Re: a grammar question

grendl löfkvist wrote:

>
> Hello Qalamites:
>
> I'm hoping this isn't horribly off-topic, but I've
> been having some grammatical confusion with my
> co-workers about the use of the apostrophe (I was
> reminded by Peter Daniels complaint about the random
> insertion of one into his last name).

This should be "Daniels's" (or, old-fashionedly, "Daniels'").

> Anyways, if we are discussing "International
> Workers(') Day," does "Workers" take the (genitive)
> apostrophe? We also had the same discussion regarding
> "kids(') activities" meaning "activities *for* kids,"
> not the possessive "activities *of* kids," hence some
> argued that the apostrophe should be dropped...

It's entirely up to whoever invented the Day. Did they conceive it as a
Day that was the property of International Workers?

Or is it a Day in honor of International Workers?

Compare St. Patrick's Day; Martin Luther King Day.

But I don't see how it can be other than kids' activities.

> If this is totally off-topic, is there an
> authoritative grammar site or discussion group someone
> could refer me to?

--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...