Apostrophes

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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!
  
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.

  
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