Comments on: Grammar Lesson: Plural versus Possessive

By: Wendy L.

Wendy L. — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:46:28 +0000

Amen, Sister, on the apostrophes! I also have a recommendation for grammar lovers/questioners: “Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences” by Janis Bell, an SF professor. It’s like candy for language fans.
Keep fighting the good punctuation fight.

By: Mark Pennington

Mark Pennington — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:10:46 +0000

If you are grammatically challenged, or let’s face it, a grammatical snob who will catch the grammatical error in the title of this blog, you owe it to yourself to check out these grammatical pet peeves and tips at Top 40 Grammar Pet Peeves

By: FAH

FAH — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:56:21 +0000

The corruption of the language continues apace! At least AP maintains SOME standards!

By: lizscott

lizscott — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:03:25 +0000

I’ll see your pedantry and raise you a bookshelf filled with editorial guidebooks.

According to the AP Stylebook, you are correct. Media must always be used in the plural. Chicago 15 has little to say on the subject. Both Words Into Type and the Webster’s Unabridged allow me to use ‘media’ as either a plural or singular noun.

By: FAH

FAH — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:47:29 +0000

As long as we’re being pedantic here, I am compelled to point out that “media” is plural. Your example should be “Social media help people waste whole workdays.”

My own pet peeve: quotes used as emphasis, not as true quotations. Example from distant past: a sign posted in a shop reading “No” Smoking.