Re: Query

[Gurudutt Kamath <guruk -at- GIASBM01 -dot- VSNL -dot- NET -dot- IN>]

Hello all!

Just thought I will add my two bits.

The it's error is the most common error made in Indian technical writing.
Of course, I've seen this error in writings from other parts of the world
too.

Thanks, John, for pointing that it is in Elements of Style also.  Must
read it again.

What is interesting to me is that no one has suggested to Meena that:  why
not get rid of the its.  Like, I would have done.  When in argument with
boss -- leave it out!  I think the sentence should still work without the
its.

Guru

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On Fri, 19 Dec 1997, John A. Newman wrote:

> in case . . . It's (with apostrophe) is a contraction for "it is" or "it
> has". Its (no apostrophe) is possessive. These rules are ALWAYS true.
> Take it from a former English teacher. If that isn't enough authority for
> you, the above comes almost word for word from _Hodges' Harbrace College
> Handbook_, 8th ed. (my personal grammar bible). It is also almost word
> for word from page 1 of Strunk and White's _The Elements of Style_.
>
> So your example sentence would read very strange if the apostrophe were
> correct: "services company dedicated to making it is customers more
> productive ". So NO APOSTROPHE is correct.


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