How would you write this?

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General Joy

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In my novel, I'm kind of stumped on how to write something... one of the characters says to another (regarding handwriting analysis):

"You know, if you cross your Ts like that, it means you are presumptuous."

So how do I convey that she's saying the letter T? Is it right the way it is here? Do I italicize it, write it upper case or lower case, have an apostrophe or not?

Thanks!
 

Bufty

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I don't see a need for italics, quotes or capitalisation. The context is clear.

tee's?

capital tee's?
 
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MidnightMuse

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I think you're correct in using T but I'd say "You know, if you cross your T's like that, it means you are presumptuous."

Tee's makes me think of golfing :)

But let's clarify -- I'm grammatically challenged, myself. So wait until smarter people chime in before you make a decision !
 

alleycat

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You obviously mean a lowercase "t" so you would use an apostrophe to indicate plural: t's. If it was a capital letter, you can use either Ts or T's. No italic is needed.

At least, I think you mean the person is talking about lowercase t's and not how someone crosses capital T's (or Ts! :)

And I better mind my p's and q's.
 
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reph

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Chicago Manual, 12th ed., sec. 6.5:
Abbreviations with periods, lowercase letters used as nouns, and capital letters that would be confusing if s alone were added form the plural with an apostrophe and an s:

[in list of examples:] x's and y's​
 
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