Site Home News Football Season Database Club POM Contact

Home Calendar Search Register Login

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.

Fishy Forum › Fishy Boards › Archive › Grammar question

Users Browsing Forum Googlebot and 179 Guests

Grammar question

  This thread currently has 4,077 views.

2 Pages 1 2 Next All Recommend Thread
RichMariner	April 17, 2015, 10:10am
Brandy Drinker Posts: 2,968 Posts Per Day: 0.50 Reputation: 89.39% Rep Score: +42 / -4 Location: Garforth, Leeds Approval: +9,131 Gold Stars: 209	I know we have a lot of people on here who like grammar, so I was hoping a few of you could help me out with this one... It's a header, and it needs to lead with the number: 4 thousand unique individual's behaviour analysed Basically I can't work out whether that apostrophe in 'individual's' is right. Should it go after the 's', since we're talking about 2 million individuals as a collective? Or does the word 'unique' change that? As a side note, I think the word 'unique' is redundant because individuals by their very nature are unique. But forget that for now. "Don't shine that light in my face, mate - I've just lost a pint of blood."
Logged Offline	0 0 0
PPMariner	April 17, 2015, 10:31am
Table Wine Drinker Posts: 823 Posts Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 69.38% Rep Score: +15 / -8 Approval: +476 Gold Stars: 9	Individuals' ...and I'd concur on your aside about the use of 'unique'... "Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
Logged Offline	1 0 0 Reply: 1 - 12
RichMariner	April 17, 2015, 10:39am
Brandy Drinker Posts: 2,968 Posts Per Day: 0.50 Reputation: 89.39% Rep Score: +42 / -4 Location: Garforth, Leeds Approval: +9,131 Gold Stars: 209	Cheers - that was my gut feeling. Now the really tricky part... can you explain why? "Don't shine that light in my face, mate - I've just lost a pint of blood."
Logged Offline	0 0 0 Reply: 2 - 12
Maringer	April 17, 2015, 10:50am
Barley Wine Drinker Posts: 11,195 Posts Per Day: 1.87 Reputation: 82.93% Rep Score: +60 / -12 Approval: +16,473 Gold Stars: 185	It is the plural possessive: http://www.scribendi.com/advice/how_to_use_plural_possessives_properly.en.html On an aside, writing the number '4 thousand' in this sense isn't very good form. You should really use either '4,000' or 'Four thousand'. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/ Adding the word unique is completely redundant, as you note.
Logged Online	0 0 0 Reply: 3 - 12
RichMariner	April 17, 2015, 12:05pm
Brandy Drinker Posts: 2,968 Posts Per Day: 0.50 Reputation: 89.39% Rep Score: +42 / -4 Location: Garforth, Leeds Approval: +9,131 Gold Stars: 209	Thanks. The way I see it is: 4,000 unique individuals' behaviour is the noun phrase, with behaviour the head noun. Analysed is the adverb (the verb is has been dropped, something headlines tend to do). So the 'behaviour' we're analysing belongs to the 4,000 unique individuals. It'd be much easier if we could say: "We analysed the behaviour of 4,000 individuals" but alas, the number has to come first in this instance. "Don't shine that light in my face, mate - I've just lost a pint of blood."
Logged Offline	0 0 0 Reply: 4 - 12
Marinerz93	April 17, 2015, 9:08pm
Barley Wine Drinker Posts: 15,108 Posts Per Day: 2.57 Reputation: 88.22% Rep Score: +89 / -11 Location: Great Grimsby Approval: +6,292 Gold Stars: 1	I thought this was an ask your nana type question thread   Anyone know what pub does a lovely cavarly   Supporting the Mighty Mariners for over 30 years, home town club is were the heart and soul is and it's great to be a part of it. Jesus’ disciple Peter, picked up a fish to get the tribute money from it, Jesus left his thumb print on the fish, bless'ed is the Haddock.
Logged	0 0 0 Reply: 5 - 12
grimsby pete	April 17, 2015, 9:15pm
Exile Posts: 55,680 Posts Per Day: 9.81 Reputation: 81.7% Rep Score: +126 / -28 Location: Suffolk Approval: +17,796 Gold Stars: 222	Quoted from RichMariner Thanks. The way I see it is: 4,000 unique individuals' behaviour is the noun phrase, with behaviour the head noun. Analysed is the adverb (the verb is has been dropped, something headlines tend to do). So the 'behaviour' we're analysing belongs to the 4,000 unique individuals. It'd be much easier if we could say: "We analysed the behaviour of 4,000 individuals" but alas, the number has to come first in this instance. I am intrigued to know what the outcome was after the four thousand had been analysed.                              Over 36 years living in Suffolk but always a mariner.                              68 Years following the Town                               Life member of Trust                                First game   April 1955
Logged Offline	0 0 0 Reply: 6 - 12
KingstonMariner	April 17, 2015, 11:51pm
Meths Drinker Posts: 22,096 Posts Per Day: 6.07 Reputation: 79.33% Rep Score: +42 / -11 Approval: +23,440 Gold Stars: 218	Quoted from Maringer It is the plural possessive: http://www.scribendi.com/advice/how_to_use_plural_possessives_properly.en.html On an aside, writing the number '4 thousand' in this sense isn't very good form. You should really use either '4,000' or 'Four thousand'. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/ Adding the word unique is completely redundant, as you note. Isn't the word "completely" redundant?   Through the door there came familiar laughter, I saw your face and heard you call my name. Oh my friend we're older but no wiser, For in our hearts the dreams are still the same.
Logged Offline	0 0 0 Reply: 7 - 12
Maringer	April 18, 2015, 9:04am
Barley Wine Drinker Posts: 11,195 Posts Per Day: 1.87 Reputation: 82.93% Rep Score: +60 / -12 Approval: +16,473 Gold Stars: 185	Completely. It was just a rhetorical device. One of these, I expect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_rhetorical_terms I'll be buggered if I'm going to try and work out which was it was though.
Logged Online	0 0 0 Reply: 8 - 12
TownSNAFU5	April 18, 2015, 2:36pm
Vodka Drinker Posts: 5,969 Posts Per Day: 1.13 Reputation: 62.03% Rep Score: +30 / -21 Location: York Approval: +6,872 Gold Stars: 42	I agree with the feedback comments above. Is the 4,000 meant to be an exact number or an approximation?
Logged Offline	0 0 0 Reply: 9 - 12
2 Pages 1 2 Next All Recommend Thread

Fishy Forum › Fishy Boards › Archive › Grammar question The New FishyNon FootballMariners TrustClassic ThreadsArchive

Back to top of page

This is not an official forum of Grimsby Town Football Club, the opinions expressed are those of the individual authors. If you see an offensive post then click "Report" on the relevant post. Posts will be deleted at the discretion of the moderators whose decision is final. Posts should abide by the Forum Rules. IP addresses of contributors together with dates and times of access are stored. The opinions and viewpoints expressed by contributors to The Fishy are their own and not necessarily those of The Fishy. The Fishy makes no claims that information dispersed through this forum is accurate or reliable. Also The Fishy cannot be held liable for any statements made by contributors of The Fishy.