Anonymous  +  218015 Thu, 20 Apr 06 12:28 PM Please let me know why in the phrase "Council of Ministers Meeting" we do not use apostrophe and in "ministers' meeting" we use it. I would appreciate it if you could help me! Anonymous Apostrophes

	Mister Micawber  +  218039 Thu, 20 Apr 06 02:19 PM The apostrophe could be either used or omitted in both cases.  These are all OK: Council of Ministers' Meeting Council of Ministers Meeting ministers' meeting ministers meeting As the name of the meeting, usually the noun-noun form rather than the possessive+noun form is chosen, as it saves typeset and looks less cluttered.  Of course, in specific context, one may be more appropriate than the other:  The ministers' meeting was raucous with their shouting and name-calling. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,825 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Possessives, Nouns, Apostrophes