A plurality of exceptions
WITH regard to the school which was hauled over the coals for misusing an apostrophe (Yorkshire Post, September 15), it is quite possible that the composer of the offending notice is only doing as he was taught.
As a pupil in the 1960’s (sic), I was taught that there are certain exceptions where the apostrophe is indeed used to denote a plural. MP’s, p’s and q’s, 6’s and 7’s were examples I can remember.
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Hide AdAs a teacher in the 70’s I taught from text books which conceded the same exceptions. At some point in the intervening years, a self-elected body seems to have stepped in and changed the rules without bothering to tell the rest of us.
Anyway, the Apostrophe Protection Society can get stuck into this letter if they want, but I’m sure they’ll have fun when I tell them I’ve already dotted the i’s.
Richard of York
From: M Dickinson, Waters Walk, Bradford.
if or when the remains of King Richard III are identified, should they not be returned to Yorkshire and interred, as he surely would have wished, in York Minster?
Richard spent his formative years and most of his adult life here.
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Hide AdHe chose the Minster for the Investiture of his son as Prince of Wales and his plans for the building of a large Chantry chapel with six altars may show he intended to be buried there.
As the Clerk to York City Council wrote when it was dangerous to do so: “King Richard, late mercifully reigning upon us was...piteously slain and murdered, to the great heaviness of this City.”
Bring Richard home.