De-apostrophication in Britain
Comes the news, reported by the BBC, that :
Apostrophe ban on Devon council’s new street names
The apostrophe is being banned from street names in parts of Devon to “avoid potential confusion”. Mid Devon District Council said its new streets had not contained apostrophes for many years, but the policy was now being made official. It said apostrophes could only be found in three street names in the district….
The report is mum as to the view taken on this by Ig Nobel Prize winner John Richards of Boston, England, founder of The Apostrophe Protection Society. Mr. Richards was awarded the 2001 Ig Nobel Prize in Literature, for his efforts to protect, promote, and defend the differences between plural and possessive.