h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Never mind. *smacks forehead*

But seriously, is that the distinction between 'your' and 'yours': adjectives and pronouns? I thought it was active/passive or some such rubbish...

*rushes off to fix A770960 - Gender-Free Pronouns*

OK then, I shall proceed as planned

Lucinda,

Well, they're called adjectives and pronouns, but neither are exactly typical. I think the main functional distinction is between attibutive (before the noun: 'That's your hat') and predicative (as a sentence predicate: 'That hat's yours') use. They're just handy labels I suppose.

Anyway, I is back on the case now...

i applied to be a sub editor so i can maul toher peoples work. the boot is on the other foot

And what do you have against the noble Toher peoples?
(sorry, just sounds like some remote Indian tribe... )

I think you'll find Toher is a small German town near the Dutch border. Terrible that he should choose to persecute them though...

i know a great joke about pedantry, but it doesnt work if you type it

It struck me that I don't know if whose or who's is more correct, or if there's some distinction between them. Either of you know?

who's = who is
whose = of whom

Whose is that?= who does that belong to?

Who's that?= who is that?

Clear?

As crystal

Oh good. I'm so pleased I've done *something* useful today... (what work? Oh that. I don't count that as 'useful')

one day, we will all be lauded as pioneers for the guide

Now I'm here, I'll actually get my finger out and get this done. Promise!

thankee

This looks good, but there's still an Editor's note in it which needs to be tidied up.

I have seen it written down that there is only one correct possessive of Jesus and that is Jesus'. This source said it is completely wrong to say Jesus's. I don't believe that. I think there should be an s after the apostrophe. I think the reason for the confusion is the number of sibilants in Jesus and the way it is pronounced.

In speech, when you make it possessive it becomes Jee-zuz-uz. That's a lot of z's! I think people tend to contract the way they say this, so they don't actually say the final 'z' sound, pronouncing it exactly the same as they pronounce Jesus. This has led them to believe that there is a special rule for this word and that there should be no s after the apostrophe when written. The same exacltly applies to Moses.

i think its correct either way, to be honest

I haven't got to that bit yet, Gnomon. Please be patient. I'm still settling in over here, and the homesickness is starting to bite...

Sorry, Jack, are you the subeditor of this one? Because it's in the ComingUp list as "Returned from Sub-Editor" and edited by "The h2g2 Editors". I thought it was officially completed, that's why I pointed out the "Editor's note" that has to be sorted out.

Oh, that's probably because I've taken ages to edit it. I've got an official extension though, so hopefully it won't accidentally slip into the guide, 'cos I haven't finished it yet...