[Elecraft] "Q" signal trivia

[Phil Hystad]

I remember the '60s as a time of "anything goes" so it is fair to use your apostrophes in any way your creative mind can dream up.


On Jul 18, 2011, at 9:32 AM, Kevin Rock wrote:

> However, we refer to the '60s without a second apostrophe.
>    Kevin.  KD5ONS
> 
> 
> On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:29:26 -0700, Mark <mebly5343 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Kevin:
>> 
>> Because an " 's " is the standard way to create a plural of a digit or
>> digits in English?  (at least historically)  :-)  It doesn't indicate a
>> possessive in this usage.
>> 
>> See, for example,
>> http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/apostrophe.htm:
>> 
>> "An apostrophe is also used to form some *plurals*, especially the
>> plural of letters and digits. Raoul got four _A's_ last term and his
>> sister got four 6's in the ice-skating competition. "
>> 
>> Of course, the Chicago Manual of Style disagrees... :-)
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> Mark, KD4D
>> 
>> On 7/18/2011 12:19 PM, Kevin Rock wrote:
>>> I have always wondered why it is written in the possessive form.  Why  
>>> not
>>> write it 73s instead if you want to make it a plural and not possessive?
>>>     Kevin.  KD5ONS
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:57:43 -0700, Gary D Krause<n7hts at bresnan.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I think the reason 73's came about is that many of us, myself included,
>>>> repeat
>>>> it twice at the end of a CW QSO.
>>>> 
>>>> Gary, N7HTS
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:46:41 -0600
>>>>   "Ken - K0PP"<kengkopp at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>>> "Q" signals were established to facilitate communication
>>>>> between stations that don't share a common language.
>>>>> 
>>>>> In usual usage a "Q" signal without punctuation is considered
>>>>> a statement.  If it's followed by a "?", it's meant as a question.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Needless to say, a purist would never use a "Q" signal in voice
>>>>> communications, but we all do. "The home QTH here is ... (;-)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Oh ... 73 is correct.  73's isn't.  73's is equivalent to "Good  
>>>>> lucks".
>>>>> 
>>>>> 73!
>>>>> Ken - K0PP
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