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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Milk it for all it's worth?
I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was that the apostrophe was wrong. But then I realised that both meanings are possible: to milk something for all the worth it has - i.e. "its worth", but also, to milk something for all (that) it is worth.
Google counts on both are practically identical.
Any takers on which option is right? Or are both valid?
The only clue is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'm not convinced this proves anything.
Google counts on both are practically identical.
Any takers on which option is right? Or are both valid?
The only clue is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'm not convinced this proves anything.
Top answer
[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is worth. Google counts on both are practically identical.
- [nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ...
- is worth.
- Google counts on both are practically identical.
- Any takers on which option is right?
- [/nq] The non-apostrophe reading would never have occurred to me.
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10 Answers
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[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is worth. Google counts on both are practically identical. Any takers on which option is right? Or are both valid?[/nq]
The non-apostrophe reading would never have occurred to me.
[nq:1]The only clue is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'
The non-apostrophe reading would never have occurred to me.
[nq:1]The only clue is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'
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[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'm not convinced this proves anything.[/nq]
Interesting question. I doubted my instinctive reaction for a few moments, until I thought of parallels:
They took us for all we're worth.
They took me f
Interesting question. I doubted my instinctive reaction for a few moments, until I thought of parallels:
They took us for all we're worth.
They took me f
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[nq:2]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" ... also, to milk something for all (that) it is worth.[/nq]
[nq:1]Interesting question. I doubted my instinctive reaction for a few moments, until I thought of parallels: They took us for ... her for all she's worth. Not "our worth," "my worth," "his worth," or "her worth." So it's "it's" ("it is").[/nq]
I suspect you're right - my i
[nq:1]Interesting question. I doubted my instinctive reaction for a few moments, until I thought of parallels: They took us for ... her for all she's worth. Not "our worth," "my worth," "his worth," or "her worth." So it's "it's" ("it is").[/nq]
I suspect you're right - my i
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Dylan Nicholson wrote on 16 Jul 2004:
[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is worth. Google counts on both are practically identical. Any takers on which option is right? Or are both valid?[/nq]
They're probably both valid, but I'd say that the "it's" version is probably the default based on sentences like "They
[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is worth. Google counts on both are practically identical. Any takers on which option is right? Or are both valid?[/nq]
They're probably both valid, but I'd say that the "it's" version is probably the default based on sentences like "They
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Yes, it works either way, and I agree that
it is a rare case in that respect.
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
it is a rare case in that respect.
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
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[nq:1]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" in a birthday card today, and my immediate reaction was ... is that an occasional variation is in fact "for all that it's worth", but I'm not convinced this proves anything.[/nq]
I would use the apostrophe.
If you leave out the apostrophe, you should leve out the "all" as well, because it would be redundant.
Steve Hayes from
I would use the apostrophe.
If you leave out the apostrophe, you should leve out the "all" as well, because it would be redundant.
Steve Hayes from
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[nq:2]I noticed the phrase "Milk it for all it's worth" ... all thatit's worth", but I'm not convinced this proves anything.[/nq]
[nq:1]I would use the apostrophe. If you leave out the apostrophe, you should leve out the "all" as well, because it would be redundant.[/nq]
Another indication that the consensus is right is the variant "for everything it's worth" (although it got only 641 goog
[nq:1]I would use the apostrophe. If you leave out the apostrophe, you should leve out the "all" as well, because it would be redundant.[/nq]
Another indication that the consensus is right is the variant "for everything it's worth" (although it got only 641 goog
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[nq:1]Another indication that the consensus is right is the variant "for everything it's worth" (although it got only 641 google hits). CB[/nq]
Not very indicative, apostrophe usage being
notoriously hit-and-miss on the world wide web.
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
Not very indicative, apostrophe usage being
notoriously hit-and-miss on the world wide web.
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
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[nq:2]Another indication that the consensus is right is the variant "for everything it's worth" (although it got only 641 google hits). CB[/nq]
[nq:1]Not very indicative, apostrophe usage being notoriously hit-and-miss on the world wide web.[/nq]
I think the "everything" is the indicator. It can only properly replace "all" in the phrase under consideration of "it's" has the apostrophe, bec
[nq:1]Not very indicative, apostrophe usage being notoriously hit-and-miss on the world wide web.[/nq]
I think the "everything" is the indicator. It can only properly replace "all" in the phrase under consideration of "it's" has the apostrophe, bec
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Dylan Nicholson filted:
[nq:1]I don't think there are too many common/likely sentences in English that could logically allow for "it(')s" to be interpreted either way. In fact off the top of my head I can't think of any, but I'm sure someone will.[/nq]
"A wise cat knows it(')s master."
Those who claim the version-with-apostrophe is nonsensical demonstrate their ignorance both of gramma
[nq:1]I don't think there are too many common/likely sentences in English that could logically allow for "it(')s" to be interpreted either way. In fact off the top of my head I can't think of any, but I'm sure someone will.[/nq]
"A wise cat knows it(')s master."
Those who claim the version-with-apostrophe is nonsensical demonstrate their ignorance both of gramma
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