TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Hi, guys...I've always gone on the premise that you cannot make a
trademarked term a possessive. This was corroborated to me by the SUN
Style Guide. I quote:
"Never use trademarks in the possessive or the plural." (page 62)
Even in the MMOS, page 239, it says "Because legally a trademark is an
adjective, Microsoft trademarks should not be used as verbs or nouns or
in the possessive or plural form."
So, I always thought it was correct to write "Microsoft's", but not
"Microsoft Word's"
With me so far??
I thought so, until I came across numerous instances on the Microsoft
web site where it states that "Microsoft is a trademark", yet on the
same page, uses "Microsoft's".
Am I right on this and their web site writers don't follow it correctly,
or is there some fine point I'm missing?
