{"id":694,"date":"2009-11-09T10:28:50","date_gmt":"2009-11-09T16:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=694"},"modified":"2021-05-06T16:45:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T21:45:00","slug":"the-apostrophe-with-numbers-letters-and-abbreviations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/apostrophes\/the-apostrophe-with-numbers-letters-and-abbreviations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Apostrophe with Letters, Numbers, and Abbreviations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Questions can often arise about how to make the plural and plural possessive forms of numbers, letters, and abbreviations. The following guidelines will help you apply a consistent style for everyday use.<\/p>\n

Plural of Letters<\/h2>\n

Rule:<\/strong> The plurals for letters are typically not formed with apostrophes. However, do use an apostrophe and an s <\/em>for the plural of a single letter if not doing so would make the meaning unclear.<\/p>\n

Examples
\n<\/strong><\/em>Brian has three Bs<\/u> on his report card.
\n<\/em>Brian is the type of student who tries to dot all of his i’s<\/span> <\/em>(not is<\/em>) and cross all of his t’s<\/span> <\/em>(not ts<\/em>).<\/em>
\nThe children are studying their ABCs<\/span>.
\nPlease remember to capitalize your I\u2019s<\/u><\/em> (not Is<\/em>) when referring to yourself in your essay.<\/em><\/p>\n

To form the plural of an abbreviation<\/a>\u00a0with capital letters, add an s <\/em>with no apostrophe: M.D.<\/em> > M.D.s<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n

To form the plural of an initialism<\/a>, add an s <\/em>with no apostrophe: one DVD <\/em>but two DVDs<\/u><\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Possessive of Letters (Apostrophe)<\/h2>\n

For an abbreviation that can be possessive in its context, add an apostrophe to the plural: She went to three M.D.s\u2019<\/u> offices.<\/em><\/p>\n

To form the possessive of an initialism, add an apostrophe to the plural: The DVDs’<\/span> new lower price could help them sell much faster.<\/i><\/p>\n

If you wish to form the possessive of a single capital letter, add an apostrophe and an s <\/em>after the letter: Plan A failed right away. Now it is Plan B\u2019s<\/u> fault that we can\u2019t start the project.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Plural of Numbers<\/h2>\n

To form the plural of a single-digit number, add an s<\/em>: Her phone number has four 7s<\/u> in it.<\/em><\/p>\n

To form the plural of multi-digit numbers (such as for decades), add an s<\/em>: the 1980s<\/u>, the 1990s<\/u>. <\/em>The same principle applies to abbreviated numbers: Jake\u2019s favorite movies are from the \u201980s<\/u> and \u201990s<\/u>. <\/em>(Note that the apostrophe should be curving toward the missing numbers.)<\/p>\n

If referring to two or more multi-digit numbers, maintain the same form for each figure: the 1980s<\/u> and 1990s<\/u> <\/em>(not the 1980s and \u201990s<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Possessive of Numbers (Apostrophe)<\/h2>\n

If you wish to form the possessive of a single number, add an apostrophe and an s<\/em>: The number 7\u2019s<\/u> influence on my luck this month has been uncanny.<\/em><\/p>\n

To create the possessive form of a multi-digit number, add an apostrophe to the plural: The 1970s\u2019<\/u> influence on music that followed was unmistakable.<\/em><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Now let\u2019s review your understanding of the plural and the plural possessive with letters and numbers. Choose the correct form in each sentence.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Darryl still dresses like he lives in the [1960\u2019s \/ 1960s].<\/li>\n
  2. Now I\u2019ve learned my [ABCs \/ ABC\u2019s], won\u2019t you come and play with me?<\/li>\n
  3. Be sure to mind your [p<\/em>s and q<\/em>s \/ p\u2019s and q\u2019s] at the formal dinner tonight.<\/li>\n
  4. Bob\u2019s poker hand includes a queen, a jack, and three [4\u2019s \/ 4s].<\/li>\n
  5. When the panel gives its presentation, Cherie says she\u2019ll be most interested in the different [Ph.D.\u2019s \/ Ph.D.s\u2019] observations and opinions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Darryl still dresses like he lives in the 1960s.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    2. Now I\u2019ve learned my ABCs,<\/strong> won\u2019t you come and play with me?<\/li>\n
    3. Be sure to mind your p\u2019s and q\u2019s<\/strong> at the formal dinner tonight.<\/li>\n
    4. Bob\u2019s poker hand includes a queen, a jack, and three 4s.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    5. When the panel gives its presentation, Cherie says she\u2019ll be most interested in the different Ph.D.s\u2019<\/strong> observations and opinions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Questions can often arise about how to make the plural and plural possessive forms of numbers, letters, and abbreviations. The following guidelines will help you apply a consistent style for everyday use. Plural of Letters Rule: The plurals for letters are typically not formed with apostrophes. However, do use an apostrophe and an s for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-apostrophes"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}