YES! Technically, "neutered" covers both sexes, so if you don't want to write out "spayed/neutered" then just write "neutered." "Speutered" is too close to "spewed," every time I see speutered I picture someone spitting.
I also hate the misuse of apostrophes. Something like "All the dog's who are..." And apostrophes with abbreviations, like "FAQ's." If it's plural, it doesn't get an apostrophe. Ever. Same with numbers.... Like when you're talking about money and say "All the 10's and 20's go there...." It's plural, so it should be "10s."
Speaking of money, I know that we say "Ten Dollars," but that doesn't mean it should be written "10$." The dollar sign comes first. Always.
As it turns out, according to one English book I read, I think it was in the book, Woe is I (very fun book btw) apostrophes can be used as a sort of separation thing. They're not only used for showing possession. For instance, those numbers you wrote up there can have apostrophes simply to separate the number from the s....to make it easier to read. Or when I write about my Chi's. I may not be writing about something of theirs. If so, I might write the Chis' coats. Both of the dogs have coats. If it were one dog we're talking about, yes. the Chi's coat. But I can also put an apostrophe when I write, I love my little Chi's. (even though they aren't possessing anything in that sentence) ...just to make the word easier to read.
(from Elements of grammar) The 's may be added to figures, signs, symbols, and letters of the alphabet to form the plural. There is, however, a growing tendency to omit the apostrophe in such cases when there is no possibility of mistaking the meaning: ABC's or ABCs, YMCA's or YMCAs. Your a's look very much like your o's. In our great grandmother's days the three Rs (or R's) formed the basis of education. In the 1900s (or 1900's) technology spread through every aspect of human life, from transportation and cooking to in vitro fertilization.
Oh, here's something in that book: To form the
possessive plural of nouns, add an apostrophe if the plural ends in s: the girls' coats, bankers' hours.
If the plural doesn't end in s, add an apostrophe and s ('s): children's games. women's clubs.
To form the possessive of two or more words in a series connected by conjunctions and denoting joint possession, use the apostrophe and s ('s) after the last noun only: Lord & Taylor's, Park and Tilford's. When joint possession is not denoted, use the apostrophe and s ('s) after each noun: Macy's and Gimbel's, Altman's and Bonwit Teller's, Wordsworth's and Shelley's poetry. Kennedy's and Reagan's politices, ladies and children's apparel.
Some authorities prefer to add only the apostrophe to nouns ending in s or an s sound; as, Jones', Joneses', prince's, princes', princess', princesses', the Schultzes' house.
There is a lot more in this book on apostrophes...lots of other intricacies. I certainly don't have it all down pat and I'm not a great speller besides.
I think I'm more bothered by words in grammar that are messed up. I heard someone on TV and I've even read it somewhere...something like this: That is my sister's and I's car. We're having dinner at my friend's and I's place.
Wha? lol.
