Someone just wrote me asking what my position is on using an apostrophe after plural numbers, like the 20’s, 50’s, 80’s, etc.
Generally I feel that the apostrophe is not required, and I don't use it myself; but my correspondent pointed out that most usage guides insist that using the apostrophe is wrong.
Generally apostrophes are used to indicate possession (“Shirley’s dimple”) and contraction (“can’t“).
Apostrophes inserted in mere plurals are a pet peeve of usage critics. You sell used cars, not “used car's.”
But what about letters as plural? “Learn your ABC’s” and “mind your P’s and Q’s” are widely accepted because when our minds are focussed on treating letters as words, it’s awkward to switch to thinking of the “S” following as functioning in a different way from the other letters. Although conservatives reject this sort of thing, I think it’s too well established to consider an error.
It does show a certain amount of confusion when you see the same ad featuring “TV’s” and “DVRs.” Here the letters are not being treated as nouns as such, but are initialisms, standing for longer expressions. But many sign-makers can’t make up their minds whether to use an apostrophe after them or not.
Look under “acronyms and apostrophes” on p. 4 of my book for my discussion of this point.
See also “RBI’s/RBIs” on p. 191.
Having allowed plural apostrophes when letters are treated like words, it seems logical to also allow their use after decade names which are formed of numbers.
Andy Chen, writing on Wordreference.com says that he found the apostrophe being used on the Web 20 times more often than it was omitted.
I think this is a lost cause. I still object to “potato’s” but “the Roaring 20’s” doesn’t bother me.
Generally I feel that the apostrophe is not required, and I don't use it myself; but my correspondent pointed out that most usage guides insist that using the apostrophe is wrong.
Generally apostrophes are used to indicate possession (“Shirley’s dimple”) and contraction (“can’t“).
Apostrophes inserted in mere plurals are a pet peeve of usage critics. You sell used cars, not “used car's.”
But what about letters as plural? “Learn your ABC’s” and “mind your P’s and Q’s” are widely accepted because when our minds are focussed on treating letters as words, it’s awkward to switch to thinking of the “S” following as functioning in a different way from the other letters. Although conservatives reject this sort of thing, I think it’s too well established to consider an error.
It does show a certain amount of confusion when you see the same ad featuring “TV’s” and “DVRs.” Here the letters are not being treated as nouns as such, but are initialisms, standing for longer expressions. But many sign-makers can’t make up their minds whether to use an apostrophe after them or not.
Look under “acronyms and apostrophes” on p. 4 of my book for my discussion of this point.
See also “RBI’s/RBIs” on p. 191.
Having allowed plural apostrophes when letters are treated like words, it seems logical to also allow their use after decade names which are formed of numbers.
Andy Chen, writing on Wordreference.com says that he found the apostrophe being used on the Web 20 times more often than it was omitted.
I think this is a lost cause. I still object to “potato’s” but “the Roaring 20’s” doesn’t bother me.
