atw: Re: Correction - This can go on and on [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

I think there might be a principle behind Petra's post - something like 
'those who are picky deserve to be picked on'. ( You could call it the 
Glass House principle, except that that phrase now calls to mind a 
lamented (by some) ABC program.)

Applying this principle to Brian's post again, I'm now going to be picky 
enough to ask him: what do you mean by 'just like <his> and <hers>'? 
Surely forming <its> from <it> isn't parallel to forming <his> and <hers> 
from <he> and <she>?  And, in any case, shouldn't  it be <her> rather than 
<hers>?

And, yes, I think Petra's right about 'ellipsis'.

Howard




LIVERANI Petra <Petra_LIVERANI@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
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atw: Correction - This can go on and on
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TRIM File Ref










No doubt I'm making an error myself somewhere - I believe the correct
term is contraction. Ellipsis is when a complete word (or words) is left
out but understood as in "John can play the guitar but Mary can't"
instead of "John can play the guitar but Mary can't play it".

Regards,
Petra

For those who must correct, <it's> is an ellipsis of <it is>, only.
The possessive ot <it> is <its> just like <his> and <hers>.
Brian.

<snip>
>
> And Christine:
>
> "We cow tow to people"
> ->
> kowtow, kow tow or kow-tow
>
> It's origin is Chinese. Wikipedia has a fascinating article on it. You

> use
> the term correctly, according to it's meaning in English, which has
> shifted significantly from its original meaning in traditional Chinese
> culture.
>
> Peter Fagan

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