Apostrophe question

[spionfox]

In a shop, the Manager wants to advertise an item he/she has on offer.

Does the header of the signage say:
a - MANAGERS SPECIAL
b - MANAGER'S SPECIAL
c - MANAGERS' SPECIAL

This is a serious question!

Thanks.

 

[bocadillo]

b

 

[spionfox]

b

Albeit that is (probably) correct, would I be right in saying that 'common usage' would allow for option 1 to be acceptable instead?

 

[SJN-Fox]

No. Common misusage does not make it right. the correct option is (b), assuming that it is a special being promoted by a manager. Option (c) would be correct if the special is being promoted by the managers. Option (a) would NEVER be correct.

 

[bocadillo]

Albeit that is (probably) correct, would I be right in saying that 'common usage' would allow for option 1 to be acceptable instead?

Only if you want Bill Bryson to call you a linguistic Neanderthal.

 

[camberwell fox]

In a shop, the Manager wants to advertise an item he/she has on offer.

Does the header of the signage say:
a - MANAGERS SPECIAL
b - MANAGER'S SPECIAL
c - MANAGERS' SPECIAL

This is a serious question!

Thanks.

I'm afraid that as a linguistic cripple i would say 1. Surely though the common usage of the apostrophe is to replace a letter that would normally reside there, so is b therefore incorrect?

 

[bocadillo]

I'm afraid that as a linguistic cripple i would say 1. Surely though the common usage of the apostrophe is to replace a letter that would normally reside there, so is b therefore incorrect?

Some apostrophes replace a missing letter or letters. Others indicate 'possession'. Here an apostrophe is used to indicate that the 'SPECIAL' is that of the 'MANAGER' - the apostrophe indicates possession.

 

[Darth Vodka]

if it's your promotion then....

The manager's a special

HTH

 

[alex]

It can't be anything but (b) in this instance...

 

[East Anglia Fox]

I once saw "at the managers descretion" on the back of a menu in quite an expensive pub, which was part of a chain. That's the sort of thinhg that makes me wonder if the battle to save the apostrophe has already been lost!

 

[The Old Fox]

I'm afraid that as a linguistic cripple i would say 1. Surely though the common usage of the apostrophe is to replace a letter that would normally reside there, so is b therefore incorrect?

The apostrophe in "manager's special" is replacing missing letters: the phrase used to be "the manager, his special"

 

[Blue Maniac]

'A' shouldn't even be offered as an option. Disappointed in this Spion.

 

[East Anglia Fox]

Those were my thoughts too. It's a damning illustration of where we're heading as a civillisation that we need to debate these things.

 

[camberwell fox]

I'm afraid i don't agree. By the looks of the psople posting none of us are thck (BM posssibly but as yet unconfirmed :icon_bigg).

We are all old enough to understand better than people currently being spat out of the education system, i just can't remember which one in this case is correct.

Clearly though 'B' is correct.

 

[East Anglia Fox]

I'm afraid i don't agree. By the looks of the psople posting none of us are thck (BM posssibly but as yet unconfirmed :icon_bigg).

We are all old enough to understand better than people currently being spat out of the education system, i just can't remember which one in this case is correct.

Clearly though 'B' is correct.

:icon_eek:

 

[fitz]

I'm thick as **** and I would still go for b.

 

[Blue Maniac]

I'm afraid i don't agree. By the looks of the psople posting none of us are thck (BM posssibly but as yet unconfirmed :icon_bigg).

:icon_bigg

 

[Cate Fox]

:icon_bigg

How come you are not correcting the post?? :icon_lol:

 

[Blue Maniac]

How come you are not correcting the post?? :icon_lol:

It's imposssible to make some people learn.

 

[Cate Fox]

It's imposssible to make some people learn.

Ture.