sloppy use of the language.
I'm not perfect, and don't claim to be, but I do try to follow the rules I was taught.
Sorry for the rant on this 'pet hate' (no I don't hate pets. :D).

Re: Error on the website

Anotherone — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 09:05:25 GMT

I tend to agree with w23. I think it actually reflects on the way that English is taught in schools, but that's a whole new ball-game for the Chit-Chat board.

Re: Error on the website

ckcomputing — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:15:08 GMT

It is ALWAYS grammatically incorrect to use an apostrophe for the plural of a word. So, agree with OP, W23 and Anotherone.

Re: Error on the website

AndyH — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:53:12 GMT

Confirmed by the Oxford Book of Style - http://www.ox.ac.uk/public_affairs/services_and_resources/style_guide/punctuation.html

Re: Error on the website

Alansmithee — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:51:05 GMT

Quote from: RPMozley
Well... Yes and no. Apostrophes can be used to shorten words, so some may say that is grammatically correct. When you look at it with the usual apostrophe s uses it probably doesn't look right. Probably just a case of personal preference?

There is no word to shorten - it is simply an incorrect use of an apostrophe.

Re: Error on the website

Mav — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:34:15 GMT

Great Link AndyH and also confirms what I've maintained about apostrophes with periods of time to people:

Quote
use apostrophes with noun phrases denoting periods of time
He took a week’s holiday.
You must give three months’ notice.

Re: Error on the website

w23 — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:35:18 GMT

+1 for request to correct the webpage!

Re: Error on the website

fishrow — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:10:27 GMT

Now all that needs to be done is persuade the great unwashed the error in writing :-
it's connection fails.....
and similar.

Re: Error on the website

Luzern — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:54:04 GMT

Quote from: Mav
...confirms what I've maintained about apostrophes with periods of time to people:

That is obvious as ' a week's' means 'of a week'.

Re: Error on the website

Anotherone — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:57:04 GMT

I notice Plusnet are quietly ignoring this!

Re: Error on the website

spraxyt — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Perhaps they regard other topics as higher priority. Plenty of those to respond to today.

Re: Error on the website

Anotherone — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:13:13 GMT

Don't take a minute to make a quick comment that it's noted and will be passed on to the Web Team!!

Re: Error on the website

Heloman — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:27:35 GMT

Agree with the OP.
I'm a big fan of the book by Lynne Truss , "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".
"A Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" !

Re: Error on the website

Robbo1876 — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:33:36 GMT

Quote from: RPMozley
Well... Yes and no. Apostrophes can be used to shorten words, so some may say that is grammatically correct.

In this example, if it were correct, surely GB's ought to be G'B's?

Re: Error on the website

adamwalker — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:49:18 GMT

Morning all,
Thanks for pointing this out, I've raised problem 73208 to get that corrected.
Adam