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Discussion Groups / English Usage / September 2007Local people
A headline in today's Chicago Tribune read: Illinois' students failing to keep pace I was surprised to see the apostrophe. Is it required? I'm thinking that the place name often is used as an adjective, so that we get usages like these: Detroit workers New York sports fans California farmers London bankers Tokyo chefs Are those usages incorrect? If not, is there a difference between "Illinois' students" and "Illinois students"? Anny >A headline in today's Chicago Tribune read: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Are those usages incorrect? If not, is there a difference between > "Illinois' students" and "Illinois students"? Can be. California's students means all of them. California students may mean all of them, or two of them, or any number in between, depending on context, although the basic meaning is all of them. (State names shouldn't really be used as modifiers though if there is an available adjective--in this case, Californian.) There may also be a difference of emphasis. London bankers are bankers first. London's bankers are the pride of the City. But I've noticed that the use of the apostrophe has increased lately, which is probably a result of its raised profile. Adrian >>A headline in today's Chicago Tribune read: >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > (State names shouldn't really be used as modifiers though if there is an > available adjective--in this case, Californian.) Hmm. By this logic, the Tribune headline meant that all students in Illinois failed to keep pace with the rest of the nation. This is almost certainly not true -- surely some students in Illinois did keep pace. > There may also be a difference of emphasis. > London bankers are bankers first. London's bankers are the pride of the > City. Maybe this is the reason for the apostrophe. In looking at the online version of the story, I see this opening sentence: "In the nationwide test used to measure school reform, Illinois pupils showed slight improvements in math and reading last spring but did not keep pace with the rest of the nation, a Tribune analysis found." It's a bit odd that it's "Illinois' students" in the headline, but "Illinois pupils" in the article itself. Maybe I'll write the editor of the Tribune and see what he says. > But I've noticed that the use of the apostrophe has increased lately, > which is probably a result of its raised profile. So the period is falling out of favor, while the apostrophe gains. It's almost like there's a minimum number of punctuation marks that must be used, and the apostrophe is picking up the slack. Now if only we could get people to stop writing sentences like, "The puppy tripped over it's own feet." Anny > Now if only we could get people to stop writing sentences like, "The puppy > tripped over it's own feet." A recent favorite of mine, actually seen at a carnival: "Hamburger's and hot dog's! Each just $1 apiece! Theyre delishious!" An English teacher suffered a mild heart attack at that same carnival. No word on whether she had seen the sign, though. >> Now if only we could get people to stop writing sentences like, "The >> puppy tripped over it's own feet." [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > An English teacher suffered a mild heart attack at that same carnival. No > word on whether she had seen the sign, though. There's a grade school two blocks from my house. One day I walked by and by the door there was a life-size picture of a clown holding a sign that read, "Teachers -- your the best!" Anny > There's a grade school two blocks from my house. One day I walked by and by > the door there was a life-size picture of a clown holding a sign that read, > "Teachers -- your the best!" > > Anny And when my mother in law says she's going to go lay down, I had my (then) 3 year old remind her,"chickens lay eggs, peope lie down." I'd not have gotten on her case, except she should know better, she taught English. JOE |
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