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.

As 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.

He 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.