[Gllug] Monthly GLLUG grammar report (Seriously OT now!)

[Bruce Richardson]

On Tue, Nov 26, 2002 at 08:34:32AM +0000, John wrote:
> On Mon, 2002-11-25 at 23:53, Bruce Richardson wrote:
> > On Tue, Nov 26, 2002 at 12:00:52PM +1300, Jonathan wrote:
> > > 3. NO PLURALS! Five bananas, not five banana's
> > 
> > If you're determined to be pedantic, then an apostrophe is allowed in
> > the plural of acronyms and abbreviations.
> 
> Is it?  Do you have an authority for that?  

http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/apostrophe.htm
http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/WC/apostrophe2.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html
http://chuma.cas.usf.edu/~olson/pms/apostrophe.html

> There seems no point since
> the traditional method (e.g. "CDs", "TVs") is perfectly clear.

Using an apostrophe for the plurals of numbers and abbreviations *is*
traditional.  I was certainly taught so explicity.  The belief that it
isn't is largely, I think, the result of geeks over-enthusiastically and
mechanically applying a rule, as they are wont.

-- 
Bruce

What would Edward Woodward do?
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