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RSSPunctuation Errors: Apostrophe for Plurals
The apostrophe has a wide range of uses within the English language. Forming plurals, however, is not one of them.
Many people, especially those that speak English as a foreign language, tend to make this blatant mistake. Here are some examples illustrating this punctuation error:
According to the rule’s we should follow him.
The waiter turned and asked, “Is that your’s?”
The boy’s were going to the school.
The confusion probably comes from the possessive use of the apostrophe, as in “The boy’s school is right after the corner.” This sentence refers to the school of a single boy. If we were talking about more than one, it would’ve been “The boys’ school is right after the corner.” Either way the usage is correct because the apostrophe is being used to show possession and not to form a plural.
Some authors argue that the apostrophe can be used to form plurals with abbreviations like CD’s and PC’s or with words that are rarely used in the plural form like but’s and if’s. Others consider it as a mistake nonetheless.
Regardless of this exception, if you want to stay out of trouble remember this simple rule: the apostrophe is not used to form plural’s. I mean plurals!
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In my opinion (and Bryan Garner’s, haha), the only time when you can use an apostrophe to pluralize something is when it’s an abbreviation made up of lowercase letters. As in, “She knows her abc’s.”
This makes sense to me because abcs looks confusing and wrong.
But anyway, most abbreviations are uppercase, meaning that there’s no confusion, because the lowercase s is obviously separate from the uppercase abbreviation (e.g., ABCs).
Kitty, I agree with you.
Another example is:
There are 3 i’s, 3 s’s and 2 p’s in the name Mississipi.
It should be 4 i’s and 4 s’s.
I rarely suggest using an apostrophe when making an item plural. I covered the topic here:
http://zacheverson.com/2007/03.....ossessive/
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Does this rule apply when using the days of the week. I have seen both used and would like a confirmation on the correct way to write a sentence something like this….
Forms must be turned in on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s only.
Forms must be turned on on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
Thank you!
I really liked this site at all, mainy the punctuation issues. I´m a non-native speaker and I sometimes get confused when I come across it: what to use?? We sometimes forget that Portuguese language rules can be also aplied to English.
From now on, I´ll pay more attention to all this punctuation tips (rules, by the way).
Congrats!
Daniela
I have an ongoing disagreement with someone over the use of the apostrophe in “girls choir”. Because it is a choir FOR girls (dative form) as opposed to a choir BELONGING TO girls, I am sure that an apostrophe is not required. Another example is “visitors car park”. If you look around at signs for car parks around the country, you will always find them written without the apostrophe. The same goes for ladies (and gents) toilets.
The use of an apostrophe for plurals is mandatory if you are a greengrocer, for example: Apple’s, Plum’s, Cauliflower’s, etc.
I call it “Greengrocer’s Syndrome” (note the correct use of the apostrophe!)
Although I applaud your efforts to save the much misused and long-suffering apostrophe, could I ask you why so many people, as you do, use the non-sentient relative pronoun “that”!!!! I quote from your splendid article: “Many people, especially those that speak English as a foreign language, tend to make this blatant mistake.”
Please, please, please, use the correct interrogative or relative pronoun, WHO, when referring to human beings.
Thank you for your diligence and love of our language, its meanings and symbols.
E
I see so many signs in front of homes, which read “The Johnson’s” or “The Smith’s”, that I had actually started to wonder if I was the one who is mistaken about this being improper use of the apostrophe! I feel bad for these people who have spent good money on expensive signs or rock carvings which are incorrect.
Thanks for the info, I will pass it to a friend who keeps making this mistake. It gets on my nerves big time.
My only disagreement (and I might be wrong) is in relation to your sentence “especially those that speak English as a foreign language”. At least in Spanish (and this is where I might be wrong, as I cannot speak for other languages) we have nothing like your apostrophe for expressing possession; and plurals, on the other hand, are pretty similar.
I have only seen this mistake in native (if careless) English speakers.
Thank you again for this useful post.