- Joined
- 21 Mar 2002
- Messages
- 1,693
Hi guys,
I've noticed that there are quite a few grammatical errors in the posts on OSNN, so I thought I'd make this thread to help people get it right 🙂
Plurals:
Right, some examples. The plural of CPU is CPUs. The plural of PSU is PSUs. There is no need for an apostrophe (') when pluralising a word. All initialisms should be in capital letters. CPU is correct, cpu isn't. Now, this doesn't normally matter, but when an itialism is pluralised, it looks a bit odd unless it's in capitals. For examples, cpus seems a bit weird, CPUs looks and is fine.
Another one that confuses people is when a word ends in y. The plural of story is stories. Take away the y and replace it with ies.
Apostrophes:
Generally, apostrohes are used when letters are missing or when something owns something else. For example, I can't open this case. The word can't is short for cannot so an apostrophe is used to show that there are missing letters.
When an something owns something else, an apostrophe is used to show which part of the sentence is the owner. For example, Peter's computer. An apostrophe is used, followed by an s. This can be extended to situations where ownership is more loosely definied, for example, my CPU's pins are damaged or NVIDIA's new drivers are crap. There are a couple of exceptions to this though. When something already ends in s, you don't need to add another one. For example, Jesus' sandles.
Also, the words it and who do not follow this rule - My dog just ate its food is actually correct; there is no apostrophe. For the word who, it just becomes whose. For example, the person whose computer is the fastest will win a prize. When you use it's and who's, you are using the "missing letters" rule - it's means it is and who's means who is.
Well, I hope that's helpful for some of you. Please post back any questions or other tips you may have! If you want any other grammar rules explained, just ask 🙂
I've noticed that there are quite a few grammatical errors in the posts on OSNN, so I thought I'd make this thread to help people get it right 🙂
Plurals:
Right, some examples. The plural of CPU is CPUs. The plural of PSU is PSUs. There is no need for an apostrophe (') when pluralising a word. All initialisms should be in capital letters. CPU is correct, cpu isn't. Now, this doesn't normally matter, but when an itialism is pluralised, it looks a bit odd unless it's in capitals. For examples, cpus seems a bit weird, CPUs looks and is fine.
Another one that confuses people is when a word ends in y. The plural of story is stories. Take away the y and replace it with ies.
Apostrophes:
Generally, apostrohes are used when letters are missing or when something owns something else. For example, I can't open this case. The word can't is short for cannot so an apostrophe is used to show that there are missing letters.
When an something owns something else, an apostrophe is used to show which part of the sentence is the owner. For example, Peter's computer. An apostrophe is used, followed by an s. This can be extended to situations where ownership is more loosely definied, for example, my CPU's pins are damaged or NVIDIA's new drivers are crap. There are a couple of exceptions to this though. When something already ends in s, you don't need to add another one. For example, Jesus' sandles.
Also, the words it and who do not follow this rule - My dog just ate its food is actually correct; there is no apostrophe. For the word who, it just becomes whose. For example, the person whose computer is the fastest will win a prize. When you use it's and who's, you are using the "missing letters" rule - it's means it is and who's means who is.
Well, I hope that's helpful for some of you. Please post back any questions or other tips you may have! If you want any other grammar rules explained, just ask 🙂