Waiting for reviewApostrophes and possessivesCandidate #9405 · from the Puritas diff · puritas-full-2026-10-19

cou'dcould

Apostrophes added or expanded, mostly possessives: gods → god's. Approve one at a time: some places are plurals.

Puritas changed it: 347 times in 85 works
Consistency: 96.1% (347 of 361)
Reach if approved: ~379 places (estimated)
MorphAdorner: Agrees: could
Matches: Exact word, any case
In our text: 361 times in the 7,099 works compared
Other readings: cou (1)
Taken into joins: None

If approved, its rationale reads: “Suggested by the Puritas diff (347 changes in 85 works, 96.1% consistent).”

Where Puritas made the change (8 of 347)

Our text, as printed and with the candidate applied

Printed
… you desire?—The Psalmist said, O My God, my soul thirsteth for thee: and cou'dcould moreover say, My soul followers hard after thee . If there be true &c fervent …
With rule
… you desire?—The Psalmist said, O My God, my soul thirsteth for thee: and cou'dcould moreover say, My soul followers hard after thee . If there be true &c fervent …
Thomas Foxcroft · The Day of a Godly Mans Death Better than the Day of his Birth · p. 111 · Open in the reader
Printed
… related the Story of the Action at Piggwacket, according to the best Information I cou'dcould obtain; and hope there are no Material, I'm sure, there are no Willing or …
With rule
… related the Story of the Action at Piggwacket, according to the best Information I cou'dcould obtain; and hope there are no Material, I'm sure, there are no Willing or …
Thomas Symmes · Lovewell Lamented · p. xi · Open in the reader
Printed
… company, their lying and deceit, and Wantonness, by all the threatnings of God that cou'dcould be pronounced against them, nor all the beseechings, wooings, and entreaties that I was …
With rule
… company, their lying and deceit, and Wantonness, by all the threatnings of God that cou'dcould be pronounced against them, nor all the beseechings, wooings, and entreaties that I was …
Theodosia Alleine · The Life and Death of Joseph Alleine · p. 52 · Open in the reader
Printed
No Wines so rare, ne're cou'dcould compare
With rule
No Wines so rare, ne're cou'dcould compare
Benjamin Keach · The Banqueting House · p. 183 · Open in the reader
Printed
The Soldier once cou'dcould teach grim Death to kill,
With rule
The Soldier once cou'dcould teach grim Death to kill,
John Tutchin · The Earthquake of Jamaica Described in a Pindaric Poem · p. 6 · Open in the reader
Printed
How eaſily we cou'dcould prevent
With rule
How eaſily we cou'dcould prevent
John Tutchin · Whitehall in Flames · p. 19 · Open in the reader
Printed
… for the open Sins of others, but by Man they are not Comforted. How cou'dcould our Faces and Hearts be otherwiſe than Sad, if there were not Good Laws …
With rule
… for the open Sins of others, but by Man they are not Comforted. How cou'dcould our Faces and Hearts be otherwiſe than Sad, if there were not Good Laws …
Benjamin Colman · The Piety and Duty of Rulers to Comfort and Encourage the Ministry of Christ · p. 15 · Open in the reader
Printed
… his wretched Adherents were beyond meaſure ſurpriſed and amazed at the wondrous Turn. Scarce cou'dcould they believe their own Eyes and Ears. And thoſe that wiſh'd and waited for …
With rule
… his wretched Adherents were beyond meaſure ſurpriſed and amazed at the wondrous Turn. Scarce cou'dcould they believe their own Eyes and Ears. And thoſe that wiſh'd and waited for …
Benjamin Colman · Sermon in Boston 23 August 1716 · p. 9 · Open in the reader

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Places Puritas left as printed: likely exceptions (13)

8 of them are in works where Puritas changed it elsewhere, so their places are known; 5 more are in works where it never changed. Each is our text, as the rule would change it.

Advice to Mourners Under the Loss of Dear Relations A51833

Printed
Cou'dCould somewhat worthy thee produce!
With rule
Cou'dCould somewhat worthy thee produce!
Thomas Manton · Advice to Mourners Under the Loss of Dear Relations · p. xxiv · Open in the reader

The Earthquake of Jamaica Described in a Pindaric Poem A63960

Printed
Cou'dCould not the Curſe of Heav'n remove;
With rule
Cou'dCould not the Curſe of Heav'n remove;
John Tutchin · The Earthquake of Jamaica Described in a Pindaric Poem · p. 6 · Open in the reader

A New Martyrology A63966

Printed
… and fit to be taken out of the way?— as Dugdale swears he did.— Cou'dCould Dugdale conspire with Oates so long before they knew one another; and while he …
With rule
… and fit to be taken out of the way?— as Dugdale swears he did.— Cou'dCould Dugdale conspire with Oates so long before they knew one another; and while he …
John Tutchin · A New Martyrology · p. 18 · Open in the reader

The Government and Improvement of Mirth N01083

Printed
… Pſalms, but affirm that this alſo is wonderfully Adapted to the Spirit of Praiſe. Cou'dCould I ſpeak with the Tongue of Men & Angels whether in Prayer or Preaching, had …
With rule
… Pſalms, but affirm that this alſo is wonderfully Adapted to the Spirit of Praiſe. Cou'dCould I ſpeak with the Tongue of Men & Angels whether in Prayer or Preaching, had …
Benjamin Colman · The Government and Improvement of Mirth · p. 147 · Open in the reader

Discourse Previous to the Ordination of Joseph Sewell N01682

Printed
I COU'DCOULD hardly imagine Myself duely Qualifyed for the Ministerial Office, & shou'd scarcely have ingaged in …
With rule
I COU'DCOULD hardly imagine Myself duely Qualifyed for the Ministerial Office, & shou'd scarcely have ingaged in …
Ebenezer Pemberton · Discourse Previous to the Ordination of Joseph Sewell · Open in the reader

The Pleas of Gospel Impenitents Examined and Refuted N02754

Printed
… them, a natural Conſcience, which condemns their Immoralities, & often prompts them to a Reformation! Cou'dCould they not conſider, and reſolve, and watch, & pray, that they enter not into Temptation …
With rule
… them, a natural Conſcience, which condemns their Immoralities, & often prompts them to a Reformation! Cou'dCould they not conſider, and reſolve, and watch, & pray, that they enter not into Temptation …
Thomas Foxcroft · The Pleas of Gospel Impenitents Examined and Refuted · p. 54 · Open in the reader

The Incomprehensibleness of God N03669

Printed
… Manner adore, praiſe, extol the Mercies and Benignity of our gracious GOD toward us Cou'dCould we Think with all the Swiſtneſs and Intenſeneſs of Angels, and ſpeak with their …
With rule
… Manner adore, praiſe, extol the Mercies and Benignity of our gracious GOD toward us Cou'dCould we Think with all the Swiſtneſs and Intenſeneſs of Angels, and ſpeak with their …
Benjamin Colman · The Incomprehensibleness of God · p. 115 · Open in the reader

The Saints United Confession in Disparagement of their Own Righteousness N05160

Printed
… Such was his Humility, he named himſelf LESS than the LEAST of all Saints. Cou'dCould he reduce himſelf lower! Nay, he expreſsly denominates himſelf NOTHING! But how is this …
With rule
… Such was his Humility, he named himſelf LESS than the LEAST of all Saints. Cou'dCould he reduce himſelf lower! Nay, he expreſsly denominates himſelf NOTHING! But how is this …
Thomas Foxcroft · The Saints United Confession in Disparagement of their Own Righteousness · p. 50 · Open in the reader