Folks should just remember that apostrophes are never used to pluralize. Of course there are like 2 exceptions, but better to be right 98 times out of 100 than guess every time.
And even the exception is pretty rare: you use ’ when pluralizing a lower-case letter. For instance, “There are two i’s in pluralizing.” The reason is obvious: you could wind up creating a different and confusing word. But how often do you even need to do that?
That and, depending on the stylebook you use, some specific words and uppercase letters that could be considered confusing when pluralized, like “Oakland A’s” and “Do’s and Don’ts” (according to AP, while I much prefer Chicago’s guidelines).
While your instincts may say so, not according to any one of the major style guides (AP, MLA, Chicago, NYT, APA, Columbia). An apostrophe is only added for possessives rather than plurals with acronyms, but a lot of people still add them erroneously. Most sources online will say “don’t do it but some people do by mistake.”
*Robins
Folks should just remember that apostrophes are never used to pluralize. Of course there are like 2 exceptions, but better to be right 98 times out of 100 than guess every time.
And even the exception is pretty rare: you use ’ when pluralizing a lower-case letter. For instance, “There are two i’s in pluralizing.” The reason is obvious: you could wind up creating a different and confusing word. But how often do you even need to do that?
That and, depending on the stylebook you use, some specific words and uppercase letters that could be considered confusing when pluralized, like “Oakland A’s” and “Do’s and Don’ts” (according to AP, while I much prefer Chicago’s guidelines).
Wow, I’ve probably seen it a million times but never noticed, but “don’ts” just looks so wrong. “Dont’s”? “Don’t’s”? “Donts”? AAAAAAAHHHHH
Also acronyms, again depending on whom you ask. At least based on my own instincts and online searching.
While your instincts may say so, not according to any one of the major style guides (AP, MLA, Chicago, NYT, APA, Columbia). An apostrophe is only added for possessives rather than plurals with acronyms, but a lot of people still add them erroneously. Most sources online will say “don’t do it but some people do by mistake.”
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