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Grammar question.

N

notfred

Lifer
What is the proper possesive of "Windows" (i.e., something belonging to the operating system "Windows")?

I'm thinking Windows', but I'm not sure if that's right. Keep in mind that Windows is a name, and is not plural.
 
Originally posted by: Hatari Chic
Windows'

<----English major
Click to expand...
She's right you know.

Though "common useage" is making "windows's" more and more accepted among the general public. (Much the same way that "cactuses" eventually became acceptable.) Proper form, however, still says that to make a possessive of a word ending in "s", simply add an apostrophe.

ZV

EDIT: Secondary question: Why does an English major's view on this carry more weight? English majors tend to study Literature, not grammar as far as I know. Sure they are tought about symbolism and such things, but most of the hard and fast rules of grammar are taught in 9th-10th grade classes where you diagram sentences and figure out just what the heck a "gerund" is.
 
Originally posted by: Hatari Chic
Windows'

<----English major
Click to expand...
Motion to have the above stricken from the record!

</neffing mode in a thread that's served its purpose>
 
Elementary Rules of Usage

Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's: exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es, -is.
 
Hm. I would still say "Windows's"

Windows=the name, it's singular. so you add an 's afterward.

Replace "Windows" with "Dorothy" or "instrument" and see what I mean.

That's Dorothy's Dog.

The instrument's keys are on the ground.

What throws you is that Windows ends in 's.'

"Hey, that is Wes's guitar!"

etcetc
 
Originally posted by: notfred
What is the proper possesive of "Windows" (i.e., something belonging to the operating system "Windows")?

I'm thinking Windows', but I'm not sure if that's right. Keep in mind that Windows is a name, and is not plural.
Click to expand...

Windows is inanimate so you shoudln't use the 's form of possessive. use "of" instead. well at least that's what my prof said in my techinical writing class

 
Originally posted by: Hatari Chic
Windows'

<----English major
Click to expand...

Ok then.... Ms. English Major........ What is the proper way to write the plural of CD (Compact Disc). (Look at all those CDs)

1. CDs
2. CD's
3. CD'z

The apostrophe shows ownership (The CD's scratches are ugly.) and/or shows a contraction of "is" (The CD's phat yo. 😀).

Therefore, I think it is "CDs".

The same goes for any other similar words with all CAPS.
 
Officially Windows' is the proper way but Windows's is also allowed. It is pronounced "windows-es". But the guy from the technical writing class is right. In proper english you wouldn't say Windows's but rather "of Windows". "Windows's GUI sucks." "The GUI of Windows sucks." Same effect but the second one just sounds better to me.

BTW, the plural of CD is CDs. 🙂
 
I concur that it's "Windows'"

<--- Beat upon the head with a Warriner's grammar book in high school

Originally posted by: edro13
Originally posted by: Hatari Chic
Windows'

<----English major
Click to expand...

Ok then.... Ms. English Major........ What is the proper way to write the plural of CD (Compact Disc). (Look at all those CDs)

1. CDs
2. CD's
3. CD'z

The apostrophe shows ownership (The CD's scratches are ugly.) and/or shows a contraction of "is" (The CD's phat yo. 😀).

Therefore, I think it is "CDs".

The same goes for any other similar words with all CAPS.
Click to expand...


You're right, kinda.

Plural forms almost NEVER have apostrophes, excepting certain rare occasions:

Linkity Link

An apostrophe is used in plurals in the following very special cases:

in the plurals of single letters:
There are only three s's in `Christmases'.
Mind your p's and q's.
(Even here, the capital letter would not need the apostrophe.)

in the plurals of abbreviations:
We have several pg's [paying guests].
We have received four cheques and two IOU's.
(But IOUs is common and accepted, and the usual plural of CD is CDs).
Most symbols for units such as lb (pounds) and cm (centimetres) do not strictly have plural forms.


in the plurals of numerals:
This house was built in the 1930's.
(But 1930s is preferable).

As an alternative spelling, for clarity, of the plurals of a very few short words:
We went to several society do's last year.
While out with his third wife he met both of his ex's.
I've had yes's for coffee from four people.
But in each case, dos, exes, yesses would be acceptable. The usual plural of no is noes.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: edro13
Originally posted by: Hatari Chic
Windows'

<----English major
Click to expand...

Ok then.... Ms. English Major........ What is the proper way to write the plural of CD (Compact Disc). (Look at all those CDs)

1. CDs
2. CD's
3. CD'z

The apostrophe shows ownership (The CD's scratches are ugly.) and/or shows a contraction of "is" (The CD's phat yo. 😀).

Therefore, I think it is "CDs".

The same goes for any other similar words with all CAPS.
Click to expand...



Well, my opinion may not carry the weight of and English major, although my major did require a LOT of English, but I was taught how to write and have a few books on grammar and such sitting on my shelves. Journalism majors tend to have lots of books on grammar, style, and form in writing. (The following came from Simon & Schuster's Handbook for Writers.)

The way to make letters, numerals, symbols, words used as terms, and acronyms are WITH and WITHOUT the apostrophe. Both forms are acceptable, however, whichever form you choose to use, use it consistently. I tend to use the WITHOUT apostrophe form, but other times the apostrophe/WITH form suits me better. That case is in dates, such as saying the '70's, the 1900's, etc.

With Windows, the correct form is WITH the 'S . It's just like saying, "That business's system for handling complaints is inefficient." Or, "Lee Jones's insurance is expensive." Or," Charles Dickens's story 'A Christmas Carol' is a classic tale." (Dickens's is pronounced Dickens, without any attempt at two Z sounds in a row.)







 
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