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Subject:Re: Your opinions again, please From:Mike Pope <mikep -at- ASYMETRIX -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 2 Jun 1994 10:18:00 PDT
>Well, I agree with your editor on the subject of possessives--but "of the"
>isn't necessary. Instead of "the computer's keyboard" you simply say "the
>computer keyboard."
>"The program's purpose" = "the program purpose."
>"The key's function" = "the key function" (or "the key does or causes")
>Neither hardware nor software may own anything. No possessive
>required/permitted. But neither is "of the" in 99 44/100% of instances.
> JMHO, ;-) suepstewrt -at- aol -dot- com
How about this one? "The software's default response is to ..."
In that case, the "possessive" (more accurately, the genetive) of the
noun does not signify ownership.