FilmFather sent me an ad from the Wilmington News Journal that features an apostrophe catastrophe in the headline.
The word farmers in "Support Delaware Farmers" is plural, not possessive, so it shouldn't have an apostrophe in it. But should the phrase farmers market? The answer to that question is not so simple. According to Grammar Girl's discussion on this topic, the AP does not use an apostrophe in farmers market, while the Chicago Manual of Style does.
What do you think?
Thanks, Eric!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A Farmers' Market for Farmer's?
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12 comments:
I think that it's trying to say "Support the Delaware Farmer's Ellipsis."
I prefer the apostrophe on farmers' market. But then again, I'm also a fan of the serial comma, so I probably can't be trusted.
I love the serial comma!
It doesn't seem to be a question of WHETHER an apostrophe is used, but WHERE; either "farmer's market" or "farmers' market" would make sense--but "farmers market" simply doesn't.
Here's how I see it:
Farmer's Market = a market owned by one farmer
Farmers' Market = a market owned by several famers
Farmers Market = a market that has something to do with farmers or is for farmers
i think it's fine without anything. you wouldn't use an apostrophe in the url townvillefarmersmarket.com
so i would leave it out.
So what is it?!?!?!?!
I agree with Becky's comment (on July 9) and apply the rule:
Farmer's Market = a market owned by one farmer
Farmers' Market = a market owned by several farmers
What if the market is owned and operated not by one farmer or by several? Instead, it is owned and operated by a community organization FOR the farmers to market their stuff? Then no apostrophe?
Byron Farmers Market
I guess we could say it is owned by the community so:
Byron's Farmer Market
If you are shopping at a location where there are many farmers, individually selling product -- multiple farmers and multiple markets (per say) in a single location, I would say farmers' markets...
More than one farmer, so farmers.
More than one market so markets.
The markets are possessed by the farmers, so farmers' markets. Just my two cents. :) I agree with the post that an apostrophe must be used one way or another - farmer's or farmers'.
thank you thank you thank you!!!
thank you thank you thank you!!!
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