Re: [RFC] automatic apostrophes

[Paul Eggert]

Robert Millan <address@hidden> writes:

> Are you sure you don't want a better solution?

Whether a better solution is adopted is up to Bruno, but I'm a worried
that the solution proposed will cause more hassle and trouble than
it'll cure.

> I wouldn't mind sending a patch
> (for English as well).

I don't know Catalan, but I think it unlikely that we can come up with
a solution that will work well with English.  For example, if we are
talking about the Ajax the Great, king of Salamis, the most-correct
English is "Ajax' strengths and weaknesses".  But if we are talking
about the Ajax web development technique, the most-correct English is
"Ajax's strengths and weaknesses".  This is because there is a special
exception for names of classical people like "Ajax" and "Jesus" -- an
exception that changes both pronounciation and spelling in English.
How would we automate that sort of thing in gettext if the format is
"%s's strengths and weaknesses" and %s expands to "Ajax"?