🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <6h34up$b7s$1@verrine.demon.co.uk>, Peter Corlett
<abuse@verrine.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>But why "hers" with no apostrophe, but "Sally's" with one? Because in
>older English usage, the form is "Sally hers". Since "Sally hers
>ball" is a bit long, it has shrunk to "Sally's ball" through lazy
>usage. It's often worth mentally saying the long form to oneself if
>unsure.
>
>If you're not sure whether an apostrophe is required or not, consider
>whether what you're trying to say is a contracted form of two words.
>If so, put it in, if not, leave it out.
>

This may work as a guide as to where or where not to put an apostrophe
but I don<apostrophe>t think it is historically accurate. The "s" ending
of the possessive or genitive (whatever you want to call it) is a
remnant of the Old English genitive singular ending "es" that some nouns
had.
 Example: "on Eadweardes cyninges anwealde"
          in King Edward<apostrophe>s Realm

-- 
Philip Baker
tel +44 (0)181 954 6932
http://www.thalasson.com
PJB Software, PO Box 221, STANMORE, Middx. HA7 4UU, UK