Correct use of Apostrophe
11 September 2007, 10:20 AM
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Correct use of Apostrophe
As there are so many grammar gurus on here I thought I'd ask this question in here.
If British Airways were to have a sale the apostrophe would be here
British Airways' Sale
Now if we were to use an abbreviation for British Airways would it be
a. BAs Sale
b. BA's Sale
c. BAs' Sale
d. Something else
This is to settle a boys v girls argument so is vitally important
If British Airways were to have a sale the apostrophe would be here
British Airways' Sale
Now if we were to use an abbreviation for British Airways would it be
a. BAs Sale
b. BA's Sale
c. BAs' Sale
d. Something else
This is to settle a boys v girls argument so is vitally important
11 September 2007, 10:44 AM
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British Airways is a proper noun so you'd normally add an apostrophe and an s:
British Airways's but there are exceptions to that and words ending in "s" often fall in to that category although the possessive singular of class is class's.
Personally I'd go with
"BA is having a sale" and avoid the problem
British Airways's but there are exceptions to that and words ending in "s" often fall in to that category although the possessive singular of class is class's.
Personally I'd go with
"BA is having a sale" and avoid the problem
11 September 2007, 10:53 AM
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BA's sale for two reasons:
The sale belongs to BA (posessive)
' signifies missing letters.
If it were plural and not posessive, it would still be BA's because of the missing letters.
The sale belongs to BA (posessive)
' signifies missing letters.
If it were plural and not posessive, it would still be BA's because of the missing letters.
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11 September 2007, 10:58 AM
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Missing letters? It's an acronym not an abbreviation, you don't signify missing letters in an acronym otherwise it would be B'A'. I do agree that you're probably right about the possessive being BA's however.
11 September 2007, 11:55 AM
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BA is an acronym of British Airways, not British Airway. So that's your starting point leading to BA's sale.
What are they selling btw? Suitcases?
What are they selling btw? Suitcases?
Last edited by David Lock; 11 September 2007 at 12:00 PM. Reason: Correcting
11 September 2007, 01:40 PM
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It seems strange but you should actually signify the missing letters in the last word of a plural acronym with an apostrophe - otherwise the s is left hanging on its own. Lots of people don't bother these days though, so both forms are normally considered acceptable.
11 September 2007, 01:55 PM
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General
1. When items are described by an acronym or an abbreviation, there is no need to add an apostrophe to denote the plural:
MP (military police) sixteen MPs
PC (personal computer) a network of PCs
MB (megabyte) 100 MB
2. But the apostrophe should be used in any expression which includes an element of possession:
MPs' salaries a PC's capacity
How to use Apostrophes - free guidance notes
1. When items are described by an acronym or an abbreviation, there is no need to add an apostrophe to denote the plural:
MP (military police) sixteen MPs
PC (personal computer) a network of PCs
MB (megabyte) 100 MB
2. But the apostrophe should be used in any expression which includes an element of possession:
MPs' salaries a PC's capacity
How to use Apostrophes - free guidance notes
Where an Apostrophe is NOT used
To make a word plural
Most words are made plural by adding an "s" to the singular form of the noun. For example, "pens" is the plural of "pen" and "cars" is the plural of "car". An apostrophe is never used to make words plural ("apple's" is not the plural of "apple").
To make an acronym (or other initialisation) plural
Despite common usage, an apostrophe is not used to make an initialisation plural; the same rules apply as when making words plural. For example, the plural of CD is CDs, not CD's.
To make a word plural
Most words are made plural by adding an "s" to the singular form of the noun. For example, "pens" is the plural of "pen" and "cars" is the plural of "car". An apostrophe is never used to make words plural ("apple's" is not the plural of "apple").
To make an acronym (or other initialisation) plural
Despite common usage, an apostrophe is not used to make an initialisation plural; the same rules apply as when making words plural. For example, the plural of CD is CDs, not CD's.
11 September 2007, 02:07 PM
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It seems to be a matter of style rather than a rule. One site I found said only use an apostrophe when there is other internal punctuation, e.g. C.D.'s / CDs
One unusual modern use of the apostrophe is in plural acronyms, like “ICBM’s” “NGO’s” and “CD’s”. Since this pattern violates the rule that apostrophes are not used before an S indicating a plural, many people object to it. It is also perfectly legitimate to write “CDs,” etc. See also “50’s.” But the use of apostrophes with initialisms like “learn your ABC’s and “mind your P’s and Q’s” is now so universal as to be acceptable in almost any context.
Note that “acronym” was used originally only to label pronounceable abbreviations like “NATO,” but is now generally applied to all sorts of initialisms. Be aware that some people consider this extended definition of “acronym” to be an error.
Note that “acronym” was used originally only to label pronounceable abbreviations like “NATO,” but is now generally applied to all sorts of initialisms. Be aware that some people consider this extended definition of “acronym” to be an error.
11 September 2007, 04:28 PM
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As there are so many grammar gurus on here I thought I'd ask this question in here.
If British Airways were to have a sale the apostrophe would be here
British Airways' Sale
Now if we were to use an abbreviation for British Airways would it be
a. BAs Sale
b. BA's Sale
c. BAs' Sale
d. Something else
This is to settle a boys v girls argument so is vitally important
If British Airways were to have a sale the apostrophe would be here
British Airways' Sale
Now if we were to use an abbreviation for British Airways would it be
a. BAs Sale
b. BA's Sale
c. BAs' Sale
d. Something else
This is to settle a boys v girls argument so is vitally important
Isn't there something better you can find to do with girls Jasey? I've told you before it beats knockin' one out!
11 September 2007, 05:07 PM
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11 September 2007, 05:18 PM
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I thought you'd be quite proud of me! I bought something without asking anybody here for advice on which one to go for!
As for counting my money, you know that would take too long, and by the time I'd finished there would be another pile arriving Btw, those girls in your office must think you're fascinating, with that line of conversation
11 September 2007, 06:07 PM
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11 September 2007, 09:15 PM
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The professional's view (possessive singular) 
These are both correct:
'The British Airways sale offers many bargains.'
There is no possessive and airways is singular
'British Airways' policy of ripping people off is wrong.'
Airways becomes the possessive but as it’s a singular ending in ‘s’ the apostrophe always comes after the s
With regard to acronyms, the Americans cant spell so I don’t expect they're too hot on grammar either. Apostrophes should never be used for acronyms or abbreviations – its just that most people don’t understand the rule so they often stick them in all over the place
These are both correct:
'The British Airways sale offers many bargains.'
There is no possessive and airways is singular
'British Airways' policy of ripping people off is wrong.'
Airways becomes the possessive but as it’s a singular ending in ‘s’ the apostrophe always comes after the s
With regard to acronyms, the Americans cant spell so I don’t expect they're too hot on grammar either. Apostrophes should never be used for acronyms or abbreviations – its just that most people don’t understand the rule so they often stick them in all over the place
Last edited by brumdaisy; 11 September 2007 at 09:21 PM.
11 September 2007, 10:00 PM
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Before you all start to howl, there are exceptions to this rule, such as Jesus'.
12 September 2007, 03:23 AM
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Which nicely answers Top Banana's excerpt in post 15 above
12 September 2007, 04:39 AM
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What most people don't do correctly with apostrophes is use them after the word when referring to two or more of something, ie;
a) the company's money = refers to one company
b) the companies' money = refers to two or more
Note location of apostrophe in example b - this is correct, but you rarely see this!
a) the company's money = refers to one company
b) the companies' money = refers to two or more
Note location of apostrophe in example b - this is correct, but you rarely see this!
12 September 2007, 08:37 AM
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Airways is a regular plural ending in 's', but you're correct about the placement of the apostrophe. Singular possessives ending in 's', e.g. names such as James, have the apostrophe after the 's' but with a further 's' appended - James's.
Before you all start to howl, there are exceptions to this rule, such as Jesus'.
Before you all start to howl, there are exceptions to this rule, such as Jesus'.
Odd that you use that example. My son is James and I usually write James' belongings rather than James's belongings. But I guess I had better change my ways.
I wonder if my son brought a mate home who was also called James and you were describing something that belonged to both of them?
12 September 2007, 12:22 PM
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According to Strunk & White, in their book called 'The elements of style' grammatical rules as we know them are not rules at all. In fact they started out as gentlemanly agreements. But having said that they are so set in stone now that they might as well be rules.
12 September 2007, 07:28 PM
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Odd that you use that example. My son is James and I usually write James' belongings rather than James's belongings. But I guess I had better change my ways.
I wonder if my son brought a mate home who was also called James and you were describing something that belonged to both of them?
I wonder if my son brought a mate home who was also called James and you were describing something that belonged to both of them?
My brain hurts.
I think that's covered by the double possessive - "A friend of the James's" for instance. Not elegant, but popular in idiom and consistent grammatically.