Re: [NTLK] Grammar question

From: PCBman (pcbman_at_ix.netcom.com)
Date: Wed Jan 23 2002 - 19:05:32 EST


Ok Frank, as an Englishman I feel qualified to answer this.

> Yes, this is Newton related, too. Wait and see...
>
> I'm having a problem with the usage of the ' and the " characters.
>
> What is correct?

Which of these statements are correct?

>
> a) He was staring at the MessagePads screen.
> b) He was staring at the MessagePad's screen.

Both incorrect.

He was staring at the MessagePads' screen.

This is possessive. The screen 'belongs' to the MessagePad.

>
> c) Peters car was very red.
> d) Peter's car was very red.

Again, both incorrect.
Possesive. The car 'belongs' to Peter.

Peters' car was very red.
Perhaps, Peter still has the car so - Peters' car IS very red.

>
> e) "Would you please heed my advice?"
> f) "Would you please heed my advice'?

e) Is correct. Punctuation marks go inside the quotation marks.
Don't mix quotation marks and apostrophies.

>
> g) "I wonder if we should do this".
> h) "I wonder if we should do this."

h) Is correct for the reasons outlined above.

Basically, use " to enclose what someone says, including the punctuation
marks.

Use 's when the subject is plural (more than one).

Use s' when you are referring to something that belongs to the person or
thing.

Don't mix " and '.

Also, except where ' replaces 1 or more letters, use two of them.

'example'

don't (do not)

Hope this helps

PCBman
>
> Thanks alot in advance. As I'm sure that for all you native speakers
> out there the answer isn't too interesting, a private reply might
> be appropriate. I wish I had listened more closely back then
> when I had a chance at school.
>
> Frank

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