0
Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

I have heard one too many 'I love you's and 'I'm sorry's from her.

Can I successfully retain the single quotes around the quoted material which already contains a single quote internally?

I have heard one too many 'I love you's and 'I'm sorry's from her.
(I believe this one is the most acceptable and the clearest - with the single apostrophes.)

They exchanged their 'I do's at a ceremony in Boston. OK, too? I think the single apostrophes look best because they highlight the word 'I do' with absolute clarity. Again, we have an internal single apostrophe within the singularly quoted phrase. Does this work?


Or should I do this?

I have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her. To me, this one looks as if it has too much punctuation going on.


Please advise how you'd write it.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I'm not too particular about punctuation such as this, as long as the writer is consistent. I try to make it make sense rather than follow "rules". victo I have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her.

— Philip

  • I'm not too particular about punctuation such as this, as long as the writer is consistent.
  • I try to make it make sense rather than follow "rules".
  • victo I have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her.
  • To me, this one looks as if it has too much punctuation going on.
  • I happen to like this.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
I'm not too particular about punctuation such as this, as long as the writer is consistent. I try to make it make sense rather than follow "rules".
victoI have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her. To me, this one looks as if it has too much punctuation going on.
I happen to like this.
0
0
Thanks, Phillip. I respect Phillip's opinion. May I get another?

1, 2, 3, or 4? Or do all variations work, depending on style?

I have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her.

OR

I have heard one too many 'I love you's and 'I'm sorry's from her.

OR

I have heard one too many
0
0
Thanks, Phillip. I respect Phillip's opinion. May I get another?

1, 2, 3, 4, or 5? Or do all variations work, depending on style?

1. I have heard one too many "I love you's" and "I'm sorry's" from her.

OR

2. I have heard one too many 'I love you's and 'I'm sorry's from her.

OR

3. I have heard one
0
0
Another opinion, pretty please!!! [L]
0
0
#3 is the only correct choice:

I have heard one too many I love you's and I'm sorry's from her.

Your other choices are laden with unnecessary and unsightly gobs of punctuation (yuck!).

This antiquated method of punctuation was all the rage in the early '80s (no good):
I have heard one too m
0

Related Questions