Apostrophe-s at the end of plural words?

Actually, you were correct in your usage of "phenomena" and were incorrectly "corrected"

Main Entry: phe·nom·e·na

Pronunciation: \fi-ˈnä-mə-nə, -ˌnä\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural phe·nom·e·nas
Date: 1576
nonstandard : phenomenon

usage Phenomena has been in occasional use as a singular for more than 400 years and its plural phenomenas for more than 350. Our evidence shows that it is primarily a speech form used by poets, critics, and professors, among others, but one that sometimes turns up in edited prose <the Borgia were, in modern terms, a media phenomena — Economist>. It is etymologically no more irregular than stamina, agenda, and candelabra, but it has nowhere near the frequency of use that they have, and while they are standard, phenomena is still rather borderline.
 
echoofformless said:
Okay so I'm not trying to be a grammar nazi or any manner of an old fussabout here, but I have been continually noticing this phenomena everywhere I go lately. All over the internet and even on any written signs I see from place to place.

The other night I'm in the LFS and there it says: "Betta's $2.99"

I see it a lot on here so that's why I'm asking this: Why?

When was it ever instilled in any of us while we were learning to read and write that the 's belongs at the end of a plural word?

Again, I'm NOT being an old fussabout or a grammar nazi - I'm just baffled and curious about it and so I want to know why people are choosing to do it. Things like double negatives, spelling errors, choosing the wrong their, there and they're, etc are somewhat understandable mechanical errors that we make sometimes even when we do know better. But this one doesn't seem to have that sort of property.

If you do it, please tell me why so I can stop feeling so confused!

:)
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you know, maybe the LFS had that sign there showing that one lucky betta has $2.99 for whatever reason... Just sayin'.. :D
 
Well, couldn't "Betta's $2.99" also mean "Betta is $2.99"?
 
vampie said:
Well, couldn't "Betta's $2.99" also mean "Betta is $2.99"?
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Well, yes. Assuming that there is only one Betta in question. I'm with the grammar police on this one. I spend a lot of time in classes explaining this bad boy and it makes me scratch my head each time (I mean, why I have to keep explaining it, not the rule.) It would seem to be more work tossing apostrophes everywhere, willy nilly.
 
Just to add to the confusion. When a letter ends in s and an apostrophe needs to be used, it is placed at the end of the word.

Take for example my name. It is Kurtis. Now if something is mine it's not Kurtis's. The correct way would be Kurtis'.

Just to add to the confusion
 
247Plants said:
Just to add to the confusion. When a letter ends in s and an apostrophe needs to be used, it is placed at the end of the word.

Take for example my name. It is Kurtis. Now if something is mine it's not Kurtis's. The correct way would be Kurtis'.

Just to add to the confusion
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That's to show possession only. Unless I am wrong it would still be Kurtis's if it were a contraction for Kurtis is.
 
Confusing. Good thing I don't know any Kurtises..ses..
 
LOL... they of course meant to put "betta's $2.99". The intentionally forgot the 'a' before the contraction, so that they didn't waste any ink. They definately don't mean that all the bettas are $2.99, and people would get confused if they added on an 'ea' to specify a single betta! They'd be all like, "what do you mean a betta is $2.99 earos?" neglecting the dollar sign, the correct spelling of euro, and the fact that ea is the common abbr for each. You definately couldn't put "Bettas are $2.99 each" because that is simply wastefull! All that ink/grease and possibly paper that could be saved but was instead malisciously disposed of would be a disgrace! Honestly, I am suprised sometimes by how much you do have to break things down for people. Anyway, returning to the topic at hand, misuse of imposterophies(pardon the pun) does get rather annoying, particularly when done in such an obvious manner in a business.
 
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