Re: [RFC] automatic apostrophes

[Robert Millan]

On Sun, Aug 27, 2006 at 02:16:13PM -0700, Paul Eggert wrote:
> Robert Millan <address@hidden> writes:
> 
> > There's a common limitation when localising programs for languages that use
> > apostrophes with nouns.  For example:
> 
> This sort of problem occurs with English too.  For example, the format
> "%s's toga was white" should expand to "Paul's toga was white" if %s
> expands to "Paul", but to "Achilles' toga was white" if %s expands to
> "Achilles".
> 
> The usual way to fix this problem is to reword the diagnostic, e.g.,
> in English, "Character: %s; toga: white".  Perhaps you can use this
> principle in Catalan too.

We can, but it is a bit weird.  Currently, common practice is to remove the
article altogether, which is considered a grammar error.

Are you sure you don't want a better solution?  I wouldn't mind sending a patch
(for English as well).

-- 
Robert Millan

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