Stumped by abbreviations when plural

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shedridt

#58525 Tue, 30 Nov 04 10:21 PM

I write financial plans & have been in mortal struggle with the Individual Retirement Account, generally referred to as the IRA. When plural is it IRA's or IRAs? I have fought for the latter but seem to be losing. Should I die on this hill?

shedridt

Joined on Tue, Nov 30 2004

New Member (01)

Plurals, Abbreviations

Mister Micawber

#58546 Tue, 30 Nov 04 11:57 PM

If you must. Most sources say that an apostrophe should be reserved only for possessives, and I agree. 'IRAs' is quite clearly plural, where 'My IRA's term is 18 months' could be confusing if not automatically considered possessive.

Having said that, I do diverge if, upon typing it, it looks confusing without an apostrophe, as in the classic 'there are five a's in abracadabra'.

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.'

Plurals, Abbreviations, Possessives, Apostrophes