Apostrophes; business', businesses (Guest:Cas)

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Guest

#3012 Thu, 31 Jul 03 04:20 AM

We are in need of donations from local business'. Would you kindly solicit donations from the following businesses:

The above sentences are being used in a letter, I am having a problem with the word business'. and businesses: What is the correct way to use this word.

Guest

Apostrophes

Woodward

#3017 Thu, 31 Jul 03 04:30 AM

Businesses is correct. It is the plural of Business.

The apostrophe is used to show that something belongs to something else (It's called the Genitive case). Normally (though not always) the apostrophe or apostrophe + s are followed by a noun.
e.g. The dog's bones = the bones that the dog has...one dog.
the dogs' bones = the bones that the dogs have.....more than one dog...plural.
When a plural word ends in S, that is when we only put the apostrophe alone.
e.g. my parents' car

Woodward

Joined on Tue, Jun 24 2003

A New Zealander in Chile

Senior Member (2,807)

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Apostrophes, Genitives, Nouns, Plural words, Plurals

maj

#3035 Thu, 31 Jul 03 05:10 AM

What about my children's or my childrens' toys? Which one is correct?

maj

Joined on Mon, Mar 31 2003

Senior Member (4,756)

Apostrophes

Woodward

#3038 Thu, 31 Jul 03 05:23 AM

(child) singular.......children (plural)
Since it is not a plural word that ends in S, we use the 's.......children's toys.
Remember that children never has an S on the end in plural form, the word children is already in plural form.

Woodward

Apostrophes, Plural words, Plurals

maj

#3039 Thu, 31 Jul 03 05:32 AM

That makes everything clear. Thanks. W.

maj

Apostrophes

Guest

#35403 Fri, 02 Jul 04 01:25 AM

What about the possesive form of business (singular)? As in "Please drop the package at my business' front door." Is it business' or business's? Thanks!

Guest

Apostrophes