One of the courses on writing for business that I just completed emphasized the importance of word order in writing sentences. The title of this posting is a prime example. Time Flies means nothing similar to Flies Time. You might be thinking that’s just silly. “Flies Time” has no meaning.
In my mind’s eye, I can see a large housefly sporting an even larger wristwatch. He’s wearing Elton John glasses so that he can see the watch better and he’s urging some unseen creature to, “Hurry! Hurry!”
On the other hand, the course also gave instruction on distinguishing between plural and possessive nouns. “Flies’ Time” is as different from Flies Time as it is from Time Flies. I imagine that a fly’s time involves a frenzied attempt to annoy as many people as possible during their month-long life span. I have known some people who live in flies’ time, but for years, instead of days.
Time Flies. When you see this phrase, do you think of (1) an alarm clock with wings, (2) a digital clock gone crazy, (3) a kitchen clock sitting on an airplane waiting for takeoff?
When you read "a digital clock gone crazy", did you think, "The correct term is "LED digital clock", or did you see (1) a digital clock with wildly rotating LED numbers, (2) an insane clock wielding a chainsaw, or (3) a digital clock telling jokes at the local comedy club?
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