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Thread ID: 59133 2005-06-22 11:26:00 Microsoft demonstrates its commitment to quality & accuracy Tony (4941) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
366118 2005-06-22 11:26:00 I see MS is applying the same commitment to quality in its advertising that it does to its products.

I saw a new(to me) MS ad tonight on TV3 that had a caption saying "... something or other for kiwi's." - the old added apostrophe thing.

Maybe they'll have it fixed in SP1.
Tony (4941)
366119 2005-06-22 12:06:00 This is is one of the most common problems people have with punctuation.
The Apostrophe is used really for two things

1. To show OMISSION

2. To show POSSESSION

As Tony pointed out the kiwi did not possess anything so it should not be there.
Safari (3993)
366120 2005-06-23 00:55:00 There is a third use for the apostrophe: It''s
3. To show you're a GREENGROCER. As in "Lemon's".
This is the form Microsoft was using. Perhaps they are in the wrong business.
Graham L (2)
366121 2005-06-23 01:06:00 There is a third use for the apostrophe: It''s
3. To show you're a GREENGROCER. As in "Lemon's".
This is the form Microsoft was using. Perhaps they are in the wrong business.ROFL - nice one, Graham. :D
Tony (4941)
366122 2005-06-23 01:52:00 Another reason why one should not trust the MS Office spelling / grammar checker. :D D. McG (3023)
366123 2005-06-23 03:04:00 I see MS is applying the same commitment to quality in its advertising that it does to its products .

I saw a new(to me) MS ad tonight on TV3 that had a caption saying " . . . something or other for kiwi's . " - the old added apostrophe thing .

Maybe they'll have it fixed in SP1 .
But who wrote it? And who displayed it on TV?

Did anyone notice on Fair Go last night when they were doing the silly thing about ad taglines they displayed Warehouse Staionarys reply?

It said: "Wharehouse Sationary . . . " blah blah . Now who was responsible for that? The Warehouse or some twit in the TVNZ captions booth?
pctek (84)
366124 2005-06-23 03:21:00 And some wit - Mark Twain I think - said something to the effect that an apostrophe is a device used by a signwriter to indicate there's an "s" coming up... iansmcdonald (6977)
366125 2005-06-23 03:35:00 Did anyone notice on Fair Go last night when they were doing the silly thing about ad taglines they displayed Warehouse Staionarys reply?
It said: "Wharehouse Sationary..." blah blah. Now who was responsible for that? The Warehouse or some twit in the TVNZ captions booth?Seeing as this is a thread with a pedantic bent, I don't mind saying this...

I noticed the same thing, but I hope it said "stationery". "Stationary" would be just toooo bad. And of course in the line quoted above it should have said "Warehouse Stationery's" reply - it was the reply of Warehouse Stationery, so it was a possessive and should have had the apostrophe.

Remember "stationery" has 'e' as in "pen" and "stationary" has "a" as in "car".

They do call it the "Ware whare", so maybe the misprint was intentional - yeah, right.

And I think that is my nit-picking allowance for the day.
Tony (4941)
366126 2005-06-23 03:58:00 Seeing as this is a thread with a pedantic bent, I don't mind saying this...

....And I think that is my nit-picking allowance for the day.

Yes, or otherwise you may get the resident PF1 champion of illiterate underdogs having a go at you Tony
Terry Porritt (14)
366127 2005-06-23 04:26:00 Yes, or otherwise you may get the resident PF1 champion of illiterate underdogs having a go at you Tony

Yes, he has been conspicuous by his absence so far.
Thought this thread would be like cheese to a mouse for him.
Safari (3993)
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