Sean's guide to the apostrophe

[Wanderer]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot;

Ουίσκυ Τανγκό Φόξτροτ;
Language, mr. Henning! 

Really; Then what is the Greek semicolon;

It's a period, but inserted at the space an apostrophe occupies in English; and in Greek.

Λάικ δίς΄ γκότ ιτ;
(Like this; got it?)

[MN Dave]

And now: NOUNS!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/E2iLAI0gUW0&hl=en

[greg]

Thats a thoroughly comprehensive essay of Seans and i sure learn'ed alot from it?

[Sean]

Sounds like Sean is ready to teach elementary school grammar.  But are the kids ready for the likes of Sean?

If they really knew me, half of them would be too unsettled to come to school. It's not that I'm strange you understand, but a lot of things in the world that they've long since accepted are: most of the aversion people uncertain about themselves feel when my silhouette appears on the horizon is based on the challenge my existence represents to the world they've identified with, and nothing personal...

Couldn't resist that.

[Sean]

Hi ChamberNut, my (few) friends call me Sean, and GMGers, whatever they are, but my official name is a different version of John. Sean is Irish for John, Iain or Ewan (I think) is Welsh, Ian Scottish, and Jean, Johan, Johannes etc European. I'm three-sixteenths Irish with Irish blood on both sides, and my surname's McHugh. Never been to Ireland though.

By the way the c in McHugh I understand comes from a backwards, c-shaped apostrophe that gradually became a c- the name once was M'Hugh, as per M'Gregor...

[The new erato]

I thought this was a Zappa thread....;

[Renfield]

Λάικ δίς΄ γκότ ιτ;
(Like this; got it?)

Ιντήντ, βέρι ματς λάικ δις˙ έξελλεντ ντεμονστραίησιον, Γουώντερερ!

(Indeed, very much like this; excellent demonstration, Wanderer!)

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Sean, have you ever noticed that GMGers sometimes fail to properly use question marks.

Don't such people like exclamation marks!!!

[Ten thumbs]

Language, mr. Henning! 

In England, we now use Mr because M'r is regarded as a truncation, but we omit the apostrophe. Same applies to Mrs, Dr and Sgt etc. but not of course to Rev., Prof. etc. where the last letter is not retained. I assume this practice is not used in the States.
If only people would write wan'o instead of that abomination wanna.

[Sean]

Ten, I shall add that to the notes below.

Do Americans use shall ?

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Just as a sidenote, in germany we're facing the same apostrophe problems (Deppenapostroph) but also Deppenleerzeichen, i.e. a replacement of hyphens by spaces, which often gives words a new meaning. Regarding this, the spelling reform added a layer of confusion.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Ten, I shall add that to the notes below.

Do Americans use shall ?

Not usually as in your sentence above. The supposed rule is to use "shall" with the first person and "will" with the second of third. But in the US, the most common use of "shall" is to express an offer or suggestion as in constructions like "Shall we go?" or "Shall we have Chinese food tonight?" Otherwise in American usage "will" is more typical, regardless of person, and "shall" to an American ear sounds stilted.

[BachQ]

"shall" to an American ear sounds stilted.

We shall make a note of that ..........

[greg]

We shall make a note of that ..........

Upper-class elitist! Die!

[Sean]

Not usually as in your sentence above. The supposed rule is to use "shall" with the first person and "will" with the second of third. But in the US, the most common use of "shall" is to express an offer or suggestion as in constructions like "Shall we go?" or "Shall we have Chinese food tonight?" Otherwise in American usage "will" is more typical, regardless of person, and "shall" to an American ear sounds stilted.

There's also the formal instruction and legalise like 'The bearer shall pay'...?

[drogulus]

There's also the formal instruction and legalise like 'The bearer shall pay'...?

    I thought it was legalee'ze?!.  _{' (''')}

[Ten thumbs]

To write 'the bearer will pay' is rather presumptuous as he probably doesn't wish to do so. If I say 'I will' then I am stating my definite intention.