Re: Question

Subject: Re: Question
From: Sandy Harris <sandy -at- storm -dot- ca>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 11:29:12 -0500

"Logue, Jason" wrote:

> I have a question concerning grammar. When I see PCs in some documentation
> or on signs, I often see it in the plural possessive form - PC's - when it's
> not in the possessive.

Actually, that looks like a singular possessive. The plural possessive
would presumably be PCs', as in the "those PCs' hard drives".

The standard reference on hacker usage -- the jargon file or "Hacker's
Dictionary" -- discusses this in its section on hacker writing style:

http://tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/Hacker-Writing-Style.html

Their example is hackers preferring 1970s to the bogus possessive 1970's,
but I think the principle applies for PCs as well. Certainly that is what
I'd use.

Of course, "know your audience" also comes into it. YMMV.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Collect Royalties, Not Rejection Letters! Tell us your rejection story when you
submit your manuscript to iUniverse Nov. 6 -Dec. 15 and get five free copies of
your book. What are you waiting for? http://www.iuniverse.com/media/techwr

Have you looked at the new content on TECHWR-L lately?
See http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ and check it out.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


References:
Question: From: Logue, Jason

Previous by Author: Re: Reference guide
Next by Author: Re: HTML Help print issue
Previous by Thread: Question
Next by Thread: Re: Question


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads