This blog post is intended to help authors understand certain rules used for the publication of writing in a book. You need to know the rules in case you want to break them. Our source is the bible of the publishing industry, The Chicago Manual of Style, Sixteenth Edition.
Beloved bloggers: Carry on as you were. It I understand your post, then it's fine.
Today we talk about time. An event occurs in your book during the 1950's. What have I done wrong?
It's the 1950s, or the fifities, or the '50s, but not the 50's. You can learn this by asking what the 1950's possesses? Does it have a xylophone or a row of duckies in the bathtub? Probably not, so get rid of that lame apostrophe in 50's.
As important as writing the time correctly is knowing that an apostrophe is not used when we write a plural, unless we intend ownership.
Margarita's are 2/$2.00. No, no, no, no. Why add the possessive to the plural of margarita? Who owns the maragita that I want?
Margaritas are 2/$2.00. Yes, I like that price.
Frozen strawberry with a sugar rim, please.
We'll talk about time more in upcoming TIP TUESDAYS.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
From the moment I awake in the morning:
Good one! I do my best with that one, though I imagine I slip from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI slip all the time. I re-read my post this afternoon, after I had so carefully proofread it before clicking on publish, and found three errors.
DeleteThere is a book named Chicago Manual of Style??? The fact it is about "proper use of American English" is even more surprising. I have been hanging out in Chicago for the last week as hubby and I have a farm just south of the city and I don't think that particular book has had an enormous impact here. (or any impact, really)
ReplyDeleteStill...as a native Chicagoan, I am rather happy to see the words Chicago and Style hanging out in the same phrase.
The Chicago Manual of Style was first published in 1906. It's a reference book that most people never see.
DeleteThat's an excellent price for Margaritas. Location is everything.
ReplyDeleteYou betcha, Dixie darlin'.
DeleteThe constant misuse of apostrophes is probably the #1 grammar crime. Love the image for this post -- it's perfect!
ReplyDeleteBut I don't silently correct grammar.
DeleteOh good tip. An apostrophe s is always possessive, but I think I might have done this by accident with the years. I think we make this mistake because we always see things like: the 90's. Nope, 90s! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's so common that it will probably be acceptable one of these days. That's the day I will cut my throat but continue to correct the grammar of the EMTs in the ambulance.
DeleteAh! Good to know. I wasn't sure about that. Is it the same for temperature? As in--it's expected to be in the 80s?
ReplyDeleteYuppity-do-dah!
DeleteI'm guilty of adding unnecessary apostrophes. What about if there is more than one person whose last name ends in an S. Would it be (2) Carloses, carlos', or carlos's?
ReplyDeleteIf I understand you correctly, then you're not talking about something the men named Carlos own. Wouldn't you say "I met two men named Carlos"? But I like Carloses. How about "The Carloses agreed to meet us for a drink"? I don't think it has to be limited to names that end in S. What if you know two women named Janie? "The Janies agreed to serve us margaritas." Or I can be Janie Junebug, and the other Janie can be Janie whatever she wants, as in "Janie Junebug and Janie Junebutt want to drink margaritas." What was teh kwestion? I drunk three margarita's while I was riting the anser.
DeleteI usually do pretty well, but now I shall not screw up '50s any more. I think they were possessive to me. Or maybe I was possessed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you were possessed by someone nice.
DeleteYay! Two points I am often aware of when I write. I HATE it when people make words plural by adding apostrophe S. I see a lot of that lately.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of it for too damn many years.
DeleteI often get its and it's wrong, even though I know the difference very well.
ReplyDeleteThat one can get you into big trouble.
DeleteI's don't's think's too's many's people's overuse's apostrophie's, do's they's?
ReplyDeleteInteresting
ReplyDeleteNot really, but necessary for people who want to publish books.
DeleteThose crazy (incorrect) apostrophes kill me when I see them in people's writing. Apostrophes inserted into plurals have long been a thorn in my side. Thank you for speaking out! Also, I have a T-shirt that matches your mug. And—like you—I'm not actually very silent about it.
ReplyDeleteI love my Chicago Manual. It sits beside me when I edit, and I can't imagine being able to do my job without it.
I love my Chicago Manual, too. It's on my right in a special place among the office supplies, always ready to be consulted. It's a little overweight, but so am I.
DeleteHey Janie,
ReplyDeleteI love your posts on tips. Yes, this is Gary's comment, which, no doubt, you will leave a fabulous reply.
As you were or weren't, Janie.
I weren't Janie and then I changed my name.
DeleteGreat tip! We see this way too often, and while we are not experts on the rules by any means, this is one we stick by. The 1980s might own my soul, but that's about where the possession stops.
ReplyDeletePlease don't let the 1980s own your soul.
DeleteSorry to be argumentative, Janie, but I had a friend in college named Margarita. Margarita's favorite drink was...hell if I know, probably a rum and coke.
ReplyDeleteLove ya, and thanks for this. I HATE unnecessary apostrophes, especially when I was the culprit. xo
Margarita's favorite drink was a Tom Collin's.
DeleteI love that mug, Janie! I like to think I know my apostrophe well but no doubt the little critter will jump into the wrong place from time to time :)
ReplyDeleteExactly the way letters jump around in words I type.
DeleteMy 50s had all king of stuff.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean the decade or when you were in your fifties, which was long, long ago? tee hee
DeleteI'm ever the rebel so I kind of like my apostrophe when I say something like 50's. To me 50s looks weird and not especially attractive. Who decided those damn rules anyway? What makes them smarter than me (oh, I guess maybe that should be "than I"). I guess I'd better go with what the editors want if I submit something, but on my blog I'll probably keep using 50's.
ReplyDeleteAround here they usually advertise sale Margaritas at $5. I'm not sure what the regular price is, but whatever the price is they're still too expensive for me.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I don't know how much margaritas cost. Willy Dunne Wooters buys them for me. You should misuse apostrophes on your blog as often as you like.
DeleteThanks for the grammar lesson. I knew about these things, but I really should get the Chicago Manual. I'm sure there are plenty of things I don't know. Or don't remember. ;)
ReplyDeleteI ordered my Chicago from Amazon. I like saying "Chicago prefers . . . " or "Chicago states . . . " as if the city speaks to me. Oh! Maybe those are the voices I hear.
DeleteWhere can I get those margaritas for $2??? I'm now in the mood for margaritas... Lime with salt please.
ReplyDeleteGood tip!
Michele at Angels Bark
You have to hang out at my house to get a cheap margarita . . . and a cheap Junebug.
DeleteI love tip Tuesdays. I have to admit, I may be at fault for doing this. Normally, I'm pretty good with the apostrophe. Its not something I usually screw up.
ReplyDeleteExcept in that last line, where I did it on purpose to see if you are paying attention. ;) LOL Thanks again.
That "its" jumped out and punched me in the nose.
DeleteI love you. If my coworker says "should have went" one more time, I'm going to cut her heart out with a spoon.
ReplyDelete-andi
Ok....so...um.....I believe I do that apostrophe error fairly constant or is that constantly??? It makes perfect sense but I never even thought about it. Thanks for bringing this to light and let's hope I lessen those errors:)
ReplyDeleteJust had to pop in to see my buddy for a minute and you posted a gem: double goodness for me.
ReplyDelete"It's the 1950s, or the fifities, or the '50s, but not the 50's." I swear, this has been confusing to me. At a visceral level, I know "50's" is incorrect, but I do it...now that you have told me the proper way, I will actually remember this!
Love, hugs, and all that jazz.