So, Quyen, are you saying put it in quotes?

I agree with Quyen. The apostrophe's a solid way to indicate what it means just in case there's any question.

(I've noticed in movies and songs there's no apostrophe, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, i.e., "Boyz n the Hood" and "Where Da Hood At?")

Thank you.  She says it a lot so I wanted to get it right.

Would you capitalize "The 12 Steps"?  They are speaking of them in general or a

12-Step program, not as a title of something written -- well, sometimes they talk about a workbook w/ "The 12 Steps" in it.  When I Googled it seemed "The 12 Steps" was capitalized.

Thx

I would use LMEG Rule 86b for this.  "I started taking allergy shots in, I want to say, June." 

"I want to say" is a parenthetical that could be removed and the sentence would still make sense.

"I started taking allergy shots in June."

 I wouldn't cap it.  Why do you want to cap it?  I don't see the impetus.

Heh ... what Keith said!  No reason for capitalization there.

Has anyone come across this?  Witness is referring to years such as 2005 but it pronouncing it two oh five.  How would you write that?  Is it even correct?  She does it all day long.  Thanks!

Hi, Ana! I would write it 2'05.  It's annoying, isn't it?  I had a witness say something even worse; she kept saying 2000'05, yeah, two thousand oh five.  I don't remember now, but I think that's how I wrote it, 2000'05.

You're so smart, Quyen!  Thank you.

Oh, your compliment is undeserved!  ;)

Welcome!

Margie Wakeman-Wells actually talked about this recently, and it made so much sense to me. 

She said if someone says 2'12, it's okay to put 2012 - for clarity.  Her explanation included how we don't use the "and" when we say "two thousand and seven" for 2007. 

It's just an abbreviated way of speaking.

I don't have a rule cite for you but I am sure you do not surround "it says" with commas.  I would put a comma after "it says"

Under this paragraph it says, "While it may be commonly believed...blabblahblab."

Hi Christina.  Here's my take on this.  First though, you have it right!

Under this paragraph it says, "While it may be commonly..."

There is no comma after "under this paragraph" because it is a short, specific, introductory prepositional phrase.  If it was contrasting (like "above all," "as usual," "in any case") then a comma would be used.

And I believe the reason you couldn't find anything specific about the comma after "says" is because it doesn't matter whether or not you are quoting an individual or specific material, "it says" is a lead-in phrase that requires a comma before the quote.

Secondly, don't ever think that any question is not worth asking.  We all want to get it right, so all this proves is that your work is important to you!

Would you capitalize "Treasury" when they are talking about "Treasury bonds"?  Sometimes they just say "Treasury."

Thanks

I would say yes.  In Bad Grammar/Good Punction, on page 305, Capitalization.35:  Capitalize the titles of the departments that comprise the President's Cabinet, including the name of the department and the word department when it stands alone.

I think that is a Treasury issue.
It is within the Department policy.

I can't find my reference book.  Are movie titles supposed to be in quotation marks?

Thanks,

Janiece

According to Morson's, they should be italicized.

HI Janiece.  If you will be printing in ASCII, which I hear won't do italics, then quotation marks are the next best thing.

Thanks, Kathy and Cindy.  That's what I thought.

How would you format this???  He's saying the word "citizenship" but he interrupts it with "you know."

Thanks,

Janiece

A. I notice Anna she gave Anna a big birthday party for getting her citizen- ,you know, ship.

I can honestly say I have never seen this one before!  Oh my...

I notice Anna -- she gave Anna a big birthday party for getting her citizen- -- you know -- -ship.

This would be my best guess, but it sure looks ugly!

Yeah, Cindy, there's no way to make it look nice.  Good idea.  :-)

I think Anna needs to give her/him some English lessons!  LOL

Ugh.  Nothing looks good. 

The only other option I see is:  I notice Anna -- she gave Anna a big birthday party for getting her citizen-, you know, -ship. 

I have an attorney asking questions with the word yes after the question.

I.E.  So based on your opinion about the scope of the lawsuit is how you determine what documents to bring, yes?  Or  what documents to bring.  Yes?

Sandy, I think the answer to your question might be ... "Yes."

Okay, so you didn't actually ask a question, but what you have looks okay to me ...

Oops! SandRA.  Sorry ....

I'd keep it a separate question. 

I can't remember the rule.  If they say "Southern California" do you capitalize "Southern"?  

Thanks,

Janiece

Whether to capitalize Northern or Southern California is preference. Locals (Californians) may want/prefer to capitalize (I do), while you, in Oz Land, might not. Either way, it would be correct.

Thanks, Quyen.  LOL, "Oz Land,"  

I don't know why I can't get rules like that to stick in my head. :-)

:)  Welcome.

"Preference rules/styles" don't stick probably because people go back and forth all the time on them.

Again, I am so brain dead.  

I want to know should this be possessive?  I'm asking about Seals.  That is the name of this company.  So when they say Seals' office, should I make that possessive or not?

Thanks,

Janiece

Q. Would you agree that you go to work at an office within 100 miles of the Seals' office and perform tasks that are listed as prohibited tasks in paragraph No. 1?

If the company name is Seals, then the the possessive is Seals'.

And yes, it does need the apostrophe.  It is the office of the Seals. 

Yep.  An apostrophe is needed, Jeaniece.  It's possessive (it's their office).

Thank you all.  I know that.  I feel like an idiot asking but I'm so bleary eyed I needed some reinforcement.  :-)

I hear ya!  I get these blank spots every now and then, and I feel like I'm mentally pulling out every single drawer in my brain trying to find what I KNOW I know!!  LOL

NO, it's NOT possessive.  It has THE before Seals.  The "the" negates possession.  Since saying Seals' office means "the office of the Seals," it's redundant and WRONG to put an apostrophe on it.

Thanks, Christi.  In the dark recesses of my mind I thought "the" affected whether it should be possessive.

How is it going?  Where are you reporting now?

Yeah, if it didn't have "the," the apostrophe is golden.  LOL  :)

I'm doing well.  :)  I don't report anymore these days.  I just do proofing and scoping from home.  Seems not having MO cut me out of the market.  Cest la vie, right?  How's your venture going???

So this example would be possessive; right?

Q. What is the distance from Seals' office that is mentioned in paragraph No. 1?

So far so good.  I've only been at it two months.

Yes, that one is possessive.  An easy trick (usually) to help is to replace the word with a non-plural company name, such as Taco Bell.  In this case, it'd say, "What is the distance from Taco Bell office..."  So you'd know you need that apostrophe -s on there.  :):)

Christi, I had sent you an email a while back but never heard back from you.  I'd like to get your rates for editing.

Interesting.  I had never heard that before.  But what about this:

I'm going to the Jones' house.  I wouldn't ever say I'm going to the Jones house.  It's not THE Jones house, it's the house that belongs to the Jones'.   At least, that's how I say it.

You could go the The White house, but if the house belonged to the White's, wouldn't you be going to the Whites' house?

You're right in your example of the Joneses.  That's a proper person owning something.  In this case, the Seals office, Seals is acting as a proper noun adjective.  It's describing the office.  Seals, as a company entity, is transferred into an adjective with the use of the word "the."  Without the "the" there, it's Seals' office, they're owning it.  Does that help a bit?

Janiece, I don't think I ever got your e-mail.  I'll dash you off a line here in a bit.  :)