Pet peeve: It's '70s, not 70's

[EclecticEnnui]

If you write in a decade, the proper way to do it is '70s, '80s, '90s, for example. 70's is a possessive that means something belongs to the number 70. You can also write in 1970s, if you don't wanna write in a contraction, with the apostrophe (in front of the number, of course).

Again, it's only a pet peeve, and I used to make this mistake, as well. Now that I know the proper way, seeing it otherwise is a little annoying to me. It's more annoying when I see it in the media, like on TV.

[Renandchi2]

Don't you love That's 70's Show?
Honestly, who cares? It's a small issue

[andhination]

My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

[SnoMagick]

At 12/21/08 03:19 PM, antonyscorner wrote: Don't you love That's 70's Show?
Honestly, who cares? It's a small issue

He obviously cares. Although I really don't see why... that "rule" is probably going to be ousted by this generation. Languages are like living creatures--humans rip them apart and then stick them back together however they please.
"A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that can instill great frustration in a very small group of people, yet is experienced by everyone." - Wikipedia

[EclecticEnnui]

At 12/21/08 03:21 PM, andhination wrote: My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

Why is it stupid? If you wanna look a bit more professional with your writing, it's a good idea.

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

At 12/21/08 03:21 PM, andhination wrote: My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

My pet peeve is people with pet peeves against stupid pet peeves... such as this.

[andhination]

At 12/21/08 03:25 PM, EclecticEnnui wrote:

At 12/21/08 03:21 PM, andhination wrote: My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

Why is it stupid? If you wanna look a bit more professional with your writing, it's a good idea.

It's stupid because it's obvious as to what it really means, it's something most people wouldn't even notice, and you actually have to think about it before you realise it's wrong, it's just being picky on your part. Seriously, you must have thought long and hard before you decided it annoyed you.

[chiefindomer]

Why have I been seeing so many English lessons lately?

It reminds me of being in school back in the 90's. I was born in the 80's, and was in elementary school throughout the 90's. I wonder what the 70's were like.

Is that annoying?

[EclecticEnnui]

At 12/21/08 03:28 PM, andhination wrote: It's stupid because it's obvious as to what it really means, it's something most people wouldn't even notice, and you actually have to think about it before you realise it's wrong, it's just being picky on your part. Seriously, you must have thought long and hard before you decided it annoyed you.

Yes, it's obvious as to what it means, but it would still look better if it was correct, to me. Just because most people supposedly don't notice, doesn't mean it's OK. I don't have to think about it before I realize it's wrong. Also, I didn't have to think long and hard for it to be a pet peeve. I learned the right way out of a book, that showed how.

There's also the "could care less" issue. However, I'm not a grammar Nazi, who goes around correcting people for little mistakes, like these.

[Mind-Edge]

At 12/21/08 03:22 PM, Sweethonkie wrote:

At 12/21/08 03:19 PM, antonyscorner wrote: Don't you love That's 70's Show?
Honestly, who cares? It's a small issue

Well thats a show that "Belongs to the seventies" So i guess that would be correct, even if it is a much more recent program.

Infact, they did it RIGHT.

[andhination]

At 12/21/08 03:43 PM, EclecticEnnui wrote:

At 12/21/08 03:28 PM, andhination wrote: It's stupid because it's obvious as to what it really means, it's something most people wouldn't even notice, and you actually have to think about it before you realise it's wrong, it's just being picky on your part. Seriously, you must have thought long and hard before you decided it annoyed you.

Yes, it's obvious as to what it means, but it would still look better if it was correct, to me.

Yes. To you. There are always things that you would prefer if they were another way. Doesn't mean you can't just accept it. I'd prefer it if all humans were good looking, but I don't cringe every time I see an ugly person.

Just because most people supposedly don't notice, doesn't mean it's OK.

If the majority of people think one way, it means it's made correct. Think about things that didn't used to be words, but were put into the dictionary due to everyone using them. Such as 'google'. The same principle applies.

I don't have to think about it before I realize it's wrong. Also, I didn't have to think long and hard for it to be a pet peeve. I learned the right way out of a book, that showed how.

There, you didn't even notice on your own. You obviously only care because you want to appear intelligent.

There's also the "could care less" issue. However, I'm not a grammar Nazi, who goes around correcting people for little mistakes, like these.

Apparently, you care. Why else would you make this topic?

[JaY11]

On a sort of related note, what happens when we reach over 2010. 2090 for example, would it still be written as XX/XX/90?

[pinkfuzzyman]

Or you could make it the '70's

[slim35007]

At 12/21/08 04:28 PM, pinkfuzzyman wrote: Or you could make it the '70's

ooo snap. does that mean it belongs to the '70s?

latin languages are retarded

[AcidSoldier]

It should be '70's, actually. You're missing out the 19 and the "ie" of the "ies"

[sumidiotdude]

I see your point. I made that mistake today. Next time I will use your method.

[CutTheCheese]

At 12/21/08 03:16 PM, EclecticEnnui wrote: 70's is a possessive that means something belongs to the number 70.

Isnt that the point?
Like saying "The 70's wants that suit back"
I dunno >>

[EclecticEnnui]

At 12/21/08 04:08 PM, andhination wrote: Yes. To you. There are always things that you would prefer if they were another way. Doesn't mean you can't just accept it. I'd prefer it if all humans were good looking, but I don't cringe every time I see an ugly person.

It's true what you said about there always being things people would prefer to be another way. However, define beauty. Beauty is subjective. It's in the eye of the beholder. Punctuation, on the other hand, is not. It's objective. It's a fact. Prove me wrong, on these things.

If the majority of people think one way, it means it's made correct. Think about things that didn't used to be words, but were put into the dictionary due to everyone using them. Such as 'google'. The same principle applies.

So, are you saying we can change the rules of punctuation, if we want to? We can have the apostrophe of '70s to 70's, to be the decade? Then, we'd have to rewrite the definition of "apostrophe," and what it means to use an "s" at the end of a word or number. Maybe it's possible, though.

There, you didn't even notice on your own. You obviously only care because you want to appear intelligent.

So? Our life experiences are based on how we grow up, our teachers, friends, family, books, etc. I think people are always gonna be discovering new things, big or little, that they didn't know, unless you supposedly know everything about life.

Apparently, you care. Why else would you make this topic?

You misunderstood. I'm referring to when people write "could care less" as opposed to "couldn't care less."

[EclecticEnnui]

At 12/22/08 07:12 PM, Otto wrote:

At 12/21/08 03:21 PM, andhination wrote: My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

My pet peeve is people with stupid pet peeves such as this.

My pet peeve is YOUR FACE.

Dumb joke is dumb.