Topic: English Grammar 101

[DJ Doena]

Hi,

I've seen both forms but I am not sure which one is the correct one/more used one.

In the article to the genitive I found "Confucius' teaching" but it's "Bridget Jones's Diary".

What is more common to you

Jones' voice
Jones's voice

?

Thx

[Halo2]

Normally, as I remember my English classes, when the item ends with an s, just the “ ' ” is added. If it ends with a letter other than S, the “ 's ” is added.

[Najemikon]

I've always thought that either one is correct. Actually, I remember Justin Fellowes (writer, Gosford Park) doing a celebrity panel quiz based on grammar and he would regularly rant about some crime against the English language; I'm sure he once said that he hates seeing the "lonely apostrophe" and there was no reason why you shouldn't put the "S" on the end.

[Touti]

If the opinion of a french canadian as any value compare to that of a Brit with 2 cents in his pocket  ..........I believe the correct syntax is Jones', I don't think I ever seen the s's syntax.

[DJ Doena]

If the opinion of a french canadian as any value compare to that of a Brit with 2 cents in his pocket  ..........I believe the correct syntax is Jones', I don't think I ever seen the s's syntax.

[DJ Doena]

Yet another question:

It's "a stone", "a house", "an hour", "an eagle".

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

[Achim]

Yet another question:

It's "a stone", "a house", "an hour", "an eagle".

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

"a"

"an" is only used if the following word starts with a umlaut. Before you start hitting me on the head, it's "an hour" because the h is silent here...

[DJ Doena]

Yet another question:

It's "a stone", "a house", "an hour", "an eagle".

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

"a"

"an" is only used if the following word starts with a umlaut. Before you start hitting me on the head, it's "an hour" because the h is silent here...

Exactly. But what are you saying when you say it: "a(n) Ass-Dee-Card"

[RossRoy]

Exactly. But what are you saying when you say it: "a(n) Ass-Dee-Card"

Don't know about you, but it sounds more like « Ess » when I usually hear or say it.

[goodguy]

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

"an" is used before a vowel SOUND even if written as consonant. Thus: an SD card.

[DJ Doena]

Exactly. But what are you saying when you say it: "a(n) Ass-Dee-Card"

Don't know about you, but it sounds more like « Ess » when I usually hear or say it.

I don't usually hear or say it with english pronunciation.

[Achim]

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

"an" is used before a vowel SOUND even if written as consonant. Thus: an SD card.

Really?

When I posted I simply went by the written style and what I (thought I) knew.

Willing to learn new stuff every day though...

[m.cellophane]

Put me down for Bridget Jones' and an SD card. 

[goodguy]

"an" is used before a vowel SOUND even if written as consonant. Thus: an SD card.

Really?

Really. An SD card, but a SCSI controller (scuzzy) and a UFO (you-foe). And despite knowing the rule, I mess it up all the time when writing.

[MEJHarrison]

But is it "a" or "an" "SD-Card"?

"an" is used before a vowel SOUND even if written as consonant. Thus: an SD card.

 

I'm impressed with your command of the English language.  This is one of my pet peeves and I constantly see it wrong everywhere from the internet all the way up to things in print.  It's gotten to the point lately where I was starting to question my own memory on the rule, so it's nice to see it confirmed.