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November 13, 2008
Apostrophes trip up reporters
One thing that continues to confuse many a reporter is the use of the good old apostrophe.
If I had a pound for everytime I have had to correct a mistake in someone's copy over the years due to incorrect use of the apostrophe I would be a very rich man! (by the way I am not).
The one that seems to continually trip up young trainee reporters, and not so young reporters, is the use of it's and its.
I was therefore interested to read a story on the front page of a national newspaper earlier this week on the very subject of apostrophes under the headline 'Apostrophes:they're confusing.'
It went on to say that the apostrophe is the punctuation mark that casuses the most problems - and claimed that nearly half of us are unable to use it properly.
I can't say that I disagree with that statement or the comments of Prof Christopher Mulvey from the Museum of the English Language at Winchester University who blamed "hopelessly confusing" English punctuation and spelling.
Back to life at the Gazette and I thought I would share with you the most read stories on our website over the last month.
So here goes the top 10:
1. Tributes for boxing legend Kevin Finnegan
2. Hayes body known to police
3. Hayes road closed after body discovered
4. First day at School supplement on sale
5. Immigration raid snares 11
6. Murder has got us all pretty scared
7. Flat plunge drama
8. Yiewsley woman dies of unknown causes
9. Man charged with murder in Hayes
10. Uxbridge woman accused of sexual abuse
Posted by aseal at November 13, 2008 7:57 AM