Re: [content-free] Re: Gates Foundation transfers in another $5B

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From: Grlygrl201@aol.com
Date: Wed Jan 26 2000 - 03:34:55 PST


Wayne, precious, in the original context, no possessives are used.

First Example: "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said yesterday that
William H.
Gates, the founder of the Microsoft Corporation, and his wife,
Melinda, have donated an additional $5 billion to their philanthropic
foundation, making it the world's wealthiest, with assets of $21.8
billion."

"The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation" is a title, like "The Exxon
Corporation." It's not "The Exxon's Corporation." No apostrophe needed.

Second Example: "It's only in the past year that people have taken their
philanthropy
very seriously," Stacy Palmer, editor of the publication, said of the
Gateses."

This is a simple plural, no possesive intent. There are two people with the
last name of Gates implied, so "Gateses" is correct and no apostrophe is
needed.

Reminds me of a joke: How many Jesuses does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Geegeus

In a message dated 1/25/00 11:15:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
wbaisley@aol.com writes:

<< > What's wrong with "Gates'"?
 
 According to The Gregg Reference Manual, 7th Edition, apostrophe-s is
 added to singular nouns, especially if a new syllable is produced, but
 not if the result would be hard to pronounce, in which case a simple
 apostrophe will suffice (as with Jesus' case). Just apostrophes are
 added to plural nouns. So the correct forms would be (their example
 used Gaines, which is close enough):
 
   Bill Gates's foundation
   Mr. and Mrs. Gates's foundation
   The Gateses' foundation
 
                                Cheerses,
                                Wayneseses'
 
 http://www-oss.fnal.gov/~baisley
 
>>


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