Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

Why are you so possessive?
Perplexing possessives

PLURALS CONFUSED WITH POSSESSIVES

Just like the Lay’s commercial says about aficionados who can’t eat just one potato chip, some people start playing with apostrophes and can’t use just one. They toss them in everywhere to make words plurals.

Plural means more than one. To say we’re a pluralistic society means that we have many interests, stemming from different backgrounds. Possession (shown with apostrophes), on the other hand, indicates ownership. Possession has nothing to do with plurals. And plurals have nothing particularly to do with ownership.

Although these are two separate concepts, using a possessive form instead of the simple plural noun is a common mistake. Don’t add an apostrophe when you only need to show that there’s more than one of something or somebody.

Incorrect:

We have six supplier’s involved in this project.

Employee’s frequently forget their badges.

Company officials’ do not approve of these practices.

The trial balances and reconciliations’ have been sent to the controller for review.

The inspectors sent reports detailing all the deficiencies’ and recommendations.

Correct:

We have six suppliers involved in this project

Employees frequently forget their badges.

Company officials do not approve of these practices.

The trial balances and reconciliations have been sent to the controller for review.

The inspectors sent reports detailing all the deficiencies and recommendations.

One exception: apostrophes can be used to show plurals of letters and numerals:

She earned four A’s this semester. (Without the apostrophe, the As might be mistaken for the word as.)

In case we have further lock-ups, Pongo ordered several 267CV’s as spare parts for the system. (Without the apostrophe here, the —s might be understood as part of the serial number.)

Not all parents are possessive, and not all plurals are possessive. Only plurals that own something need apostrophes.

Memory tip

Plurals and possessives have nothing in common but the letter p.