Re: a grammar question

--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, grendl "löfkvist" <grendl_lofkvist@...>
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).

> 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...

Fortunately, there is a grammatical test - try using 'man' (not its
compounds) or 'woman'. On that basis, the apostrophe is required.
However, the apostrophe inconsistently vanishes in proper names, e.g.
the variation in placenames such as "St Martins" in Salop (Anglice
'Shropshire') but "St Martin's" near Perth (the old Scottish capital).
Omission seems to be the rule in surnames.

Richard.