Everyone has some sort of language pet peeve. I'm talking about those phrases that sound like fingernails on a chalkboard. My personal pet peeve is the misuse of the apostrophe. This is very interesting, because I have no such problem with my constant misuse of the apostrophe's little sibling, the comma.
The misuse I'm talking about is the tendency to form a plural by adding by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s". This makes me want to scream. Why this particular error annoys me so much, I don't know. Even a casual reader of this blog knows that my grammar is far from perfect.
Anyways, this week I sent a friend in town a basic email to RSVP for a brunch she is hosting. While reading her reply to some questions I had asked, I noticed that I had committed a very grave sin. Yes, I had formed the plural of "Friday" as "Friday's". There was no alternate meaning. There was no way that I was using a possessive form of Friday.
Somewhere, Strunk and White* are rolling over in their graves while a panda weeps**.
*The Elements of Style is my favorite style guide. Too bad I clearly have failed to learn all its lessons.
**A reference to Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It is hilarious. Imagine Strunk and White with a sense of humour. (Who doesn't love British spelling?)
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