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Grammar Nazis....

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  • 30-09-2014 2:47pm
    #1
    gunny558
    Closed Accounts Posts: 107 ✭✭


    I found a use for ya's :P

    Jokes aside, we have to get some cards printed and it needs to be emailed off before 4pm and I dont trust myself to get it right. Im was looking on google but damn I never realised grammar was such a tricky subject. Im reading a page on how to use apostrophes and its talking about compound nouns, sibilant sounds, singular possessive adjectives, contracted syllables... :O

    The word Im stuck on is business and the sentence is

    "All the local businesses in the area...."

    Im pretty sure thats right... but Im second guessing myself that it should be business'


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    #2
    coffee_cake
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Politics Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 81,309 CMod ✭✭✭✭coffee_cake


    What you have is correct


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    #3
    osarusan
    Registered Users Posts: 16,567 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    Are you talking about each individual private enterprise? Then it's plural - 'businesses'. (I'm guessing it's this one)

    Are you talking generally about the thing which keeps the local economy going? Then it's 'business'.


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    #4
    Gandalph
    Registered Users Posts: 1,792 ✭✭✭Gandalph


    It depends on whether you are referring to the local economy or the actual companies, first being business, the later being businesses. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!


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    #5
    Tokyo
    Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,655 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tokyo


    businesses


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    #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 50,630 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Moved to English languages forum. Please read charter before posting.


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    #7
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,186 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    If they're in the area, then surely they're local?

    Purge that pleonasm.


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    #8
    gunny558
    Closed Accounts Posts: 107 ✭✭gunny558


    mike_ie wrote: »
    businesses

    Thanks mike.... :)


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    #9
    osarusan
    Registered Users Posts: 16,567 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    pickarooney wrote: »
    If they're in the area, then surely they're local?

    Purge that pleonasm.
    There's a Tesco in my area. It's not a local business though.


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    #10
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,186 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    osarusan wrote: »
    There's a Tesco in my area. It's not a local business though.

    But are there any local businesses that aren't in your area?


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    #11
    osarusan
    Registered Users Posts: 16,567 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    pickarooney wrote: »
    But are there any local businesses that aren't in your area?
    No, but there are business in my area that aren't local businesses!


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    #12
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,186 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    osarusan wrote: »
    No, but there are business in my area that aren't local businesses!

    You already said that.

    "All local businesses" implies that the businesses are "in the area"


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    #13
    osarusan
    Registered Users Posts: 16,567 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    pickarooney wrote: »
    You already said that.

    "All local businesses" implies that the businesses are "in the area"

    Only if your interpretation of the word is that 'local' means 'in the area', rather than differentiating it from 'national' or 'international'.

    No way to be sure which the OP meant.

    Anyway, enough pointless discussion of this. I'm sickened I even came back to this thread, and I'm out.


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