The Guardian has revised it's style guide to reflect the necessary consistency of adding apostrophe-s to create the possessive form of the pronoun "it."I'm a bit taken aback with where this is going to. But, this is an historic change which makes sense. The descriptivist in me is ready to yield to the culture for two reasons: first, because in this case it's consistent with possessives generally, and also this might disincent people from unnecessary apostrophes for pluralization.
To be sure, none of the United States' guides have adopted this formally yet, but such a significant shift from across the pond suggests the question as to when it will occur in it's leading guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Style Guide. Still, our language has been evolving since Moses's time, and we must accept it's continual change. Some things are inevitable.
No!!! Don't give in to the idiots. Make THEM learn the difference, and if they choose to not spell it correctly, it gives us the ability to look down our nose at them. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt took me a minute of outrage and googling to remember what today is. OY.
ReplyDelete<span>Its a post like this that gives this blog it's special place in my heart. Well played, Bonin. Well played.</span>
ReplyDeleteSame here! The lack of link to the original article is what tipped me off...
ReplyDeleteThat was great, Adam. I particularly like that you worked in the previous rodeo subjects. Very well played.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I was a jerk. :-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, you had me. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI was actually a little excited about this. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteTee Hee. I started a rant in my head, then went...wait a minute....
ReplyDeleteThe post, its awesome. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHee. I was taken in for about halfway through. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Adam.
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for a few more online pranks, check out You Tube circa 1911, or search for Helvetica on Google. Neither is nearly as good as this, but still.
ReplyDeleteNice. Very nice. And the sad thing is that I wondered to myself this morning: What is Adam going to try to do as an April Fool's joke?
ReplyDeletePerfection. Hooray for Adam!
ReplyDeleteHulu is ala 1996 today.
ReplyDeleteWell played. I fell for it and was ready to be furious. Let me just say: My would-be righteous anger would have ben terrifying.
ReplyDeleteRight down to the Geocities reference!
ReplyDeleteI love the way the pictures load (also I work at a web design firm that was founded in 1996 so my office finds it HILARIOUS).
ReplyDeleteNicely done. But can we tackle the REAL issue in the post? Namely, the need to eradicate the use of the word "disincent."
ReplyDeleteThank God. That abomination could not stand... you had me raging!
ReplyDeleteMy heartrate skyrocketed.
ReplyDeleteFor years, a local taxi company has the bumper sticker "DRIVER'S WANTED" on its cabs any time it's hiring. Makes me want to sideswipe them.
ReplyDeleteI was also taken in for about the first half... okay, it wasn't until the end when I remembered the date. Well played, sir.
ReplyDeleteWell done!! I'll let you know when my blood pressure gets back to normal.
ReplyDeleteI totally fell for it. I was all ready to say "NOOO...it's one rule I always get right, and it separates the mice from the men." I guess I'll get off my high horse.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's this from Google...watch the video.
ReplyDeleteHa! I knew it. Well played, though, sir. Well played indeed.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular! Kudos, sir.
ReplyDeleteohh...nice.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was ready to write a really, really heated reply about how messed up this was.
But seriously, you know who would be a big fan of this? Whoever programmed my iPhone to add the apostrophe to EVERY ITS. I'd like to punch that person in the face, prop him or her up against a wall, and then punch him/her again.
ReplyDeleteIt might drive me nuts, is what I'm saying.
Oh, geez. Nicely done, sir. You got me. That's what happens when you're the first post...
ReplyDelete