microsoft word doesn't know shit about grammar

[Bob]

it just advised me to change an "its" to "it's" where it would clearly not be appropriate

i don't know why the grammar check function exists on this stupid thing, it obviously doesn't know what it's talking about

[hpdrifter]

Okay, I'm pretty good with grammar usually but I have never been able to get a handle on the it's/its thing. Which should be used where?

[abcdefz]

It's is the contraction for "it is."

Its is the possessive. A leopard has its spots.

People get confused because you think "a leopard's spots," or whatever, which is correct. People associate the apostrophe with possessives,
but "its" is an exception.


It's raining out.
The coat has lost its buttons.
It's a message board.
The message board and its forums.

[fucktopgirl]

hahaha, i am bad in english but i knew that one!

[TurdBerglar]

what about their's?


does that work that way as a possessive?

[fucktopgirl]

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000262.htm

[TurdBerglar]

well if their's does not exist the spell check didn't notice it.

[fucktopgirl]

your spell check should quit drug then!

[Bob]

well if their's does not exist the spell check didn't notice it.

mine does. word's, not the board's.

[TurdBerglar]

i was using the board's

[Bob]

the board can't spell

[TurdBerglar]

well it's just a board. give it a break!

[Bob]

i think the board's been getting a little too much slack lately, it's time for it to step up

[TurdBerglar]

but it's just a humble board :(

[abcdefz]

Let them get the width thing fixed first before upping our demands.

[jabumbo]

i never know when to use the apostrophe after the s instead of before it, thats my biggest issue.


then comes my general lack of having the ability to string a sentence together

[Bob]

i never know when to use the apostrophe after the s instead of before it, thats my biggest issue.


then comes my general lack of having the ability to string a sentence together

if the "s" belongs naturally in the world (for example if it's plural), put the apostrophe after it. if you're only adding the "s" for the sake of using the apostrophe, put it before.

indiana jones' biggest fear is of snakes. that snake's ugly

[abcdefz]

...it's also correct to use an apostrophe-ess after a word ending with s. It looks weird, but:

Mel Brooks's best movies are Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.

[Lyman Zerga]

my english its better then you'res

[Bob]

...it's also correct to use an apostrophe-ess after a word ending with s. It looks weird, but:

Mel Brooks's best movies are Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.

but it's also correct to just say Brooks', right?

i hope so because that's what i've been doing.

what about plural words? those too?

[abcdefz]

but it's also correct to just say Brooks', right?

i hope so because that's what i've been doing.

what about plural words? those too?


Either way works.

I think Strunk and White prefer s's, but I'm not positive.



Many suits's buttons are missing.


Man, that looks weird.

[b-grrrlie]

...it's also correct to use an apostrophe-ess after a word ending with s. It looks weird, but:

Mel Brooks's best movies are Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.
But you don't pronounce it Brookes-s do you?

[Bob]

i've got an RV we can use! flanders's's's

[ET]

You did good, kid.

[Documad]

On the other hand, MS seems to know when I've misused "which" or "that" and it underlines them for me.