[Wikipedia-l] apostrophes

Mon Oct 20 00:16:57 UTC 2003

>
>Adam Bishop wrote:
>
>>A few days ago there was a renewed discussion about whether or not certain 
>>wars have apostrophes in their names, at 
>>Wikipedia:Pages_needing_attention#History.  Is it "Hundred Years' War" or 
>>"Hundred Years War"? Right now there is an apostrophe and the one without 
>>redirects.  I argued that that is the correct way, but there is still 
>>disagreement about it.
>
>The apostrophe absolutely belongs in these construction.  What style manual 
>says differently? I've removed the issue from pages needing attention.
>
>Ec

Yes it should have but in reality it rarely does. Historians got so fed up 
with essays from students about the 'Hundred Year's War' that to keep there 
own sanity they simply write 'Hundred Years War'. I think in practice, 
though less correct, it is more recognisable for people. (Even if it drives 
purists like me demented!)

JT

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