AAAAARRRGH « Just Another Pretty Farce

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AAAAARRRGH

May 13, 2007 by Katherine Coble

Why is it called Mother’s Day when it is for all mothers? Shouldn’t it be Mothers’ Day?

Posted in jeannie needs a shooter | 6 Comments

6 Responses to “AAAAARRRGH”

on May 13, 2007 at 8:24 pm1 John I. Carney

Little known fact: it’s actually meant to honor the baddest mother of them all — Shaft. That explains the singular.
on May 13, 2007 at 8:41 pm2 bridgett

Every mother is unique?

The reasoning — such as it is — is that it was supposed to be each mother’s “day” to enjoy as an individual, not a collective spasm of sentimental Hallmark hogwash engulfing every mother.
on May 14, 2007 at 12:10 am3 chez bez

I got schooled on the same thing this morning when I was trying in vain to find that “my way” was the right way.
on May 14, 2007 at 2:23 pm4 eastside kid

But Shaft was “one bad mother–”–not comparative & certainly not superlative. Day of the (undifferentiated) Mother makes about as much sense as Day of the Earth–but at least Earth Day has an ablative & not a possessive or genitive! Ain’t every day some mother’s day?
on May 14, 2007 at 8:21 pm5 Les Jones

I think people are giving up on the singular vs. collective plural designated by order of the s and apostrophe. Most users groups dispense for instance with the apostrophe altogether.
on May 15, 2007 at 4:35 pm6 Patrick

It actually is supposed to be“a collective spasm of sentimental Hallmark hogwash”. If it were not such, then it would be “Mothers’ Day,” but to emphasize that you’re supposed to get all emotional (read: financially obligated to obviate your guilt) about your Mom, it’s about your Mother specifically… hence the singular possessive.

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