tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post3047085394531459656..comments2023-10-26T06:32:56.972-07:00Comments on Lost in America: "John Doe versus The Anointed One"A Modest Scriblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07698092153994590787noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-58487586425970210502012-08-27T10:31:21.408-07:002012-08-27T10:31:21.408-07:00Thanks for your kind response.
I agree with the...Thanks for your kind response. <br /><br />I agree with the compound-possessive rule you've stated as applied to anything other than pronouns. (I just re-checked my various grammar and usage books, and yes, the rule is well supported as regards common and proper nouns.) <br /><br />But I've never heard the rule applied to <i>pronouns</i>. In looking just now, I couldn't find anything one way or the other on the pronoun sub-issue. To me, for whatever it's worth, "he and his wife's house" sounds strange, though I can see the logic of it. "The bank sent the statement to me and my wife's accountant"? But needless to say, I might be the odd one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-57154860085251855962012-08-27T10:12:37.973-07:002012-08-27T10:12:37.973-07:00Anon, thanks for your comments. Re Jefferson and ...Anon, thanks for your comments. Re Jefferson and the State of the Union address, I cited Jefferson because, for his first State of the Union address, did go to Congress to deliver it. He spoke so quietly, and badly, that most of Congress had to follow along with his text because they were unable to hear him.<br /><br />With regard to the grammar, I've checked "grammar girl twice on this and she list he and his as both acceptable when used in compound possessive pronouns. Perhaps it doesn't sound right, but, according to two sources I checked, it is proper grammar. I'm going to check it further.<br /><br />Finally, thanks for reading ,and taking the time to comment.A Modest Scriblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698092153994590787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-53650225890240999212012-08-27T09:56:59.990-07:002012-08-27T09:56:59.990-07:00JCS -- I think anon's point was that the corre...JCS -- I think anon's point was that the correct wording would have been "HIS and Michelle's student loan debt," rather than "HE and Michelle's student loan debt." But anon didn't have to be obnoxious about it.<br /><br />I would also add, regarding Jefferson, that delivering the state-of-the-Union address in writing was the common practice until Woodrow Wilson's administration.<br /><br />All that being said, I did enjoy this post (this is my first visit; I came here from the WSJ comment section), and you've made some very good observations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-77989312639775011032012-08-27T09:26:33.405-07:002012-08-27T09:26:33.405-07:00Anon; here's a grammar lesson for you.
From &q...Anon; here's a grammar lesson for you.<br />From "Grammar Girl":<br />If you're trying to write about possession and you have two subjects, you have to decide if the two people possess something together or separately. Here's an example: Steve and Amy's religious beliefs.<br /><br />The rule is if the two people share something, you use one apostrophe s. So if Steve and Amy have the same religious beliefs, it is correct to say Steve and Amy's beliefs with only one apostrophe s after the last noun.<br /><br />On the other hand, if Steve and Amy have different beliefs, then you would say Steve's and Amy's beliefs.<br /><br />A Modest Scriblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698092153994590787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-66432751234171506652012-08-27T09:18:07.696-07:002012-08-27T09:18:07.696-07:00anon, I don't expect you to look up the correc...anon, I don't expect you to look up the correct grammar, but it is written correctly. Now, is that the extent of your criticism? Very weak.A Modest Scriblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698092153994590787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-90547703827513270402012-08-27T08:21:23.124-07:002012-08-27T08:21:23.124-07:00he and Michelle's student loan debt
I can'... he and Michelle's student loan debt <br />I can't understand how any one can write such nonsense. Would you write he student loan? the and Michelle changes nothing.<br />HIS not he!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-683192012942249592012-08-27T07:47:40.103-07:002012-08-27T07:47:40.103-07:00Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment,...Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Lady Di; yes I can see some stark contrasts between the Romneys and Kennedys as well!A Modest Scriblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698092153994590787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3360697570873499457.post-75233990039585694842012-08-27T07:42:40.708-07:002012-08-27T07:42:40.708-07:00I like your post. I did a comparison, though much...I like your post. I did a comparison, though much shorter, between Romney and the Kennedy clan. lady dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14592748280486453775noreply@blogger.com