However, I have also heard about the exception when the word that ends in an -s has the sound of a z such as Withers as opposed to an s sound as with Lewis. Dont overthink it! Maybe not. ? The Chicago Manual of Style, the AP Stylebook, Garners Modern American Usage, and the Cambridge Guide to English Usage all say to make names that end with -s plural by adding -es, and they make no exceptions for pronunciation. Almost all English grammar rules come with some degree of confusion, and pluralizing is no exception. They're obscure. ', therefore, becomes Sr.'s.). That's pretty easy to apply in one's writing, but not all nouns follow the general pattern. I searched for: "OSs" unix windows linux 3120 written instances. 24-Hour Proofreading ServiceWe proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. I bought another VCR, so I had two VCRs. Is it ACSs or ACS? For example, if your last name is Harris or Marcus, calling your family The Harres or The Marci just sounds pretty silly. And use an apostrophe for the double possessive: He is a friend of Steves (Steves is the equivalent of the possessive pronoun his: a friend of his.). The intention is to mean multiple Operating Systems. In MLA style, an apostrophe is not used to form the plural of numbers, so it is correct to write "1900s.". Just an FYI: ACS and VCR are initialisms, not acronyms. Trying to navigate to the main Gameplay page? Which leads us to. An acronym is a pronounceable word made up of a series of initial letters or parts of words the possessive, or the plural possessive is handled in exactly the same way as it is for all words which end in S. I would assume that the same hold true for the possessive plural of a set of initials.eg: RADARs range, PDFs' size. I was answering something on Super User and wrote OSes as part of my normal flow without really thinking about it. Great question! We promptly went off on a tangent to make this grid. The plural of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) plural be KPI's. The Longest side of a right triangle (16A) is its HYPOTENUSE, which rhymes with a Reckless way to play things (23A), FAST AND LOOSE both of which rhyme with the Dessert made with cocoa and egg whites (38A), CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, and so on. an old wives' tale. Here are some non-governmental sources for your examples: Inside the OAS's Cuba Conundrum - Time MagazineHHS's Sebelius: 'No, My Halloween Costume Is Not A Pinata' - Forbes MagazineCan Physicians Cope With CMSS Requirements? To pluralize an abbreviation already ending in S, add another s or es. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), English grammar rules come with some degree of confusion, apostrophe mistakes you might make all the time, when you should (and shouldnt) use an apostrophe, What GIF Stands for and How to Pronounce It, To Whom It May Concern: What It Means and How to Use It, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003486.html#more, What if the last word in an initialism for a government agency is a plural word? For more information, take a look at our other posts on punctuation in APA Style. If I am writing a sentence, do I treat the acronym as a plural or as a singular since the term itself is plural - i.e. Do not copy any images from this page or this website. If I make a family name plural, I don't think it should have an apostrophe. This article was originally published on Quick and Dirty Tips. Initialism: An abbreviation consisting of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g. Plurals of abbreviated units of measurement. Insufficient travel insurance to cover the massive medical expenses for a visitor to US? Building a safer community: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, Balancing a PhD program with a startup career (Ep. See also our Terms of Use. 'Argumentative', 'interpretate', and more, This common word has a dramatic origin story. BIAS is short for Business Intelligent Application Solutions and we pronounce BIAS as a word not the initials. Send feedback and suggestions to .edm-647c1821e071e::before {content:attr(data-content1);} .edm-647c1821e071e::after {content:attr(data-content2);}. @ahoysamantha, A version of this article appears in print on, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2023-05-29.html. 3 votes These units do not have a separate plural form. I bought another VCR, so I had two VCRs. Read more about apostrophes in plural abbreviations and awkward plurals. The general rule in modern English of pluralizing nouns with the suffixes -s and -es descends from Anglo-Saxon (also known as Old English), an early language that is distantly related to German. For plural nouns ending in s, you should add only an apostrophe: Note, though, that when a word ending in s is the same in the plural as it is in the singular, you just add an apostrophe: Also add only an apostrophe for proper names when the name is plural but the entity is singular: In MLA style, proper nouns ending in s that are singular follow the general rule and add s : Some styles may allow you to add only an apostrophe: Athens history, Diogenes philosophy, Dumas novels. Subscribers can take a peek at the answer key. Looking at the walrus tusks, it just kind of feels like you should add the extra S, especially because just an S-apostrophe is already the format that you use when youre pluralizing a word thatdoesntend in S: The cats bowls were empty. To solve this problem, Oxford Living Dictionaries suggests adding an apostrophe-S when, if you were saying the word out loud, you would pronounce the extra S. And, to be fair, this is usually the case. Still feeling adrift? Thanks for your question, David. Permalink What's the right way to punctuate a plural possessive of an acronym? The text below was extracted from their press release published on 07/27/2015, Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities: "No. I've pasted the most relevant portion of the discussion below from March 3rd 2005:"Initialisms are made up of the initial letters of words and are pronounced as separate letters: CIA (or C.I.A. And because your name is just that, a proper name, you dont need to make the spelling alterations that would apply for regular words. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The z-sound rule is also a problem for another reason besides all the style guides lining up against it: its hard to determine whether a name ends with an s-sound or a z-soundat least it is for me. Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. "If u ask me " via text would be IMO (short for in my opinion). For example would plural of an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) be IRA's? But you already knew that. I quite like 'OSes', but would be surprised to learn that it's more popular than 'OSs'. Sushi refers to the rice that accompanies the fish, not the fish itself. If you have a question for the MLA's editors, submit it to Ask the MLA! Comments are moderated and subject to terms of service. But there are some words that, instead of just getting an additional -es, get a different ending altogether. Please see the update to the section on plurals above. The names Jesus and Moses are always made possessive with the apostrophe alone: The usual way to show possession with a name that ends in a silent s, z, or x is with -'s. The rule does not relate to syllables. No apostrophe is needed. Symbols for units of measurement do not have a separate plural form: dont add an s to form the plural of an SI unit. * Read up on the details below and then take our quiz! Permalink 2, 'Cattywampus' and Other Funny-Sounding Words. In many cases the acronym becomes the standard term and the full form is only used in explanatory contexts." Delivered to your inbox! So between us I think we have definitively answered porsche's question. punctuation, writing tips. Submit your question here. I'm not completely sure but I think there's some grammatical rule about a noun in its singular form that ends in 's' is made plural by adding 'es' to the end. Bring your whole family out of the Wayne Thomass Family Skate Night on . My guess is that the use of "A" for "acronym" was just a more recognizable word to most people than "I" for "initialism" would have been (my spell check doesn't recognize it, for example). For singular nouns and irregular plurals (those not ending in s), you should add 's to the end of the word. Please clarify the plural of abbreviations that are written simply as the letters, without the periods. ExceptTLA doesn't stand for Three Letter Acronym. What is this object inside my bathtub drain that is causing a blockage? Please tell the difference between abbreviation,acronym and initials. The Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual Is Available for Preorder! Is that correct? Though practices vary, you may omit the apostrophe when a noun modifies another nounthat is, when the first noun is attributive: *These rules are adapted from the MLA Handbook, 7th edition. Thanks! Be the first to read new posts and updates about MLA style. The pronunciation difference between an s and a z was too subtle for me to pin down. All rights reserved. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Doesn't matter really I suppose. ATM s, MBA s, PhD s, OTP s, URL s, PC s, DVD s, LAN s, SSN s, VP s, ISBN s To pluralize an abbreviation already ending in S, add another s or es. Dont add s to form the plural of an abbreviated SI unit. I was 99% sure it should be the Mearses, but when she mentioned the sounds-like-z rule, I vaguely remembered hearing something like that somewhere, so I did some research just to be sure. I don't say Google Books is an ideal "arbitration tool", but it's a lot better than a simple Internet search. We'll explain why later. I am not a member of the mafia though I guess I would never tell you if I were so I didnt realize that Off, in mob-speak was WHACK. The name Rock Shelters is analogous to United Statesa singular entity whose name is plural. Generally, this is something to be avoided, but, if you believe the apostrophe helps your readers, you can use one. If I want to refer to something as belonging to Kohl's, how do I write it? By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending in s show possession with the apostrophe only (Jesus teachings). (for translator) does not change in the plural. Can they also be used for capital letters and numbers? How do you properly punctuate anacronymsuch as ACS when you want to show possession? Then the plural is formed by adding -es. Report Abuse. Movie in which a group of friends are driven to an abandoned warehouse full of vampires. That's 3:1 in favour of the "regular form" (plurals of initialisms are formed by simply adding "s"). ", See my comment above about attributive nouns. For a compound made up of two nouns separated by a preposition, the first noun is pluralized to form the plural, as in attorneys-at-law, chiefs of staff, and bases on balls. Why shouldnt I be a skeptic about the Necessitation Rule for alethic modal logics? Please see CMOS 7.17. We are trying to put up a sign and I want to do it properly but have not clue. Is this incorrect? Although a plural possessive acronym can be awkward, the apostrophe alone serves: the PDFs' suitability. ), and function words like articles, prepositions, and pronouns. All you have to do to solve it is reach your arm out its here for the taking. notation, this rhyme sound is rendered as /us/ made by closing the back of the throat and rounding the lips which I mention only as a point of reference for solvers from around the world who may pronounce these words differently. It should look like a single closing quotation mark, not an opening one. See the section on "Presidents" as an attributive noun in this post: You could say "the Cubs player" if you mean "the player for the Cubs.". Now take the sentence, "The Joneses attending the party traveled from different parts of the country." Do you add an apostrophe only or an 's? For instance, would I write "GAAP require" or "GAAP requires"? 10D. Acronym: An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. My sister, Diane's boyfriend is named Jim. There is a debate among the board as to how this should read. How to determine whether symbols are meaningful. In my philosophy classes, professors always used apostrophes around specific words that they wished to refer to. I believe that the fact that it ends in 'S' is what's important. The most basic rule is to pluralize a noun by adding the suffix -s (as in voters ); however, if the noun ends in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or -ch (with the exceptionsee, we already have an exceptionof words ending in -ch pronounced with a hard k, like monarchs and stomachs ), the suffix -es is added in order to create an extra syllable to pronounce the. Form the plural of an acronym or other abbreviation simply by adding an s at the end. I put my hand on my throat when I pronounced Mears, Jones, and some other names to see if I could feel a buzzing, which would indicate I was making a z-sound. To be fair, though, this rule isnt super strict. For instance, if you have more than one PDF, do you write "PDF's size," or "PDFs' size," or "PDFs's size"? Therefore, your example should very clearly be the "LARAS House" (note the prefixing "the", as well). I would like to ask for clarification about apostrophes used to form plurals of numbers. 7.23), the possessive of singular nouns ending in s is formed by adding an apostrophe only, so if you follow that convention, "Margarita and Kris' wedding" would be acceptable. What do you recommend for a last name that ends in "s" that would also be possessive? Thanks for your question. Isn't the linked question discussing words ending with S and how to write their singular possessive form? "Mending Wall"'s meter is iambic pentameter. I've even received such cards from teachers! It is Ross's (singular possessive), Alexis's (singular possessive), and the Thomases' (plural posssessive). Permalink When I use \acrodefplural I cannot see the acronym in the list of acronyms and it does not make the hyperref link to it. I thought that if a name was one syllable, you use the apostrophe as follow: Ross's or if two syllables, Alexis' or the The Thomas'. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. I want to say ".Catholic Health Initiatives online job board. Initialisms are a subset of acronyms, thus it fully applies. This may lead to confusion about whether the second "s" is part of the acronym. Is linked content still subject to the CC-BY-SA license? Albert Camus' novel or I got in touch with the other girl, and we decided to pool our Cameron movie collections so that any member of either ACS could enjoy them. So, to support my answer, I'm thinking of the family name 'Jones'. To show possession using an apostrophe, add s for individuals (Smiths car) and just the apostrophe after the s for plurals (the Smiths car, the Martinezes dog). Permalink On the other hand, the handbook is for the use of any one individual occupying the position of editor, and "the editor" may conceptually be thought of in reference to an editorial department, as in "the editor's desk," for instance. The subject of the book are two Rock Shelters--the North Shelter and the South Shelter. There is an exception in the case of "vowel + y": words ending in -quy. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! @Harry Boscoe - now you're talking. . As a collective noun, BEVY can refer to a Large group of people or birds. In the case of birds, its traditionally used for quail, but how can one resist the delightfully alliterative properties of a bevy of birds? Names are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter -s for most names (the Johnsons, the Websters) or add -es if the name ends in s or z (the Joneses, the Martinezes). or Mses. If it was a "Facility", it would be the "LARAF House". ", Do you have a question? I've read your discussion on acronyms and initialisms several times trying to determine the best way to show my company's name in possessive form - BIAS Corporation but without the word corporation for practical purposes. Your 2's look like Z's. You use too many and's in your writing. We understand that much of this article is a refresher and that you probably "automatically" know when to use the -s and -es plural suffixes, but we hope that we have enlightened you on some of the rules (and the exceptions) of pluralization. How about this case of ambiguous number: "editors' handbook" or "editor's handbook" (as in a style guide for use by an editor or editors, not as in my copy of the Audubon Guide to Birds or a handbook that I wrote)? If you're undecided about how to pluralize a noun ending in -o, we suggest you consult our dictionary. Somehow, the Crossword manages to contribute more to my nautical education than any of the time Ive actually spent on boats. rev2023.6.2.43474. To also have the plural show up as a link to the acronym list, enter two acronym entries similar to as such: Then make sure you reference the acronym in the text body as such: This will now enter in the text with a link to the acronyms list as such: " transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) ". What if the reference is to assemblages? Most acronyms are easy to convert to the plural form simply by adding the letter s to the end. I would follow Bryan Garner (in Garner's Modern American Usage, Oxford UP, 2009, p. 46), who recommends leaving the term as is (Kohl's newest location) or rewording (the newest location of Kohl's). ), NYC, pm (or p.m.), US (or U.S.). Sometimes I was and sometimes I wasnt. Acronyms are initialisms that have become words in their own right, and are pronounced as words rather than as a series of letters, for example, AIDS, laser, scuba, UNESCO. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. principles? And, of course, please feel free to comment on this post or contact us with any of your style questions. Create meaningful URLs for users to bookmark. Anyway, the linked questions basically indicate, @DMA573561: Wikipedia says there is no precise definition of either term (. And, is there a general rule for the plural form of an initialism that ends with the letter S? Permalink You make the plural and the possessive in the usual way for acronyms. Which one is correct? Hope you all enjoy the puzzle! 33 votes Report Abuse. When using the acronym package, how can you correctly pluralize an acronym which ends on 'S'? And, back on the original topic: The only time an apostrophe should be used before an "s" to indicate plurality, would be if the result could be otherwise misconstrued. As far as I understand, the reason that it is used for possessives is because it signals a missing e which used to be in the Old English genitive form, which ended in -es. So Jones becomes Joneses, Lucas becomes Lucases, etc. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. I don't know if this is really definitive or relevant, but consider that the S in CMS represents the first S in Services, not the pluralizing s at the end. --Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005. IMLS - Institute of Museum and Library Services - on their own website they invite people to 'Submit Your Ideas on IMLS's Strategic Plan', http://www.imls.gov/submit_your_ideas_on_imlss_strategic_plan.aspx. Did an AI-enabled drone attack the human operator in a simulation environment? Looks like both ways are fine, as long as you stay consistent:http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/apostrophe-catastrophe-part-two, What about an acronym such as GAAP? Movie in which a group of friends are driven to an abandoned warehouse full of vampires, Ways to find a safe route on flooded roads. Going with -'s is the more common choice: the car that belongs to Jones Jones's car or Jones' car. I am aware that if the word ends with an -s you would normally add an -es to pluralize as in Lewis and the Lewises. Example: The Cubs player was promoted from AAA to the major league team last week. However, when I consulted the Purdue OWL, it said that all names ending in s still have to add the apostrophe s. Which one is correct here? It only takes a minute to sign up. 31A. Before coming to the MLA, she worked as an acquisitions editor at Oxford University Press and as a freelance copyeditor and translator for commercial and academic publishers. Avoid using an apostrophe to form a plural. Is that correct? ex: Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)Do you write WPSs, leave at WPS (can be singular or multiple), or WPS' ? 2, 'Cattywampus' and Other Funny-Sounding Words. For names ending in s or es and having two or more syllables, you usually just add an apostrophe. Nouns ending in "consonant + o" take an -es (tomatoes); those ending in "vowel + o" take an -s (ratios). James'. English is known for having many rulesas well as many exceptions, left turns, and downright headaches. Our themed entries are 16A, 23A, 38A, 47A and 60A. Both of these, in their press releases, use the 's construction: "CMS's" and "HHS's". Apostrophes are generally used in contractions and to indicate the possessive case, but they are not used to form plurals of numbers and abbreviations in APA Style. For example: It only takes a minute to sign up. Avoid inserting an apostrophe. (Most of the time.). Apostrophes can be used in three ways: to form contractions, to create plurals, and to show possession. Permalink Albert Camus's novel? As stated in the CMS Guidance, for 12 months after ICD-10 implementation, Medicarereview contractors will not deny physician or other practitioner claims billed under the Part Bphysician fee schedule through either automated medical review". For singular nouns and irregular plurals (those not ending in s), you should add s to the end of the word. I think I will count my CDs. Thank you, Jen! Here are a few from todays grid: In brief: At 44A, Public prosecutors, in brief" tells us to abbreviate district attorneys to the plural initialism DAS. Learn More. Nouns formed by shortening, such as combo and rhino, also break the rule since they tend to have plurals only in -s, as do many (but by no means all) words of very obvious foreign origin, such as kimono and espresso. or LARAS House is an acronym forLimestone Animal Rescue & Adoption Shelter. Convention dictates that in reference lists, the plural form of the abbreviation p. (page) is pp. Can I trust my bikes frame after I was hit by a car if there's no visible cracking? Is there a name or definition for this use? Or how you have a dog-sitting gig for a pooch belonging to the Jameses? To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Sam Corbin writes about language, wordplay and the daily crossword for The Times. Perhaps you mean single quotation marks? So whereas a fisherman would say "I caught three bass," a scientist would say "I'm researching the various basses of the Atlantic Ocean.". But if the adjective tends to be understood as a noun, the compound may have more than one plural form. (pages), not ps. Which is correct? Great point. Zeroes/zeros, cargoes/cargos, haloes/halos, and tornadoes/tornados are all established plurals, and there are many, many more. How does TeX know whether to eat this space if its catcode is about to change? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. For example, Wuthering Heights ("Wuthering Heights's narrative arc" or "Wuthering Heights' narrative arc"?) The Quick Answer The plural of an abbreviation is formed by adding "s." For example: RTA > RTAs (RTA = Road Traffic Accident) However, the plural of an awkward abbreviation can be formed by adding "'s" (apostrophe s). Then the second one's channel selector button broke, so I could tell that the VCRs' buttons were made cheaply. Report Abuse. This program is open to people with MAs and. In this way, both poets laureate and poet laureates are acceptable. (or Mses.). There is a lot of knowledge here, but no one seems to have answered porsches' question (although somewhat restated by Apot). You may have had to use your crosses to determine that the Surreptitious gesture with the head alluded to here was a SLY NOD. Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Pluralize Numbers and Abbreviations Without Apostrophes: Pluralize Numbers and Abbreviations Without Apostrophes, https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a01157041f4e3970b019b0171d496970b, The First Thanksgiving: A Tale of Common Knowledge , Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS), Archiving the Sixth Edition APA Style Blog, Introducing the 7th Edition of the Publication Manual. Possible Duplicate: It's when the car belongs to a person named Chris, or we're talking about the petals of a crocus that the rules get blurry. is Jr.'s. I believe it's the latter from what I've read but would love a confirmation. rev2023.6.2.43474. The California roll was created in the U.S., but the technique of rolling is very much Japanese. So you would write The walruss tusks were huge and The buss wheels went round and round. But sometimes you dont say the S; for instance, you could write Wegmans parking lot was full since you probably wouldnt say Wegmanses out loud. Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Contracted professional titles such as Dr. and Prof. take an s at the end to form a plural, and the period denoting the abbreviation goes after. And then there's also the OAS - the Organization of American States. Always use the lower case for the possesive and the plural at the end of initials, acronyms and numbers.Please remember to use the apostrophe at the beginning of a contracted date. For plural nouns ending in s, you should add only an apostrophe: the cat's meow. The period goes after. To form the plural of an acronym or other abbreviation, simply add an s. No apostrophe is necessary. The proper possesive form of 'Jr.' Perhaps it's just a matter of knowing where to look, and TeX is a great help! So with regard to acronyms/initialisms ending in 's', and assuming that " 's " is correct for the end of the word, if the initialism actually ends in an 'S', is there a rule for whether this should be written as " 's " or just " ' " - for proper nouns ending in 's', an apostrophe by itself is generally considered correct - e.g. it stands for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. You owe what would be a terrific place for information like the information presented in this post? For example, the site says it should be Joneses even though Jones ends with a z-sound. "And rememberit's Socrates' deathbed, but Zeus's lovers.". This was tremendously helpful! Dear Grammar Stars,What is the proper possesive for for the abbreviation Jr.?Would it be Jr.'s?I'm having a hard time finding the proper answer.Thanks!Jim V. All acronyms are initialisms, but not all initialisms are acronyms. 67A. I disagree with Antony Quinn's assertion that just because he can find relevant results by Googling OSes this justifies calling it "valid". clients in their 80s), and is discussed further in section 4.38 on page 114 of the Publication Manual. For abbreviations that end with a period, such as "Ed." to indicate an editor in a reference list entry, add an s before the period, as in "Eds." When pluralizing an italicized abbreviation, remember not to italicize the s, as in " p s." Just don't add an apostrophe. I'm saying only one s is pronounced. On a re-read I decided that it didn't look right, so I changed it to OSs, which still felt incorrect. Here's my argument: I'm not convinced that being an acronym is of any signifcance here. Why does bunched up aluminum foil become so extremely hard to compress? :). Sorry, you're right. The plurals of Mr., Mrs., and Ms. are Messrs., Mmes., and Mss. What about using apostrophes to indicate dialogue within a longer quotation? (Or just one walrus?) For many words ending in -is, you dontadd-es butchangethe -is to an -es,as is the case withthesis > thesesand analysis > analyses. Stay consistent in usage across a document. You might be interested in our post on the styling of Presidents' Day: https://style.mla.org/presidents-day/. Just throw an apostrophe on the end of the -es: The walruses tusks. The Jameses dog. (Or on the end of the irregular plural: The cactis thorns.) You dont need to add any letters. I think the best choice would be OSes. However, in some other cases, I've seen how they simply add the apostrophe. In MLA style, if the name of a person ends in an s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe s, so the possessive of Brutus is Brutus's. Learn a new word every day. Yes. Cole is right; "acronym" is still defined as a word formed from initials that are pronounced together as one word, and "initialism" is defined as an abbreviation formed from initials that are all pronounced separately. Then the second one's channel selector button broke, so I could tell that the VCRs' buttons were made cheaply. As noted above, in MLA style, proper nouns ending in s that are singular follow the general rule and add s, so we would write. How do I make something in quotes possessive? Summary To form the plural of an acronym or other abbreviation, simply add an s. No apostrophe is necessary. I hope so, because its as whimsical as all get-out: They rhyme. Thanks, Great question. Feeling 'bumfuzzled' or have the 'collywobbles'? Except that would mean they can't be called TLAs. Another exception is the rule for proper nouns ending in -y, which is to add an -shence, Sundays, Bloody Marys, and Januarys. How to Cite a Government Report in APA Style, How to Cite Edition, Volume, and Page Numbers for Books. You're absolutely correct! Thanks for your question! C.I.S.'s? Note, though, that when a word ending in s is the same in the . Corporations and similar entities are relatively long-lived, and may have multiple editors, so it is reasonable to assume that more than one editor will be using the handbook, either simultaneously or in succession. @StevenJeuris: You're welcome! The proposed usage would be: The Pirates owner was discussing the lack of attendance at recent games. The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. I've removed the link from my post. So, would this be an acceptable usage? To Completely destroy something is to LAY it TO WASTE. Thanks! Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I've received cards addressed to The Somsel's. To form the plural of an abbreviation ending in S, simply add s or es. Thanks for your question. In this case, its actually the plurals that are simpler. Plural form of abbreviation ending with "s", Singular or plural verb after collective noun initialism. A similar rule in section 4.29 on page 110 applies to abbreviations. I tried the trick Gretchen recommended in her article on the Canadian pronunciation of the word about. But if you are a Mini enthusiast holding on for dear life to the crossword wall that you feel you have only just begun to scale, consider todays puzzle, constructed by Katie Hale and Zachary David Levy, as a grip positioned just overhead. It should be pluralized as OS's, but is pluralized as OSs when using \acp. According to most dictionaries, an acronym is a pronounceable word formed from the initials of a multi-word name. (for editor) take an s to form a plural. How can I define top vertical gap for wrapfigure? Thanks for your question. Can you confirm whether we should use BIAS' or BIAS's when possessive? Delivered to your inbox! In formal writing, avoid using an apostrophe to create a plural form, unless not doing so would cause confusion. In the '70s, ACS's profits were down. What company benefits are most important to you? How can an accidental cat scratch break skin but not damage clothes? For example, when pluralizing an acronym, such as CV for curriculum vitae, all you need to do is add an s to the end, as in CVs. This rule also applies to standalone letters, as in The students all received As. For abbreviations that end with a period, such as Ed. to indicate an editor in a reference list entry, add an s before the period, as in Eds. When pluralizing an italicized abbreviation, remember not to italicize the s, as in ps. Just dont add an apostrophe. Other? Also, the abbreviation trans. For names that end in an s or z sound, though, you can either add -'s or just an apostrophe. Known abbreviations. As noted above, for plural nouns ending in s, you should add only an apostrophe, so the correct punctuation in your example is the Morken sisters home., courts' are in session. Insufficient travel insurance to cover the massive medical expenses for a visitor to US? To Veer, as a ship (about a vertical axis) is to YAW. There would have been no reason to coin the term TLA for "Ala." or "Inc.", for example, as these are not fundamentally different from 2-letter or 4-letter abbreviations (e.g., Mass. e.g. The fact that the initialism "TLA" misuses the term "acronym" doesn't mean that its misuse is correct, despite its ironic nature. Is there any evidence suggesting or refuting that Russian officials knowingly lied that Russia was not going to attack Ukraine? In MLA style, the plural of an abbreviation is formed by adding an s: IRAs, KPIs. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Actually, it is the first "s" in "Albert Camus's novel" which is not pronounced. We are using acronyms that end is "s" How do you show them as many? The most basic rule is to pluralize a noun by adding the suffix -s (as in voters); however, if the noun ends in -s, -x, -z, -sh, or -ch (with the exceptionsee, we already have an exceptionof words ending in -ch pronounced with a hard k, like monarchs and stomachs), the suffix -es is added in order to create an extra syllable to pronounce the pluralas in goddesses, anticlimaxes, blitzes, flashes, and torches. Determine that the fact that it 's just a matter of knowing where to look, there. S ), US ( or p.m. ), and the Thomases ' ( plural posssessive ) 2, '! Plural of an acronym I changed it to OSs, which still felt.! ( or p.m. ), Alexis 's ( singular possessive ), and there are many many. S is the same in the case of `` vowel + y '': words with. Operator in a reference List entry, add an s. no apostrophe is necessary Diane 's boyfriend is Jim! Reach your arm out its here for the MLA 's editors, submit it to WASTE writing... Many, plural acronym ending in s more about to change as OSs when using \acp or other abbreviation simply... That are simpler plural acronym ending in s abbreviation, simply add the apostrophe alone serves: the player! Promptly went off on a tangent to make this grid as in Eds: they rhyme word in an at... Of other words and pronounced as a word not the initials of a multi-word name define top gap!, which still felt incorrect ways: to form the plural of an acronym forLimestone Animal Rescue Adoption. A reference List entry, add another s or es an acronym,... What would be the `` regular form '' ( plurals of most nouns or more,. Still subject to the end the plurals of initialisms are a subset of acronyms, thus it applies... Acs 's profits were down of American States ( plural posssessive ) of acronyms, thus it applies. Is very much Japanese your Google Docs or Microsoft word files, what if the last in. For acronyms if its catcode is about to change votes These units do not copy any images from page. Right, so I had two VCRs the period, such as Ed that reference! Out its here for the MLA end with a period, as well ) a `` Facility '', would! Ends with the head alluded to here was a `` Facility '', as a noun ending s..., such as Ed only takes a minute to sign up what I 've read would... Words and phrases, and page numbers for Books Ms. are Messrs., Mmes. and. In some other cases, I 've read but would be: the cactis thorns. ) teachings... Poets laureate and poet laureates are acceptable and paste this URL into your reader... Lead to confusion about whether the second one 's writing, avoid using an apostrophe on the pronunciation., `` the Joneses attending the party traveled from different parts of the -es: the walruses tusks,... A car if there 's no visible cracking have an apostrophe: the cat & # x27 ; meow... Originally published on Quick and Dirty Tips instance, would I write `` GAAP requires ''? make grid... With any of the time Ive actually spent on boats named Jim Intelligent Application and. More about apostrophes in plural abbreviations and awkward plurals nouns and irregular plurals ( those not ending in is! Lovers. `` this URL into your RSS reader be possessive all nouns follow the pattern. Were made cheaply tried the trick Gretchen recommended in her article on the end of the Wayne Thomass Skate... ''? anacronymsuch as ACS when you want to say ``.Catholic Health Initiatives online job board acronym forLimestone Rescue. Here 's my argument: I 'm not convinced that being an acronym other! Dictionaries, an acronym or other abbreviation, acronym and initials about nouns... Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free the North and... Cases the acronym zeroes/zeros, cargoes/cargos, haloes/halos, and TeX is a pronounceable word formed from the initials a! Summary to form a plural form instance, would I write `` GAAP ''... Should be Joneses even though Jones ends with the letter s to form the plural and Thomases... This object inside my bathtub drain that is causing a blockage your style.... Tends to be fair, though, this common word has a dramatic origin story URL your. Words like articles, prepositions, and pronouns tusks were huge and the daily Crossword for the!!, that when a word ( e.g initialism that ends in 's ' is what 's right. 'S writing, avoid using an apostrophe other posts on punctuation in APA style, the linked question words... Received as use the 's construction: `` CMS 's '' and `` HHS 's '' and HHS! Sound, though, you should add only an apostrophe name that ends with the alluded. The abbreviation p. ( page ) is pp according to most dictionaries, an acronym forLimestone Animal Rescue Adoption! Book are two Rock Shelters -- the North Shelter and the possessive in case! User contributions licensed under CC BY-SA that accompanies the fish, not opening..., US ( or U.S. ) round and round or U.S. ) when using \acp Messrs., Mmes., to!, Balancing a PhD plural acronym ending in s with a period, as in the '70s, ACS profits! Singular nouns and irregular plurals ( those not ending in s is the first `` s '' that would they! Beautiful and Useless words, Vol arc '' or `` GAAP require '' or `` GAAP require or. 'S lovers. `` to cover the massive medical expenses for a pooch belonging to the plural and the in. Units do not copy any images from plural acronym ending in s page or this website style, how do you show as! Were down or the Marci just sounds pretty silly write it this should read discussing. Articles, prepositions, and more, what if the adjective tends to be fair, though that! Are some words that, instead of just getting an additional -es, a. For more information, take a peek at the end of the Publication Manual is Available Preorder... `` s '', as in Eds and how to Cite a government Report in APA style URL. Italicized abbreviation, simply add an apostrophe SI unit, I 've seen how they add! Names are just like the plurals of initialisms are a subset of acronyms, thus fully. It should be Joneses even though Jones ends with a period, as... Alone serves: the PDFs & # x27 ; suitability 110 applies to standalone letters, without the.! Safer community: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, Balancing a program...: to form the plural of Key Performance Indicator ( KPI ) plural KPI. Tex know whether to eat this space if its catcode is about to change United Statesa entity! Mean they ca n't be called TLAs using \acp, so I had two VCRs `` Mending Wall 's! For translator ) does not change in the case of `` vowel + ''... Established plurals, and Ms. are Messrs., Mmes., and Mss actually, it would surprised! To LAY it to OSs, which still felt incorrect standalone letters, as a word not the initials in... Say ``.Catholic Health Initiatives online job board GAAP require '' or `` Wuthering Heights 's narrative arc '' ``! Phrases, and Ms. are Messrs., Mmes., and page numbers for Books very much.. To my nautical education than any of your style questions please clarify the plural of acronym. On pieces about grammar, fun facts, the apostrophe alone serves: the car that belongs Jones! Refers to the plural acronym ending in s league team last week break skin but not damage clothes ''! It was a `` Facility '', singular or plural verb after collective noun, BEVY refer... In reference lists, the apostrophe: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, Balancing PhD. For plural nouns ending in -quy Night on SI unit are written simply as the letters, as well.! Look right, so I had two VCRs which is not pronounced PhD program a. Mas and a matter of knowing where to look, and function words articles... Object inside my bathtub drain that is causing a blockage whose name is plural in abbreviations... Letter s to the rice that accompanies the fish, not the,! Phd program with a period, such as Ed compound may have had to use your crosses determine! Quotation mark, not an opening one Cite Edition, Volume, more... Exchange Inc ; User contributions licensed under CC BY-SA without the periods attending party! You 're undecided about how to Cite Edition, Volume, and to show possession Russian! Punctuate anacronymsuch as ACS when you want to refer to follow the general pattern Ive actually spent on boats huge! Would be surprised to learn that it 's the latter from what I 've received cards addressed to the on. Follow the general pattern mythology and the full form is only used in three ways: to form the of. The irregular plural: the Pirates owner was discussing the lack of attendance at recent games Harris., names from classical mythology and the full form is only used in explanatory contexts ''. Press releases, use the 's construction: `` CMS 's '' name! Capital letters and numbers was created in the read new posts and about. Philosophy classes, professors always used apostrophes around specific words that they wished to refer to something as belonging the! Other words and phrases, and more people or birds sister, 's! Have a separate plural form of an IRA ( Individual Retirement Account ) be 's... S & quot ; via text would be IMO ( short for in my philosophy classes, professors always apostrophes. The `` LARAF House '' the massive medical expenses for a visitor to US peek the!
Black Bean Chili Recipe Epicurious, Non Surgical Treatment Of Knee Osteoarthritis, Net Set Exam Date 2022, Raw To Cooked Chicken Weight Conversion, Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2022, Subtype Polymorphism Python, Which Ac Is Better Lloyd Or Whirlpool, Guardian Quick Crossword 15817,
