Plurals of abbreviations - 1990's or 1990s

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Guest

#98536 Thu, 12 May 05 10:56 AM

I used to be convinced that the plural did not take the apostrophe as it was not a possessive but I now see the apostrophe used in many places and am full of doubt. What is the correct usage?

There are road signs showing "H.G.V.'s only". Surely that can't be right?

Would the abbreviation of 'housepoints" be HPs of HP's?

If the apostrophe usage is correct then presumably we would see MP's rather than MPs and if this were the case, something belonging to a number of MPs would be MP's' or even MP's's rather than MPs'

Can someone please put me right and provide a recognized source so that I can go into battle.

Many thanks

Guest

Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Numbers, Plurals, Possessives

Mister Micawber

#98580 Thu, 12 May 05 01:07 PM

As you say, this is still a bone of contention, but I believe that most authorities adhere to the simple rule of 'no possessive ergo no apostrophe'. At least I do, and would unhesitantingly write:

H.G.V.s only
seven HPs
seven MPs
seven MPs' hats.

Exceptions are usually made for the few cases where confusion is possible, the classic example being 'mind your p's and q's'.

Here is one SOURCE, and here's ANOTHER. Googling 'apostrophe' will get you several more, with slightly varying opinions, especially re numerals and acronyms.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,223)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Grammar, Plurals, Possessives

khoff

#98625 Thu, 12 May 05 03:51 PM

Mr. M. - what is your preferred way to show the plural of a letter of the alphabet? In "Mississippi" there are four _________, four ___________ and two __________.

S's?? "S"s?? (Surely not Ss.)

Thanks!

-khoff

khoff

Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005

Denver, Colorado, USA, Earth

Senior Member (2,569)

Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

Abbreviations, Plurals

Mister Micawber

#98850 Fri, 13 May 05 05:42 AM

'Four esses, four ayes and two pees.'

'Four s's, four i's and two p's, ' if I had to.

Mister Micawber

Abbreviations, Plurals

khoff

#99361 Sat, 14 May 05 07:55 PM

I think we'll have to agree to disagree here - I would never use "esses," unless it was in a Scrabble game, in which case it might come in handy. I would probably write "s"s.

khoff

Abbreviations, Plurals

Anonymous

#154025 Tue, 01 Nov 05 09:46 PM

i would say:

mind your 'p's and 'q's (no apostrophes, inverted commas).

on another note, the general rule for apostrophes seems to be (from the links above) that they are not used with possessive pronouns (his, her, my, its), but does this also apply to 'one'? is it ones or one's?

sara + phil

Anonymous