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11/05/10, 05:06 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 1,260
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Grammar Police... I need help
Referring to more than one Christmas, which is correct
Memories of Christmas Past
Memories of Christmas's Past
Memories of Christmases Past
or none of the above,, if so, what is correct??
Thanks!!
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You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there. 
George Burns
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11/05/10, 05:09 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: W Mo
Posts: 9,268
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The third one if you definitely mean more than one previous Christmas. Past doesn't need a capital unless it's in a title/headline.
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11/05/10, 05:10 PM
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Adventuress--Definition 2
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NE FL until the winds blow
Posts: 4,174
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If are referring to several past Christmas celebrations, it would be "Memories of Cbristmas' past." (Google spellchecker didn't agree with me.)
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11/05/10, 05:14 PM
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Metal melter
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio (northcentral)
Posts: 7,152
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Option #3.
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11/05/10, 05:16 PM
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Appalachian American
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW VA
Posts: 10,637
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Option 3. The apostrophe would only be used in a contraction or as a possessive.
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11/05/10, 05:16 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: W Mo
Posts: 9,268
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I was always taught that the apostrophe only has 2 functions. 1) To show possession, and 2)to take the place of missing letters as in a contraction or abbreviation (Cannot to can't; 1960s to '60s). But it's been ahem a looooooong time since I was in school.
Also, the song lyrics, "....may all your Christmases be white" popped in my head as an example of Christmas plural.
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11/05/10, 05:19 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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Christmas memories.
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11/05/10, 05:25 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 1,260
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oggie
Christmas memories.
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I like that better myself but this is a video for a friend and she said she wanted the title to be Memories of Christmas(?) Past.
Looks like it should be Christmases...
Thanks all!
__________________
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there.
George Burns
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11/05/10, 05:41 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Fl Zones 11
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Ahem Grammar Policewoman Extraordinaire says- #s 1 and 3 are correct. Christmas past refers to generic christmases, unspecified as to date. Christmases past refers to Christmas of 1973 and 1974 (eg) and that information about which Christmases should appear in paranthesis after the title. 
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11/05/10, 05:54 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaNana
I like that better myself but this is a video for a friend and she said she wanted the title to be Memories of Christmas(?) Past.
Looks like it should be Christmases...
Thanks all!
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If you're going to go with the longer version, I think that it should be "Christmas past."
In that case "Christmas" acts as an adjective, similar to "Christmas tree" or "Christmas stockings."
Otherwise, it would be "memories of past Christmases."
And that's redundant (actually they all are) because you can only have memories of the past.
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11/05/10, 06:32 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: VA
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Wouldn't it depend on how many Christmas holidays you're referring to?
#1 "Christmas Past" refers to the last Christmas that just happened
#3 "Christmases Past" refers to more than one Christmas that has already happened
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11/05/10, 06:42 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 1,260
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The video is a collection of photos of many, many Christmases. Looks like about 40 years worth.
So, it should be Memories of Christmas Past??
I'm more confused now than I was before  
__________________
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there.
George Burns
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11/05/10, 07:06 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaNana
The video is a collection of photos of many, many Christmases. Looks like about 40 years worth.
So, it should be Memories of Christmas Past??
I'm more confused now than I was before |
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
"Each year you bring to me, the memory of those trees."
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
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11/05/10, 07:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 1,260
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Thanks Oggie
__________________
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there.
George Burns
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11/05/10, 07:15 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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OK, I hate to be a potato head, but after some thought, it could be either "Christmas past" or "Christmases past."
"Christmas past" is the entire body of past Christmases.
"Christmases past" is the memory of each year.
Either one is appropriate for a collection of memories.
Pick the one that sounds best to you.
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11/05/10, 07:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Zone 9b, Lake Harney, Central FL
Posts: 4,898
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What? Christmas passed? It was barely November when I went down for this nap! Well, at least I won't have to venture out for the crowds and traffic for another year.
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11/05/10, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 504
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Memories of Christmases Past has my vote.
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11/05/10, 07:34 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: OH
Posts: 568
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrodoLass
Memories of Christmases Past has my vote.
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FrodoLass +1
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11/05/10, 09:10 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Central Kentucky
Posts: 1,383
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Christmas Past indicates singular as in "a" Christmas or "one"
Christmases Past indicates plural as in "many or more than one" Christmas
then again I am from the "old school"...just my 2 cents
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11/05/10, 11:10 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ontario-Home Sweet Home!
Posts: 3,031
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oggie
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
"Each year you bring to me, the memory of those trees."
"Oh, Christmas past!
Oh, Christmas past!
You bring such fond, sweet memories!"
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UNless you've had a cat spray on the tree in question!!
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