Date   : Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:22:46 +0100
From   : Jeremy C B Nicoll <Jeremy@...>
Subject: Re: Signitures

In article <Marcel-1.53-1015002227-b49zokP@...>,
   Andrew W <a.weston2@...> wrote:

> So you're saying it's wrong in English to write something like 1970's?

Yes.  In the same way that pluralising "cat" as "cats" doesn't need an
apostrophe, pluralising "10" to "10s" works, because to get "tens" you
just append an s to "ten".  Nothing has been missed out.  

The principle is operated in exactly the same way even for words where
the plural form, if spelt out, is not just a case of adding an s.  So
changing "70" to "70s" is correct even though the word "seventy" has to
be regarded as changing to "seventie" before the s is appended.


If a singular word was once (when spelling was different) pluralised by
adding "es" or "ers" eg "child" -> "childers" then there might be a
justification for spelling the plural form now as "child's".  I just
can't think of such a word at the moment. 

> I thought apostrophes were used to indicate abbreviations like 'til or
> fish 'n' chips?

They are.

-- 
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.