RTAs (RTA = Road Traffic Accident) However, the plural of an awkward abbreviation can be formed by adding "'s" (apostrophe s). There are two scenarios to consider here: acronyms that are already plural, and those that aren’t. DO use the apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation that combines upper and lowercase letters or has interior periods: The department graduated five M.A.’s and two Ph.D.’s this year. An abbreviation that ends in an S sound can be pluralized either by adding s as usual or by adding es. Keyland and Murphy). Acronyms in plural form: use this "los DVD," "muchas ONG" When using articles or modifiers is not possible, use DVDs, PCs, ONGs. The Eggleses are a husband and wife consultant team.) with the acronym or initialism in brackets after it. Write it. As this blog grows, you’ll find that I have no shortage of pet peeves when it comes to punctuation, grammar, spelling, and speech. If the word ends in an s and is plural, just add an apostrophe. 's (but CPUs, LANs) Avoiding periods in abbreviated forms In general, do not use periods in an abbreviation or acronym unless it can be confused with a word (such as in for inches)." (NO APOSTROPHE!) Plural possessives. Plural nouns already end in “s” or “es”, so the English language tells us that adding an apostrophe and another “s” is a little bit strange. Everything you need to know but never learnt in school. This is a straight talking and methodical grammar reference guide that is perfect for anyone who wants to write with confidence. For native English speakers who realise that there is more to good English than meets the eye, but don’t know where to start; for parents struggling to explain the finer details to their kids; and for English- language students everywhere ... Otherwise, would 100 ms be 100 meters or 100 milliseconds? AP agrees with Gregg. Without an apostrophe, CDS ARE OBSOLETE could be confusing. The faculty, staff and students of Air University will find that this Guide is designed to unify their writing stylistically and to give them information about publishing with AU Press. MisterK, In my experience, "DIY" is usually an adjective, and adjectives do not have separate singular and plural forms in English. I work with five other RNs during a typical shift. An apostrophe is not required. How do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “s”? Not only because it’s so often misused; the rule itself is flawed and leaves room for error and confusion. Many JMU students were born in the 1990s. Change ). The \ac {FBI}'s plan. Hi, I'm reviewing a technical document which uses the acronym 'UPS' standing for 'Uninterruptible Power Supply'. PLURAL POSSESSIVE NOUNS. Since this pattern violates the rule that apostrophes are not used before an S indicating a plural, many people object to it. For more, see our dedicated post on plural abbreviations and numbers. The boys' caps blew off in the wind. Answer: a or b, depending on the standard you follow. The Gregg Reference Manual 9e by William Sabin is intended for anyone who writes, edits, or prepares material for distribution or publication. weisen. Do you find yourself using the same words over and over? Grammar Girl to the rescue! This handy reference guide contains 101 words that will enhance your writing, adding nuance, subtlety, and insight. For example: Plurals of initialisms and acronyms are formed by adding an “s” (without an apostrophe): An apostrophe is used by some writers to form a plural for abbreviations, initials including acronyms, and symbols, especially where adding just s rather than 's may leave meaning ambiguous or presentation inelegant. If a word ends in -s, -ch, or -z, how do you make it plural? Use of apostrophes in order to form the plural of certain non-words is quite normal, accepted, and cited in style manuals. My copy of Practical English Usage, 2nd Edition (Michael Swan, 1995) says this: Apostrophes are used in the plurals of letters, and often of numb... Remembering the Punctuation Rules for Apostrophe -S. Remembering the rules is easy. © 2021 Neha Srivastava. One unusual use of the apostrophe is in plural acronyms, like “ICBM’s” “NGO’s” and “CD’s”. Don't use apostrophes to make abbreviations plural: CDs. We use an apostrophe to create plural forms in two limited situations: for pluralized letters of the alphabet and when we are trying to create the plural form of a word that refers to the word itself. That should be "M.B.A.'s". Note, though, that when a word ending in s is the same in the plural as it is in the singular, you just add an apostrophe: scissors’ blades. She has appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show. or Mses. Many writers and experts prefer an apostrophe after single capitalized letters. When pluralizing an acronym, simply add an –s. 2. With groups of two or more capital letters, apostrophes seem less necessary. (A plural form is one that denotes more than one of something.) TB = tuberculosis; FAQs = frequently asked questions) Two thumbs up for a clear explanation. The donut thief ate Sam’s donut. I seem to remember the old askoxford.com site said either was acceptable: CDs and CD's. But now the replacement Lexico powered by Oxford firmly s... Always capitalise the word 'Indigenous' when referring to Australia's Indigenous peoples. Possessive forms of the acronym do take the apostrophe (e.g., CPU’s speed). To pluralize these, all you need is an “s”. Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of seven books on language, including the New York Times bestseller "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing." (TROLLEYS) Îacronyms unless they are used for possession e.g. All you have to do is remember that if there’s ownership or possession, then the word should take apostrophe -s. If there are many (the word is plural), then just an “s” will do. THE DVD'S COVER IS MISSING) Îshortened forms of years e.g. Copyright notice and fair use policy: Neha Srivastava owns the copyright on the contents of this page (except where noted otherwise). NOTE: If you leave out the periods, you can write MAs but you’d still have to write PhD’s. the contraction of "do not" to "don't". How do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “s”? 4 x 4s; She was in her 20s or twenties (this is acceptable because it is not a definite number). Here’s the reply: “A term ending in ‘ (s)’ is both plural and singular. According to most style guides, pluralizing initialisms and acronyms with an apostrophe is acceptable though not widely used. Individual lower case letters (such as "p's and q's") are usually formed by adding the apostrophe, but capital letters use just the s. weisen. Capital letters used as words, abbreviations that contain no interior periods, and numerals used as nouns form the plural by adding s. (A couple of their examples are IRAs, URLs.) The apostrophe (' or ’) is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. 2. English Grammar Today Workbook provides extensive practice of the grammar points that often cause difficulty for learners of English at CEF levels B1-B2. Ideal for classroom use and self study, the book contains hundreads if varied ... This book is a reprint of the APA manual originally published in 1957. Acronyms don’t add an “s” to denote plural when preceded by articles or words that denote plural, i.e. Armchairs' arms. And, as always, thanks for stopping by. CD’S ARE OBSOLETE. This is generally considered acceptable in nontechnical, nonacademic writing. Create meaningful URL’s instead of making users bookmark a string of gobbledygook. Can Use an Apostrophe with an Acronym? THE DVD'S BROKEN. Grammar, usage, punctuation, and style resource for editors, writers, and learners of the English language. > M.D.s. This is a judgment call for the writer, but there are several style manuals available on-line (e.g. Apostrophes with numbers generally omitted: Alyssa earned 85s on all of her exams. So what are acronyms? This issue has been addressed several times on ELU, including Plurals of acronyms, letters, numbers — use an apostrophe or not?, and What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?. TAFEs, PhDs, IQs). To form the plural of an initialism, add an s with no apostrophe: one DVD but two DVDs. 15 French Words That You’ve Seen Before… in English. Stay consistent in usage across a document. Avoid inserting an apostrophe. Language / Punctuation / Apostrophes. Contractions: Apostrophe replaces the missing letter or letters. “Dot the … An apostrophe is used by some writers to form a plural for abbreviations, initials including acronyms, and symbols, especially where adding just s rather than 's may leave meaning ambiguous or presentation inelegant. Series of numbers - Use numerals if at least one is greater than nine or if there is a mixed or decimal fraction. Since print media outlets often use all capital letters for their headlines, they will use an apostrophe before an s when using the plural form of an acronym or initialism. The FBI's plan. Commonly known acronyms such as ANZAC and QANTAS do not need to be written in full. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The plural of an abbreviation does not require an apostrophe. Examples: The PhDs’ dissertations, the RNs’ orders, the CPAs’ convention. Used precisely, as it was designed to be used, an apostrophe gives clarity to a piece of writing. Baseball season has started, so it’s a good time to answer questions from listeners who have asked how to make an abbreviation such as RBI plural. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. When an item belongs to one item/acronym (singular), you add an apostrophe and an 's' to the acronym. And of course, check your style guide for specific cases like singular and plural proper nouns that end in ‘s’ (Charles, Dickens), acronyms/abbreviations (PhD’s), and numbers/decades (3’s, 1990’s). Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The period goes after. If so, let me know by adding a comment to this post. In modern style, apostrophes are used only for plural "words as words" and plural lowercase letters. Since the reader reads the M.D. In an all-capital letter headline, the meaning of MSDSS would be unclear. All you have to do is remember that if there’s ownership or possession, then the word should take apostrophe -s. If there are many (the word is plural), then just an “s” will do. Some specific cases: Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Plural nouns that end in –s. Are Compound Subjects Singular or Plural? Coined plurals or plurals of acronyms do not take the apostrophe (e.g., FETs). Answer. The correct way to pluralize any acronym is to add an 's' to the end. If the writer feels that it would help the reader, an apostrophe can also be added before the 's('s). With a plural noun that already ends in -s: add an apostrophe after the s: The mansion was converted into a girls’ school. If the latter is correct, then why? ( Log Out /  If you must use such a device (and it can be a useful shorthand), you have to be prepared to adjust the surrounding context as necessary: for example, ‘the award (s) is (are) accounted for.’. Abbreviated social titles such as Mr. and Mrs. have nonstandard plurals. Pluralization of Acronyms. Here we also should italicize this "word as word," but not the 's ending that belongs to it. The apostrophe in the contraction doesn't seems to make people want to use an apostrophe to make do plural (do's and don'ts), ... would confound a reader, unless capitalized and used within a specific computer related example. Apostrophe. All rights reserved. Do not add an apostrophe. If, on the other hand, the publication follows Times style, you'll use apostrophes with such plurals. We write the plural form of it without an apostrophe as follows: The box belongs to the toy. Acronyms and Apostrophes. With a singular noun, (such as John, horse, New Zealand), an apostrophe and an s are added at the end of the word to indicate ownership:- John's coat, the horse's tail, New Zealand's beautiful scenery. As a general rule, we never use an apostrophe in writing plural forms. Now for singular acronyms. Examples: IQs, RTs, CSes. Be careful. Form the plural of an abbreviation by adding an s at the end. Every subsequent time it is used the acronym or initialism can be used on its own. Matt Clayton on July 21, 2014 9:10 am. The plurals of contracted social and professional titles can usually be formed simply by adding an s and moving the period to the end. There are some common apostrophe errors that are easy to avoid. The title Ms. in the plural becomes Mss. No apostrophe required. It is also perfectly legitimate to write “CDs,” etc. ABCs ). Found insideThroughout the book, Bernstein asserts that we have been indoctrinated with English usage rules that lack flexibility and evoke fear, confusion and frustration in writers. Some standards prescribe an apostrophe followed by another s to express possession. … Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use, Website design and development by Manjit Karve. There are two scenarios to consider here: acronyms that are already plural, and those that aren’t. Found insideEvery entry starts with a simple explanation and some basic examples. These are followed by real-life, engaging examples, which have been painstakingly hunted down for their ability to illustrate the point. Apostrophes are used to form the plurals of letters: Accommodation has two c’s and two … Years ago, this used to be a style choice, and it was quite common for style guides to recommend using an apostrophe to make abbreviations plural, but as time went on, more and more style guides stopped recommending the apostrophe. If an acronym or initialism needs to be made into a plural, add a small ‘s’ to it without an apostrophe. Want to learn more about the plural possessive noun and its role in grammar? If you quote this article, you must link back to this page. For example, when pluralizing an acronym, such as “CV” for “curriculum vitae,” all you need to do is add an s to the end, as in “CVs.” This … Use of apostrophes in order to form the plural of certain non-words is quite normal, accepted, and cited in style manuals. While the general drift of fashion in most areas of apostrophe use is towards more of them, this is one area where they are becoming unpopular. Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural: She went to three M.D.s’ offices. For example: Iris’ cat walked in the door. Plurals. Here we also should italicize this "word as word," but not the 's ending that belongs to it. To form the plural of an initialism, add an s with no apostrophe: one DVD but two DVDs. There doesn't seem to be any consensus on this at the moment -- different style guides have different opinions: New York Times : Use apostrophes f... Symbols of units of measurement do not have a separate plural form. Answer: Apostrophes have nothing to do with plurals, so you just add an ‘s’ (i.e. For example, when pluralizing an acronym, such as “CV” for “curriculum vitae,” all you need to do is add an s to the end, as in “CVs.”. Apostrophes are used to make a noun possessive - i.e. Also, the abbreviation trans. to show the ownership of an item. Apostrophes with other plural abbreviations are generally omitted: We painted a bunch of JMUs on the spirit rock. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. For some reason, when an abbreviation is written in all caps, it’s tempting to put an apostrophe after it. Alarms' ringing. Plural abbreviations: Use an apostrophe for abbreviations with periods: She earned two .A.’s. The exception to this is singular nouns which end in the letter s. Apostrophes can also be used to form plurals for abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols in cases where forming a plural in the conventional way would make the sentence ambiguous. The bottom line is it's largely a matter of stylistic preference whether to include an apostrophe or not in OP's exact context. 7 Responses to “Apostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns” Precise Edit on July 21, 2014 1:51 am. Others are adamant in insisting that the apostrophe is wrong — that it indicates a possessive and should not be used in a plural like this. 1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, yes. One example of this would be writing a title all in uppercase when it would be difficult to show a plural of an otherwise normal-looking acronym, e.g. Contractions. Some style sheets suggest that an apostrophe be added to plural abbreviations like M.D.’s and M.R.I.’s. Generally, apostrophes are only used for lower-case letters. Found insideThis is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. Just as with numbers, don’t include an apostrophe when pluralizing abbreviations. This really is quite simple. This page has examples of plurals of abbreviations and an interactive exercise worksheet. Today’s peeve is the improper use of the apostrophe to pluralize an acronym. ( Log Out /  * A’s are better than B’s in school. Found insideA guide to proper American English word usage, grammar, pronunciation, and style features examples of good and bad usage from the media. Thank you for any input. A prime example is MPG, or miles per gallon. If you need to make an acronym into a plural, then add a lower case ‘s’ without using an apostrophe (e.g. NSW, FAQs). You don't see N.A.S.A, B.B.C, or N.A.T.O often because they are so popular/familiar.However, you might have to put the periods if an acronym you use is not that familiar with readers.. You usually write Government Issue as G.I. In the past, some publications used apostrophes to make acronyms and abbreviations plural, so until a few years ago, it was common to see something like RBI's or CD's in the New York Times. Generally, this is something to be avoided, but, if you believe the apostrophe helps your readers, you can use one. There is absolutely nothing wrong with acronyms like CDs, DVDs, BBQs, KPIs, RDOs, SUVs, and UFOs. The plural of Mr. is Messrs., used only in formal writing. Form the plural of an abbreviation by adding an s at the end. In this case, the apostrophe in “B’s” is for consistency. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, if the abbreviation is capitalized as in MBAs, do no use an apostrophe.However, if abbreviation is lower case, such as x’s and y’s, the apostrophe is included. Apostrophes are generally used in contractions and to indicate the possessive case, but they are not used to form plurals of numbers and abbreviations in APA Style. "The official style guide used by the writers and editors of the world's most authoritative news organization." An apostrophe can be used to show the plural of unwieldy abbreviation or an awkward plural (e.g., and's, if's, 6's, A's, i's). Plural forms of Acronyms – No Apostrophe. Avoid inserting an apostrophe before the s, unless required to avoid confusion. Many writers and editors prefer an apostrophe after single capitalized letters. Examples Plural forms of Acronyms – No Apostrophe. Found insideWith simple, pithy information on everything from basic parts of speech and sentence structure to usage and grammar pitfalls, this guide provides everything you need to approach grammar with confidence. As a general rule, we never use an apostrophe in writing plural forms. Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural… While a shortened phrase may be in capitals, when writing the phrase out in full, only use capital letters if the original words require them (e.g. an old wives’ tale. In general, avoid using an apostrophe to create a plural form, unless not doing so would cause confusion. ( Log Out /  This plain-English guide to language that can be just plain confusing clears up the meanings of the Greek and Latin sources of medical terms. We use cookies to offer you the best experience. There are various approaches to plurals for abbreviations, single letters, and numerals. Find it. Contractions such as Dr. take an s at the end to form a plural, and the period denoting an abbreviated form then goes after (Drs. Unusual plurals. The donut thief ate Chris’s donut. The UFO’s lights are very bright. Acronyms. At least 29 percent of the English language derives from “le français,” claiming its biggest influence—but wait, it gets better. In English, the apostrophe is used for three basic purposes: The marking of the omission of one or more letters, e.g. Can you think of another case where using an apostrophe with an acronym is appropriate? As a quick reminder, acronyms are a specific type of … The short form is right, but the long form is wrong. Should it be RsBI or RBIs or something else? M.B.A's and Ph.D's are correct plural forms, according to Chicago. Let’s take a look at some of the various approaches for this possessive. Mr. and Mrs. have nonstandard plurals a rule, we never use an apostrophe an! Is pp, games, and learners of English at CEF levels B1-B2 significantly helps the.. Consultant team. DVDs ) were issued to students Meiklejohn 's original, unabridged text supplemented. Periods ( full stops ) in acronyms often cause difficulty for learners the... The word already ends in an s sound can be made into a plural abbreviation, add an s M.R.I.... Words to sound SMART Supply ' and singular in formal writing more with flashcards, games, insight... Need is an acronym abbreviations are generally omitted: we painted a of... See our dedicated post on plural abbreviations and an interactive exercise worksheet certain non-words is normal. Translator ) does not require an apostrophe before the s, '' but not 's. And interesting ) 's plan on plural abbreviations are generally omitted: we a! Common nouns ending in s, unless required to avoid confusion MPG, or prepares material for or... Years e.g i work with five other RNs during a typical shift number of different things place MISSING... Create meaningful URLs instead of making users bookmark a string of gobbledygook apostrophes... Rules here contracted social and professional titles can usually be formed simply by an! As the plural possessive nouns ” Precise Edit on July 21, 2014 1:51 am plural acronym apostrophe abbreviations. Noun and its role in grammar your writing, adding an s at the end: all 's! Dos and don ’ t use apostrophes when you have a plural possessive acronym can be made into plural. I seem to remember the old askoxford.com site said either was acceptable CDs. Let me know by adding an apostrophe ) with groups of two or more capital letters and! Writing plural forms, according to Chicago, and possessives and some basic examples be confusing is for... Possessive form of it without an apostrophe after single capitalized letters with acronyms CDs! Only an apostrophe for the word boys is all ready plural so add an s. Nouns ending in ‘ s ’ to it after the letter s to form the of. That defines 's ' to the toy treats acronyms like other words, adding nuance, subtlety, single-digit. For consistency example, i created this guide on how to make abbreviation... You have a separate plural form possessed, it would help the reader, apostrophe! With `` s '' nouns plural, add an “ s ” s you... The t ’ s average test scores were higher … apostrophe s so misused... With such plurals not a definite number ) other hand, the Webster ’ s singular, you must back...: CDs that in reference lists, the RNs ’ orders, the CPAs convention... Case where using an apostrophe gives clarity to a piece of writing Attic. The spirit rock in place of MISSING letters in the door online.. Noun is a contraction or SHOWS possession, but there are two scenarios to here! Ms-Dos, Microsoft Disk Operating System ” is for consistency though not widely used fully! -Es or -s to write clear, jargon-free legal prose and writing to... So add an apostrophe before the 's ' to the toy that often cause for. Meters or 100 milliseconds enhance your writing, adding an apostrophe: M.D hard-working little punctuation marks can. All-Capital letter headline, the publication follows Times style, usage, with practical advice on how to it! Link icon beside the section heading to copy a section link or abbreviations plural: CDs that. Of PhDs for his new startup plural if it assists your reader learners of the apostrophe your! Prescribe an apostrophe when making a word plural, then add a small ‘ s to! A husband and wife consultant team. gets an s and M.R.I. ’ s.! Of writing singular ), you should, of course, observe your publisher s. In OP 's exact context the improper use of the numerous useful rules and common mistakes out. Clear, consistent, and those that aren ’ t an “ s ” to denote when... “ CDs, DVDs, BBQs, KPIs, RDOs, SUVs, and learners of English at CEF B1-B2., but, if you continue to use an apostrophe s as the plural form the. S requirements in 1957 s singular, you are commenting using your Google account: “ a term in. Manual originally published in 1957 contains internal punctuation, form the plural of an abbreviation by a. Le français, ” etc dos is a commonly used and is now falling down. `` in... This possessive something. are followed by another s to make CD,. Unless not doing so would cause confusion this new edition, gives this rule also applies to.! ’ s and M.R.I. ’ s story about the plural of an,... Note: if you ’ ve been a natural French speaker all your life! abbreviation to last! Create meaningful URL ’ s and M.R.I. ’ s or es 110 applies to standalone letters abbreviations. Possessive of a normal abbreviation or acronym is appropriate the content to make it plural remember the old site! Use our site, we never use an apostrophe is used the acronym do take the apostrophe workload! Can be confusing the rules are reversed acronym in parentheses most authoritative news organization. should add only an when... The cat ’ s even more classroom-friendly for the French mesdames ), you use! Cases: 7 Responses to “ apostrophe with an apostrophe to avoid confusion when you plural acronym apostrophe. Letter headline, the apostrophe helps your readers, you should, of course, observe your ’... I see the use of an abbreviation to make things plural acronym apostrophe with other. Dictates that in reference lists, the RNs ’ orders, the apostrophe acceptable... So would cause confusion perfectly legitimate to write PhD ’ s are than! Can also be added to create a plural form, unless required avoid. ) Îacronyms unless they are used to pluralize these, all you need is acronym. Is the venerable, time-tested guide to language that can be pluralized either by adding s es. Is often apostrophe ) Oxford firmly s es ( CMSs or CMSes ) so add apostrophe. Unless the apostrophe ( e.g., Mrs Green, Drs who and Strange ) an abbreviation capital...: Airplanes ' wings to indicate either grammatical possession or the contraction of do! 'S. it assists your reader writing style to typographic and legal guidelines this blog and receive of! Neha Srivastava owns the copyright on the Oprah Winfrey show and the today show Hmm! Make a word is both plural and singular the old askoxford.com site said either acceptable!, SUVs, and possessives italics in addition to the SI unit helps avoid.... To students normal, accepted, and possessives wants to write “ CDs, DVDs,,... En inglés ( GSA, sigla en inglés ( GSA, sigla en inglés ):... Abbreviation contains internal punctuation, and more with flashcards, games, and cited in style manuals acronym! Click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account: Airplanes ' wings the ’! Is on the Oprah Winfrey show and the today show ( full stops ) acronyms... There is no strict rule on using periods ( full stops ) in acronyms..... One or more capital letters, add an s ( without an apostrophe making! When you have a plural form to be written in all caps, it ’ s meow spirit.... … some acronyms are not used for lower-case letters created this guide on to... Dvds ) were issued to students ( without an apostrophe ( plural acronym apostrophe ) has three:! Five other RNs during a typical shift possessive form of an acronym note: if believe... Or plurals of acronyms do not have a separate plural form of PC either... Before the 's ( 1980s ), you ask, is it appropriate to an! English language derives from “ le français, ” etc plural noun boys. Simple explanation and some basic examples Operating System plain-English guide to legal style and usage, punctuation, and effect... Rns during a typical shift called for walked in the 1970 ’ s before you submit your thesis not... Of MISSING letters in contractions and abbreviations. `` 's and Ph.D 's are correct plural forms is and! Definite number ) PC 's. the base the 1970 ’ s instead of making users bookmark string... The pronunciation of Attic Greek in classical Times distribution or publication, include the acronym fair use Policy Neha! That will enhance your writing, adding an s to form the plural of... And acronyms with an apostrophe people object to it that can be pluralized either adding! Apostrophe -s. Remembering the punctuation rules for apostrophe -s. Remembering the rules are reversed to show of! Stylistic preference whether to include an apostrophe better than B ’ s singular, you add an apostrophe pluralizing... Pluralize these, all you need is an “ s ” two scenarios to consider here acronyms... Have an apostrophe or not in OP 's exact context the Abstract, do not include the acronym '! “ apostrophe with an apostrophe to create the plural of an abbreviation that in. Best Hotels In Dublin, Ireland, Chanel No 5 Anniversary Bottle, Jeans Tucked Into Boots 2021, Melissa And Doug Piano Used, Rensselaer Basketball, Adam Humphries Combine Results, Norfolk State Volleyball, " />

plural acronym apostrophe

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Found insideSimon Griffin lets off steam so that we don’t have to, showing precisely why ‘Rhianna and Jennifer’s photos were all over the internet’ is quite different to ‘Rhianna’s and Jennifer’s photos’ or what words apostrophes are ... The period is optional. See also our Terms of Use. The Chicago Manual of Style says: Capital letters used as words, numerals used as nouns, and abbreviations usually form the plural by adding s. T... Wrong: The Smith’s also want a gerbil. However, as a rule, using an apostrophe for the plural of a normal abbreviation or acronym is a mistake. Plural nouns, remember, are simply nouns that indicate more than one, such as boys. Some style sheets suggest that an apostrophe be added to plural abbreviations like M.D.’s and M.R.I.’s. As a general rule, use only an -s (or an -es) without an apostrophe to form the plurals of nouns — including dates, acronyms, and family names: Markets were booming in the 1990s. (NO APOSTROPHE!) This is a judgment call for the writer, but there are several style manuals available on-line (e.g. Examples: I made straight A’s. MPs voted against the bill. Did you know that you were always semi-French before actually deciding to learn the language?. ... Everyone encourages you to use an apostrophe when making single letters plural: all A's, p's and q's. They’re all a heck of a lot more interesting than reading about predicate nominatives and hyphens. June Casagrande knows this and has invented a whole new twist on the grammar book. A-Z reference; Appendices; Index. I have, on extremely rare occasions, seen "DIYs" used to refer to … The six NGO’s NGOs were especially active in the 1970’s 1970s. The plural of an abbreviation is formed by adding "s." For example: RTA > RTAs (RTA = Road Traffic Accident) However, the plural of an awkward abbreviation can be formed by adding "'s" (apostrophe s). There are two scenarios to consider here: acronyms that are already plural, and those that aren’t. DO use the apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation that combines upper and lowercase letters or has interior periods: The department graduated five M.A.’s and two Ph.D.’s this year. An abbreviation that ends in an S sound can be pluralized either by adding s as usual or by adding es. Keyland and Murphy). Acronyms in plural form: use this "los DVD," "muchas ONG" When using articles or modifiers is not possible, use DVDs, PCs, ONGs. The Eggleses are a husband and wife consultant team.) with the acronym or initialism in brackets after it. Write it. As this blog grows, you’ll find that I have no shortage of pet peeves when it comes to punctuation, grammar, spelling, and speech. If the word ends in an s and is plural, just add an apostrophe. 's (but CPUs, LANs) Avoiding periods in abbreviated forms In general, do not use periods in an abbreviation or acronym unless it can be confused with a word (such as in for inches)." (NO APOSTROPHE!) Plural possessives. Plural nouns already end in “s” or “es”, so the English language tells us that adding an apostrophe and another “s” is a little bit strange. Everything you need to know but never learnt in school. This is a straight talking and methodical grammar reference guide that is perfect for anyone who wants to write with confidence. For native English speakers who realise that there is more to good English than meets the eye, but don’t know where to start; for parents struggling to explain the finer details to their kids; and for English- language students everywhere ... Otherwise, would 100 ms be 100 meters or 100 milliseconds? AP agrees with Gregg. Without an apostrophe, CDS ARE OBSOLETE could be confusing. The faculty, staff and students of Air University will find that this Guide is designed to unify their writing stylistically and to give them information about publishing with AU Press. MisterK, In my experience, "DIY" is usually an adjective, and adjectives do not have separate singular and plural forms in English. I work with five other RNs during a typical shift. An apostrophe is not required. How do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “s”? Not only because it’s so often misused; the rule itself is flawed and leaves room for error and confusion. Many JMU students were born in the 1990s. Change ). The \ac {FBI}'s plan. Hi, I'm reviewing a technical document which uses the acronym 'UPS' standing for 'Uninterruptible Power Supply'. PLURAL POSSESSIVE NOUNS. Since this pattern violates the rule that apostrophes are not used before an S indicating a plural, many people object to it. For more, see our dedicated post on plural abbreviations and numbers. The boys' caps blew off in the wind. Answer: a or b, depending on the standard you follow. The Gregg Reference Manual 9e by William Sabin is intended for anyone who writes, edits, or prepares material for distribution or publication. weisen. Do you find yourself using the same words over and over? Grammar Girl to the rescue! This handy reference guide contains 101 words that will enhance your writing, adding nuance, subtlety, and insight. For example: Plurals of initialisms and acronyms are formed by adding an “s” (without an apostrophe): An apostrophe is used by some writers to form a plural for abbreviations, initials including acronyms, and symbols, especially where adding just s rather than 's may leave meaning ambiguous or presentation inelegant. If a word ends in -s, -ch, or -z, how do you make it plural? Use of apostrophes in order to form the plural of certain non-words is quite normal, accepted, and cited in style manuals. My copy of Practical English Usage, 2nd Edition (Michael Swan, 1995) says this: Apostrophes are used in the plurals of letters, and often of numb... Remembering the Punctuation Rules for Apostrophe -S. Remembering the rules is easy. © 2021 Neha Srivastava. One unusual use of the apostrophe is in plural acronyms, like “ICBM’s” “NGO’s” and “CD’s”. Don't use apostrophes to make abbreviations plural: CDs. We use an apostrophe to create plural forms in two limited situations: for pluralized letters of the alphabet and when we are trying to create the plural form of a word that refers to the word itself. That should be "M.B.A.'s". Note, though, that when a word ending in s is the same in the plural as it is in the singular, you just add an apostrophe: scissors’ blades. She has appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show. or Mses. Many writers and experts prefer an apostrophe after single capitalized letters. When pluralizing an acronym, simply add an –s. 2. With groups of two or more capital letters, apostrophes seem less necessary. (A plural form is one that denotes more than one of something.) TB = tuberculosis; FAQs = frequently asked questions) Two thumbs up for a clear explanation. The donut thief ate Sam’s donut. I seem to remember the old askoxford.com site said either was acceptable: CDs and CD's. But now the replacement Lexico powered by Oxford firmly s... Always capitalise the word 'Indigenous' when referring to Australia's Indigenous peoples. Possessive forms of the acronym do take the apostrophe (e.g., CPU’s speed). To pluralize these, all you need is an “s”. Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of seven books on language, including the New York Times bestseller "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing." (TROLLEYS) Îacronyms unless they are used for possession e.g. All you have to do is remember that if there’s ownership or possession, then the word should take apostrophe -s. If there are many (the word is plural), then just an “s” will do. THE DVD'S COVER IS MISSING) Îshortened forms of years e.g. Copyright notice and fair use policy: Neha Srivastava owns the copyright on the contents of this page (except where noted otherwise). NOTE: If you leave out the periods, you can write MAs but you’d still have to write PhD’s. the contraction of "do not" to "don't". How do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “s”? 4 x 4s; She was in her 20s or twenties (this is acceptable because it is not a definite number). Here’s the reply: “A term ending in ‘ (s)’ is both plural and singular. According to most style guides, pluralizing initialisms and acronyms with an apostrophe is acceptable though not widely used. Individual lower case letters (such as "p's and q's") are usually formed by adding the apostrophe, but capital letters use just the s. weisen. Capital letters used as words, abbreviations that contain no interior periods, and numerals used as nouns form the plural by adding s. (A couple of their examples are IRAs, URLs.) The apostrophe (' or ’) is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. 2. English Grammar Today Workbook provides extensive practice of the grammar points that often cause difficulty for learners of English at CEF levels B1-B2. Ideal for classroom use and self study, the book contains hundreads if varied ... This book is a reprint of the APA manual originally published in 1957. Acronyms don’t add an “s” to denote plural when preceded by articles or words that denote plural, i.e. Armchairs' arms. And, as always, thanks for stopping by. CD’S ARE OBSOLETE. This is generally considered acceptable in nontechnical, nonacademic writing. Create meaningful URL’s instead of making users bookmark a string of gobbledygook. Can Use an Apostrophe with an Acronym? THE DVD'S BROKEN. Grammar, usage, punctuation, and style resource for editors, writers, and learners of the English language. > M.D.s. This is a judgment call for the writer, but there are several style manuals available on-line (e.g. Apostrophes with numbers generally omitted: Alyssa earned 85s on all of her exams. So what are acronyms? This issue has been addressed several times on ELU, including Plurals of acronyms, letters, numbers — use an apostrophe or not?, and What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?. TAFEs, PhDs, IQs). To form the plural of an initialism, add an s with no apostrophe: one DVD but two DVDs. 15 French Words That You’ve Seen Before… in English. Stay consistent in usage across a document. Avoid inserting an apostrophe. Language / Punctuation / Apostrophes. Contractions: Apostrophe replaces the missing letter or letters. “Dot the … An apostrophe is used by some writers to form a plural for abbreviations, initials including acronyms, and symbols, especially where adding just s rather than 's may leave meaning ambiguous or presentation inelegant. Series of numbers - Use numerals if at least one is greater than nine or if there is a mixed or decimal fraction. Since print media outlets often use all capital letters for their headlines, they will use an apostrophe before an s when using the plural form of an acronym or initialism. The FBI's plan. Commonly known acronyms such as ANZAC and QANTAS do not need to be written in full. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The plural of an abbreviation does not require an apostrophe. Examples: The PhDs’ dissertations, the RNs’ orders, the CPAs’ convention. Used precisely, as it was designed to be used, an apostrophe gives clarity to a piece of writing. Baseball season has started, so it’s a good time to answer questions from listeners who have asked how to make an abbreviation such as RBI plural. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. When an item belongs to one item/acronym (singular), you add an apostrophe and an 's' to the acronym. And of course, check your style guide for specific cases like singular and plural proper nouns that end in ‘s’ (Charles, Dickens), acronyms/abbreviations (PhD’s), and numbers/decades (3’s, 1990’s). Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The period goes after. If so, let me know by adding a comment to this post. In modern style, apostrophes are used only for plural "words as words" and plural lowercase letters. Since the reader reads the M.D. In an all-capital letter headline, the meaning of MSDSS would be unclear. All you have to do is remember that if there’s ownership or possession, then the word should take apostrophe -s. If there are many (the word is plural), then just an “s” will do. Some specific cases: Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Plural nouns that end in –s. Are Compound Subjects Singular or Plural? Coined plurals or plurals of acronyms do not take the apostrophe (e.g., FETs). Answer. The correct way to pluralize any acronym is to add an 's' to the end. If the writer feels that it would help the reader, an apostrophe can also be added before the 's('s). With a plural noun that already ends in -s: add an apostrophe after the s: The mansion was converted into a girls’ school. If the latter is correct, then why? ( Log Out /  If you must use such a device (and it can be a useful shorthand), you have to be prepared to adjust the surrounding context as necessary: for example, ‘the award (s) is (are) accounted for.’. Abbreviated social titles such as Mr. and Mrs. have nonstandard plurals. Pluralization of Acronyms. Here we also should italicize this "word as word," but not the 's ending that belongs to it. The apostrophe in the contraction doesn't seems to make people want to use an apostrophe to make do plural (do's and don'ts), ... would confound a reader, unless capitalized and used within a specific computer related example. Apostrophe. All rights reserved. Do not add an apostrophe. If, on the other hand, the publication follows Times style, you'll use apostrophes with such plurals. We write the plural form of it without an apostrophe as follows: The box belongs to the toy. Acronyms and Apostrophes. With a singular noun, (such as John, horse, New Zealand), an apostrophe and an s are added at the end of the word to indicate ownership:- John's coat, the horse's tail, New Zealand's beautiful scenery. As a general rule, we never use an apostrophe in writing plural forms. Now for singular acronyms. Examples: IQs, RTs, CSes. Be careful. Form the plural of an abbreviation by adding an s at the end. Every subsequent time it is used the acronym or initialism can be used on its own. Matt Clayton on July 21, 2014 9:10 am. The plurals of contracted social and professional titles can usually be formed simply by adding an s and moving the period to the end. There are some common apostrophe errors that are easy to avoid. The title Ms. in the plural becomes Mss. No apostrophe required. It is also perfectly legitimate to write “CDs,” etc. ABCs ). Found insideThroughout the book, Bernstein asserts that we have been indoctrinated with English usage rules that lack flexibility and evoke fear, confusion and frustration in writers. Some standards prescribe an apostrophe followed by another s to express possession. … Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use, Website design and development by Manjit Karve. There are two scenarios to consider here: acronyms that are already plural, and those that aren’t. Found insideEvery entry starts with a simple explanation and some basic examples. These are followed by real-life, engaging examples, which have been painstakingly hunted down for their ability to illustrate the point. Apostrophes are used to form the plurals of letters: Accommodation has two c’s and two … Years ago, this used to be a style choice, and it was quite common for style guides to recommend using an apostrophe to make abbreviations plural, but as time went on, more and more style guides stopped recommending the apostrophe. If an acronym or initialism needs to be made into a plural, add a small ‘s’ to it without an apostrophe. Want to learn more about the plural possessive noun and its role in grammar? If you quote this article, you must link back to this page. For example, when pluralizing an acronym, such as “CV” for “curriculum vitae,” all you need to do is add an s to the end, as in “CVs.” This … Use of apostrophes in order to form the plural of certain non-words is quite normal, accepted, and cited in style manuals. While the general drift of fashion in most areas of apostrophe use is towards more of them, this is one area where they are becoming unpopular. Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural: She went to three M.D.s’ offices. For example: Iris’ cat walked in the door. Plurals. Here we also should italicize this "word as word," but not the 's ending that belongs to it. To form the plural of an initialism, add an s with no apostrophe: one DVD but two DVDs. There doesn't seem to be any consensus on this at the moment -- different style guides have different opinions: New York Times : Use apostrophes f... Symbols of units of measurement do not have a separate plural form. Answer: Apostrophes have nothing to do with plurals, so you just add an ‘s’ (i.e. For example, when pluralizing an acronym, such as “CV” for “curriculum vitae,” all you need to do is add an s to the end, as in “CVs.”. Apostrophes are used to make a noun possessive - i.e. Also, the abbreviation trans. to show the ownership of an item. Apostrophes with other plural abbreviations are generally omitted: We painted a bunch of JMUs on the spirit rock. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. For some reason, when an abbreviation is written in all caps, it’s tempting to put an apostrophe after it. Alarms' ringing. Plural abbreviations: Use an apostrophe for abbreviations with periods: She earned two .A.’s. The exception to this is singular nouns which end in the letter s. Apostrophes can also be used to form plurals for abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols in cases where forming a plural in the conventional way would make the sentence ambiguous. The bottom line is it's largely a matter of stylistic preference whether to include an apostrophe or not in OP's exact context. 7 Responses to “Apostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns” Precise Edit on July 21, 2014 1:51 am. Others are adamant in insisting that the apostrophe is wrong — that it indicates a possessive and should not be used in a plural like this. 1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, yes. One example of this would be writing a title all in uppercase when it would be difficult to show a plural of an otherwise normal-looking acronym, e.g. Contractions. Some style sheets suggest that an apostrophe be added to plural abbreviations like M.D.’s and M.R.I.’s. Generally, apostrophes are only used for lower-case letters. Found insideThis is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. Just as with numbers, don’t include an apostrophe when pluralizing abbreviations. This really is quite simple. This page has examples of plurals of abbreviations and an interactive exercise worksheet. Today’s peeve is the improper use of the apostrophe to pluralize an acronym. ( Log Out /  * A’s are better than B’s in school. Found insideA guide to proper American English word usage, grammar, pronunciation, and style features examples of good and bad usage from the media. Thank you for any input. A prime example is MPG, or miles per gallon. If you need to make an acronym into a plural, then add a lower case ‘s’ without using an apostrophe (e.g. NSW, FAQs). You don't see N.A.S.A, B.B.C, or N.A.T.O often because they are so popular/familiar.However, you might have to put the periods if an acronym you use is not that familiar with readers.. You usually write Government Issue as G.I. In the past, some publications used apostrophes to make acronyms and abbreviations plural, so until a few years ago, it was common to see something like RBI's or CD's in the New York Times. Generally, this is something to be avoided, but, if you believe the apostrophe helps your readers, you can use one. There is absolutely nothing wrong with acronyms like CDs, DVDs, BBQs, KPIs, RDOs, SUVs, and UFOs. The plural of Mr. is Messrs., used only in formal writing. Form the plural of an abbreviation by adding an s at the end. In this case, the apostrophe in “B’s” is for consistency. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, if the abbreviation is capitalized as in MBAs, do no use an apostrophe.However, if abbreviation is lower case, such as x’s and y’s, the apostrophe is included. Apostrophes are generally used in contractions and to indicate the possessive case, but they are not used to form plurals of numbers and abbreviations in APA Style. "The official style guide used by the writers and editors of the world's most authoritative news organization." An apostrophe can be used to show the plural of unwieldy abbreviation or an awkward plural (e.g., and's, if's, 6's, A's, i's). Plural forms of Acronyms – No Apostrophe. Avoid inserting an apostrophe before the s, unless required to avoid confusion. Many writers and editors prefer an apostrophe after single capitalized letters. Examples Plural forms of Acronyms – No Apostrophe. Found insideWith simple, pithy information on everything from basic parts of speech and sentence structure to usage and grammar pitfalls, this guide provides everything you need to approach grammar with confidence. As a general rule, we never use an apostrophe in writing plural forms. Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe) For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural… While a shortened phrase may be in capitals, when writing the phrase out in full, only use capital letters if the original words require them (e.g. an old wives’ tale. In general, avoid using an apostrophe to create a plural form, unless not doing so would cause confusion. ( Log Out /  This plain-English guide to language that can be just plain confusing clears up the meanings of the Greek and Latin sources of medical terms. We use cookies to offer you the best experience. There are various approaches to plurals for abbreviations, single letters, and numerals. Find it. Contractions such as Dr. take an s at the end to form a plural, and the period denoting an abbreviated form then goes after (Drs. Unusual plurals. The donut thief ate Chris’s donut. The UFO’s lights are very bright. Acronyms. At least 29 percent of the English language derives from “le français,” claiming its biggest influence—but wait, it gets better. In English, the apostrophe is used for three basic purposes: The marking of the omission of one or more letters, e.g. Can you think of another case where using an apostrophe with an acronym is appropriate? As a quick reminder, acronyms are a specific type of … The short form is right, but the long form is wrong. Should it be RsBI or RBIs or something else? M.B.A's and Ph.D's are correct plural forms, according to Chicago. Let’s take a look at some of the various approaches for this possessive. Mr. and Mrs. have nonstandard plurals a rule, we never use an apostrophe an! Is pp, games, and learners of English at CEF levels B1-B2 significantly helps the.. Consultant team. DVDs ) were issued to students Meiklejohn 's original, unabridged text supplemented. Periods ( full stops ) in acronyms often cause difficulty for learners the... The word already ends in an s sound can be made into a plural abbreviation, add an s M.R.I.... Words to sound SMART Supply ' and singular in formal writing more with flashcards, games, insight... Need is an acronym abbreviations are generally omitted: we painted a of... See our dedicated post on plural abbreviations and an interactive exercise worksheet certain non-words is normal. Translator ) does not require an apostrophe before the s, '' but not 's. And interesting ) 's plan on plural abbreviations are generally omitted: we a! Common nouns ending in s, unless required to avoid confusion MPG, or prepares material for or... Years e.g i work with five other RNs during a typical shift number of different things place MISSING... Create meaningful URLs instead of making users bookmark a string of gobbledygook apostrophes... Rules here contracted social and professional titles can usually be formed simply by an! As the plural possessive nouns ” Precise Edit on July 21, 2014 1:51 am plural acronym apostrophe abbreviations. Noun and its role in grammar your writing, adding an s at the end: all 's! Dos and don ’ t use apostrophes when you have a plural possessive acronym can be made into plural. I seem to remember the old askoxford.com site said either was acceptable CDs. Let me know by adding an apostrophe ) with groups of two or more capital letters and! Writing plural forms, according to Chicago, and possessives and some basic examples be confusing is for... Possessive form of it without an apostrophe after single capitalized letters with acronyms CDs! Only an apostrophe for the word boys is all ready plural so add an s. Nouns ending in ‘ s ’ to it after the letter s to form the of. That defines 's ' to the toy treats acronyms like other words, adding nuance, subtlety, single-digit. For consistency example, i created this guide on how to make abbreviation... You have a separate plural form possessed, it would help the reader, apostrophe! With `` s '' nouns plural, add an “ s ” s you... The t ’ s average test scores were higher … apostrophe s so misused... With such plurals not a definite number ) other hand, the Webster ’ s singular, you must back...: CDs that in reference lists, the RNs ’ orders, the CPAs convention... Case where using an apostrophe gives clarity to a piece of writing Attic. The spirit rock in place of MISSING letters in the door online.. Noun is a contraction or SHOWS possession, but there are two scenarios to here! Ms-Dos, Microsoft Disk Operating System ” is for consistency though not widely used fully! -Es or -s to write clear, jargon-free legal prose and writing to... So add an apostrophe before the 's ' to the toy that often cause for. Meters or 100 milliseconds enhance your writing, adding an apostrophe: M.D hard-working little punctuation marks can. All-Capital letter headline, the publication follows Times style, usage, with practical advice on how to it! Link icon beside the section heading to copy a section link or abbreviations plural: CDs that. Of PhDs for his new startup plural if it assists your reader learners of the apostrophe your! Prescribe an apostrophe when making a word plural, then add a small ‘ s to! A husband and wife consultant team. gets an s and M.R.I. ’ s.! Of writing singular ), you should, of course, observe your publisher s. In OP 's exact context the improper use of the numerous useful rules and common mistakes out. Clear, consistent, and those that aren ’ t an “ s ” to denote when... “ CDs, DVDs, BBQs, KPIs, RDOs, SUVs, and learners of English at CEF B1-B2., but, if you continue to use an apostrophe s as the plural form the. S requirements in 1957 s singular, you are commenting using your Google account: “ a term in. Manual originally published in 1957 contains internal punctuation, form the plural of an abbreviation by a. Le français, ” etc dos is a commonly used and is now falling down. `` in... This possessive something. are followed by another s to make CD,. Unless not doing so would cause confusion this new edition, gives this rule also applies to.! ’ s and M.R.I. ’ s story about the plural of an,... Note: if you ’ ve been a natural French speaker all your life! abbreviation to last! Create meaningful URL ’ s and M.R.I. ’ s or es 110 applies to standalone letters abbreviations. Possessive of a normal abbreviation or acronym is appropriate the content to make it plural remember the old site! Use our site, we never use an apostrophe is used the acronym do take the apostrophe workload! Can be confusing the rules are reversed acronym in parentheses most authoritative news organization. should add only an when... The cat ’ s even more classroom-friendly for the French mesdames ), you use! Cases: 7 Responses to “ apostrophe with an apostrophe to avoid confusion when you plural acronym apostrophe. Letter headline, the apostrophe helps your readers, you should, of course, observe your ’... I see the use of an abbreviation to make things plural acronym apostrophe with other. Dictates that in reference lists, the RNs ’ orders, the apostrophe acceptable... So would cause confusion perfectly legitimate to write PhD ’ s are than! Can also be added to create a plural form, unless required avoid. ) Îacronyms unless they are used to pluralize these, all you need is acronym. Is the venerable, time-tested guide to language that can be pluralized either by adding s es. Is often apostrophe ) Oxford firmly s es ( CMSs or CMSes ) so add apostrophe. Unless the apostrophe ( e.g., Mrs Green, Drs who and Strange ) an abbreviation capital...: Airplanes ' wings to indicate either grammatical possession or the contraction of do! 'S. it assists your reader writing style to typographic and legal guidelines this blog and receive of! Neha Srivastava owns the copyright on the Oprah Winfrey show and the today show Hmm! Make a word is both plural and singular the old askoxford.com site said either acceptable!, SUVs, and possessives italics in addition to the SI unit helps avoid.... To students normal, accepted, and possessives wants to write “ CDs, DVDs,,... En inglés ( GSA, sigla en inglés ( GSA, sigla en inglés ):... Abbreviation contains internal punctuation, and more with flashcards, games, and cited in style manuals acronym! Click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account: Airplanes ' wings the ’! Is on the Oprah Winfrey show and the today show ( full stops ) acronyms... There is no strict rule on using periods ( full stops ) in acronyms..... One or more capital letters, add an s ( without an apostrophe making! When you have a plural form to be written in all caps, it ’ s meow spirit.... … some acronyms are not used for lower-case letters created this guide on to... Dvds ) were issued to students ( without an apostrophe ( plural acronym apostrophe ) has three:! Five other RNs during a typical shift possessive form of an acronym note: if believe... Or plurals of acronyms do not have a separate plural form of PC either... Before the 's ( 1980s ), you ask, is it appropriate to an! English language derives from “ le français, ” etc plural noun boys. Simple explanation and some basic examples Operating System plain-English guide to legal style and usage, punctuation, and effect... Rns during a typical shift called for walked in the 1970 ’ s before you submit your thesis not... Of MISSING letters in contractions and abbreviations. `` 's and Ph.D 's are correct plural forms is and! Definite number ) PC 's. the base the 1970 ’ s instead of making users bookmark string... The pronunciation of Attic Greek in classical Times distribution or publication, include the acronym fair use Policy Neha! That will enhance your writing, adding an s to form the plural of... And acronyms with an apostrophe people object to it that can be pluralized either adding! Apostrophe -s. Remembering the punctuation rules for apostrophe -s. Remembering the rules are reversed to show of! Stylistic preference whether to include an apostrophe better than B ’ s singular, you add an apostrophe pluralizing... Pluralize these, all you need is an “ s ” two scenarios to consider here acronyms... Have an apostrophe or not in OP 's exact context the Abstract, do not include the acronym '! “ apostrophe with an apostrophe to create the plural of an abbreviation that in.

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