apostrophectomy

apostrophectomy

English

Etymology

apostrophe +‎ -ectomy

Noun

apostrophectomy (plural apostrophectomies)

1. The removal of incorrect apostrophes, especially those wrongly used to form plurals (greengrocer's apostrophes).
   • 2000 March 30, Arnold Zwicky, “Re: I'm *famous*”, in soc.motss, Usenet‎, retrieved 2017-03-07, message-ID <8bvtf0$[e-mail]>:

     apostrophectomy is a famously painful procedure, and the rate of reinfection is very high. there are also many attested cases where a perfectly functional apostrophe was inappropriately excised.

   • 2004 June 13, David, “Re: The World Quiz League, it's rolling”, in alt.possessive.its.has.no.apostrophe, Usenet‎, retrieved 2017-03-07, message-ID <[e-mail]>:

     Apostrophectomy might not be pleasant but I don't think it's illegal.

   • 2009 July 14, Marc Lostracco, “Cruller Intentions”, in Torontoist‎, retrieved 2017-03-07:

     It [​Tim Hortons​] received an apostrophectomy around the same time to accommodate Quebec language laws and was spun off entirely to shareholders by 2006, remaining registered in corporate haven Delaware.