Apostrophies?

[Callendale]

Example: Joes Diner instead of Joe's Diner -
When did this become the norm? I've done work for 2 different small businesses, both use the owner's name for the business name, and both of them asked me to take the apostrophy out of their names. Have I been living in a cave? When did possessives become passe? :confused:

[budafist]

Did you ask the owners if they finished their schooling?

It's just not right.

[Callendale]

One of them claims to have a degree in marketing and a masters in business administration - never misses a chance to remind me just how superior he is! The other one is very nice to work with, but very sure of what she wants, all her emails come to me LOOKING LIKE THIS!!! AS in LOSE THAT APSTROPHE IN MY NAME!!! They seem to believe the customer is always right - as long as they're the customers!

[Red Kittie Kat]

Well .. as I say sometimes you just can't fix stupid.

If they want it that way give it to them.

But you're right or should I say youre right .. it needs an apostrophe

;)

[doctorfoz]

taken from that ever relaiable source, wikipedia...

Possessives in business names

Where a business name is based on a family name, it may or may not take an apostrophe (compare Sainsbury's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsbury%27s) and Harrods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrods)), though in recent times there has been an increasing tendency to drop the apostrophe. Names based on a first name are more likely to take an apostrophe (Joe's Crab Shack). A small activist group called the Apostrophe Protection Society[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-17) has campaigned for large retailers such as Harrods, Currys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currys) and Selfridges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfridges) to reinstate their missing punctuation. A spokesperson for Barclays PLC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclays_PLC) stated, "It has just disappeared over the years. Barclays is no longer associated with the family name."[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-Times)

there may also be an issue because Joe ends in a vowel - but that's for greater minds than mine to comment on :)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-Times)

[Fredonia2k]

taken from that ever relaiable source, wikipedia...

Possessives in business names

Where a business name is based on a family name, it may or may not take an apostrophe (compare Sainsbury's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsbury%27s) and Harrods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrods)), though in recent times there has been an increasing tendency to drop the apostrophe. Names based on a first name are more likely to take an apostrophe (Joe's Crab Shack). A small activist group called the Apostrophe Protection Society[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-17) has campaigned for large retailers such as Harrods, Currys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currys) and Selfridges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfridges) to reinstate their missing punctuation. A spokesperson for Barclays PLC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclays_PLC) stated, "It has just disappeared over the years. Barclays is no longer associated with the family name."[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-Times)

there may also be an issue because Joe ends in a vowel - but that's for greater minds than mine to comment on :)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#_note-Times)

Well done, but the only issue would be if it ends with an S.

[Kool]

Maybe more than one Joe owns the place. ;)

[garricks]

Maybe more than one Joe owns the place. ;)
I see the exact opposite problem. Example: A bar that advertises "Tuesday's: Ladies Night. Wednesday's: Karaoke" etc. In the book "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" the author calls it greengrocer's apostrophe. (great book, BTW.)

I just noticed at Amazon she's written a new one:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/316%2BkNLbLXL._AA115_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Like-Spaghetti-without-Apostrophes/dp/B0013L4DDK/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205937126&sr=8-3)
The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can't Manage without Apostrophes! (http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Like-Spaghetti-without-Apostrophes/dp/B0013L4DDK/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205937126&sr=8-3) by Lynne Truss and Bonnie Timmons

[Mynock]

Example: Joes Diner instead of Joe's Diner -
When did this become the norm? I've done work for 2 different small businesses, both use the owner's name for the business name, and both of them asked me to take the apostrophy out of their names. Have I been living in a cave? When did possessives become passe? :confused:It's been a while since I've had any stats classes, but I assume two small business is not a large enough sample set to consider it 'the norm.' I did a logo last year and I included it.

[Callendale]

Thanks everyone. I thought maybe I was just an out of date geezer and missed all the new punctuation rules! It's been a while since I did any work of this sort (went to school in the pre-computer era), and I've been doing more fine art stuff than graphic work since then. I hope these forum's and Lynn Trusses book's can bring me up to date'''

[longboy]

Just make sure they’re typographer’s quotes, and not foot marks or inch marks ;)

[budafist]

lol @ the Apostrophe Protection Society!

I bet they have orphanages or rehoming facilities available and organise rehabilitation for those homeless apostrophes.

[garricks]

Well, buda, if they have homes for orphans, they'd better also have homes for widows! :p

[budafist]

Widow usually get a house out of it though don't they?

[garricks]

orphan |ˈôrfən|
noun
2) Printing the first line of a paragraph set as the last line of a page or column, considered undesirable.

widow |ˈwidō|
noun
2) Printing a last word or short last line of a paragraph falling at the top of a page or column and considered undesirable.

What are they called over there?

:p:p:p

[Fredonia2k]

You should have titled the thread Apostrophy's.

[budafist]

orphan |ˈôrfən|
noun
2) Printing the first line of a paragraph set as the last line of a page or column, considered undesirable.

widow |ˈwidō|
noun
2) Printing a last word or short last line of a paragraph falling at the top of a page or column and considered undesirable.

What are they called over there?

:p:p:p

Same thing they are called over there :) Plus they get a house.

[garricks]

You should have titled the thread Apostrophy's.
That would be a great name for a pub!


(and special :p ’s @ teh buda!)