linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] md: fix spelling of "its"

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Date:   Sun, 2 Jan 2022 01:11:28 +0000
From:   Wol <antlists@...ngman.org.uk>
To:     unlisted-recipients:; (no To-header on input)
Cc:     open list <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        linux-raid <linux-raid@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] md: fix spelling of "its"

On 02/01/2022 00:06, Song Liu wrote:
> On Sat, Dec 25, 2021 at 6:24 PM Randy Dunlap<rdunlap@...radead.org>  wrote:
>> Use the possessive "its" instead of the contraction "it's"
>> in printed messages.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Randy Dunlap<rdunlap@...radead.org>
>> Cc: Song Liu<song@...nel.org>
>> Cc:linux-raid@...r.kernel.org
> Applied to md-next.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
For the benefit of non-native English speakers, the possessive ending is 
NOT " 's ". In practice it usually does tend to be, though.

The regular historic possessive ending is -es. An apostrophe replaces 
elided letters - and for whatever reason in modern English that "e" is 
almost always elided, hence " 's " :-)

(Which is why the possessive plural ending is usually a trailing 
apostrophe. The possessive of (plural) cats was "catses", now 
abbreviated to " cats' ".)

However, with the word "it", the irregular possessive form is "its", and 
when you see " it's ", it's actually a contraction of " it is ", the "i" 
has been elided and replaced by the apostrophe.

I remember seeing a big sign outside a shop where they proudly announced 
they had been granted a "Certificate of Excellence". And in about 20 
words, they had the word "its" six times. Spelt wrong EVERY SINGLE TIME :-)

Cheers,
Wol