[LINK] grammar nazis

Kim Holburn kim at holburn.net
Thu Oct 26 11:54:35 AEST 2006


This is for those interested in grammar out there:  what do you think  
of this?

http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/acronyms.html

> One unusual modern use of the apostrophe is in plural acronyms,  
> like “ICBM’s” “NGO’s” and “CD’s”. Since this pattern violates the  
> rule that apostrophes are not used before an S indicating a plural,  
> many people object to it. It is also perfectly legitimate to write  
> “CDs,” etc. See also “50’s.” But the use of apostrophes with  
> initialisms like “learn your ABC’s and “mind your P’s and Q’s” is  
> now so universal as to be acceptable in almost any context.
>
> Note that “acronym” was used originally only to label pronounceable  
> abbreviations like “NATO,” but is now generally applied to all  
> sorts of initialisms. Be aware that some people consider this  
> extended definition of “acronym” to be an error.
>

--
Kim Holburn
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