On Sun, 2 Jul 2006, Roger Shlomo Harris wrote:
> Geresh (single quote) is used to indicate an abbreviation. It is
> placed between the penultimate and final characters of the letter
> string: #'###.
>
> Gershayim (double quote) may indicate an abbreviation but it is
> also used to indicate a group of letters which should be
> interpreted as a number according to the Hebrew system of
> numbering. The gershayim is placed between the penultimate and
> final characters of the letter string: #"###.
Small correction: Both geresh and gershayim are used for both
abbreviations and to indicate that letter characters should be
interpreted as numerals, the difference being that geresh (single
apostrophe) marks the abbreviation of a single word or a numeral
composed of a single letter, while gershayim (double apostrophe)
marks the abbreviation of a multiple words or a numeral composed of
a multiple letters. Also, geresh usually appears after the final
character, while gershayim appears between the penultimate and
final characters.
There are a few lexical exceptions to this rule -- for example, the
word doctor (as a title) can be abbreviated dr' (according to the
single-word rule) but also d"r (according to the rule for multiple
words, which it is not).
> Curiously, the name of Rabbi Yechiel Babad, as it appears printed
> on a food package, includes a geresh in the forename and a
> gershayim in the surname.
> http://www.hechshers.info/hechshers/542.htm
This is yet another use of geresh in Hebrew: the geresh between the
penultimate and final characters of the name Yechiel does not
signify an abbreviation, but is intended to separate the characters
aleph and lamed which would otherwise spell `el' (god). This usage
is confined to certain religious circles.
The gershayim in the surname Babad show that this name is indeed an
abbreviation.
-Ron.
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