Date:  Fri, 12 Jan 1996 23:01:59 PST

From:  tom creswell <creswell[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CROWN.NET>

Subject: Re: Misspelled Words



Virginia,



I agree with Rudy Troike. In fact, I have in my files a paper I delivered to

a meeting of DSNA (never published) entitled "Otiose Apostrophes" in which I

offer the same hypothesis. In the paper I cite numerous instances from signs

and other sources of apostrophic otiosity, including at least one, as I

remember, painted roughly in white paint on the black roof of a long disused

railroad roundhouse back in the fifties probably by some worker who sensed

the approaching doom of his occupation. The crudely painted, plaintive and

ineffective message read, "TAKE THE TRAINS'"



Please give my regards to Al and Paul.



Tom Creswell