Editing BattleTechWiki:Manual of Style
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====Possessives==== ====Possessives====
Possessives show ownership - ''Bob's battle armor belongs to Bob''. Possessives show ownership - ''Bob's battle armor belongs to Bob''.
− * If there's just one owner, add -'s. + * If there's just one owner, add ''<nowiki>'</nowiki> unless;
− ** If the word already ends with -s, it's permissible to just add an apostrophe. Whether it's proper to add -'s depends on the authority; a reasonable rule of thumb is to use whichever sounds more natural. + ** If the word already ends with -s, it's permissible to just add an apostrophe. Whether it's proper to add -'s depends on the authority; a reasonable rule of thumb is to use whichever sounds more natural. For words that end in a silent -s (''e.g.'' corps) add -'s.
− ** For words that end in a silent -s (''e.g.'' corps) add -'s.
* If there's more than one owner and the word ends in -s, add an apostrophe; '''never''' insert an apostrophe before the -s that's already there. * If there's more than one owner and the word ends in -s, add an apostrophe; '''never''' insert an apostrophe before the -s that's already there.
** For plurals that don't end in -s, add -'s. ''e.g.'' Children → children's, aircraft → aircraft's, deer → deer's. (Yes, the plural of anything ending with -craft is properly just like the singular, though this is shifting.) ** For plurals that don't end in -s, add -'s. ''e.g.'' Children → children's, aircraft → aircraft's, deer → deer's. (Yes, the plural of anything ending with -craft is properly just like the singular, though this is shifting.)
− * Statements of quantity take an apostrophe if "worth of" is stated or implied: two years' wages, an hour's work.
* Possessive pronouns (his, hers, yours, theirs, etc.) '''never''' take an apostrophe. * Possessive pronouns (his, hers, yours, theirs, etc.) '''never''' take an apostrophe.
* If you're not sure whether to use -'s or -s', it's often easier to use other words. ''e.g.'' Whether a Clan action is spoken of metaphorically ("the Wolf woke up") or as a group of people ("the Falcons were arrogant") can be confusing. "The Falcons attack" (kreegah!) sounds exactly the same as "the Falcon's attack" (the act of one of them slapped a wolf) and "the Falcons' attack" (the act of a group of Falcons amusing themselves at civilians' expense); writing "the Falcon attack", using an adjective that avoids the need for apostrophes, is a lot less mental work. * If you're not sure whether to use -'s or -s', it's often easier to use other words. ''e.g.'' Whether a Clan action is spoken of metaphorically ("the Wolf woke up") or as a group of people ("the Falcons were arrogant") can be confusing. "The Falcons attack" (kreegah!) sounds exactly the same as "the Falcon's attack" (the act of one of them slapped a wolf) and "the Falcons' attack" (the act of a group of Falcons amusing themselves at civilians' expense); writing "the Falcon attack", using an adjective that avoids the need for apostrophes, is a lot less mental work.
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Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 144: | Line 144: | ||
====Possessives==== | ====Possessives==== | ||
Possessives show ownership - ''Bob's battle armor belongs to Bob''. | Possessives show ownership - ''Bob's battle armor belongs to Bob''. | ||
− | * If there's just one owner, add | + | * If there's just one owner, add ''<nowiki>'</nowiki> unless; |
− | ** If the word already ends with -s, it's permissible to just add an apostrophe. Whether it's proper to add -'s depends on the authority; a reasonable rule of thumb is to use whichever sounds more natural. | + | ** If the word already ends with -s, it's permissible to just add an apostrophe. Whether it's proper to add -'s depends on the authority; a reasonable rule of thumb is to use whichever sounds more natural. For words that end in a silent -s (''e.g.'' corps) add -'s. |
− | |||
* If there's more than one owner and the word ends in -s, add an apostrophe; '''never''' insert an apostrophe before the -s that's already there. | * If there's more than one owner and the word ends in -s, add an apostrophe; '''never''' insert an apostrophe before the -s that's already there. | ||
** For plurals that don't end in -s, add -'s. ''e.g.'' Children → children's, aircraft → aircraft's, deer → deer's. (Yes, the plural of anything ending with -craft is properly just like the singular, though this is shifting.) | ** For plurals that don't end in -s, add -'s. ''e.g.'' Children → children's, aircraft → aircraft's, deer → deer's. (Yes, the plural of anything ending with -craft is properly just like the singular, though this is shifting.) | ||
− | |||
* Possessive pronouns (his, hers, yours, theirs, etc.) '''never''' take an apostrophe. | * Possessive pronouns (his, hers, yours, theirs, etc.) '''never''' take an apostrophe. | ||
* If you're not sure whether to use -'s or -s', it's often easier to use other words. ''e.g.'' Whether a Clan action is spoken of metaphorically ("the Wolf woke up") or as a group of people ("the Falcons were arrogant") can be confusing. "The Falcons attack" (kreegah!) sounds exactly the same as "the Falcon's attack" (the act of one of them slapped a wolf) and "the Falcons' attack" (the act of a group of Falcons amusing themselves at civilians' expense); writing "the Falcon attack", using an adjective that avoids the need for apostrophes, is a lot less mental work. | * If you're not sure whether to use -'s or -s', it's often easier to use other words. ''e.g.'' Whether a Clan action is spoken of metaphorically ("the Wolf woke up") or as a group of people ("the Falcons were arrogant") can be confusing. "The Falcons attack" (kreegah!) sounds exactly the same as "the Falcon's attack" (the act of one of them slapped a wolf) and "the Falcons' attack" (the act of a group of Falcons amusing themselves at civilians' expense); writing "the Falcon attack", using an adjective that avoids the need for apostrophes, is a lot less mental work. |