Writing Lab Plurals Letters Numbers Symbols Time Periods

Writing Lab Plurals: Letters, Numbers, Symbols, Time Periods, etc.

Plurals • Use an apostrophe and –s to form the plurals of letters, numbers, symbols, and words named as words. • *In some cases the apostrophe may be omitted.

Examples: Numbers Kristi skated nearly perfect figure 8’s. or Kristi skated nearly perfect figure 8 s. The clothing rack did not have any size 3’s. or The clothing rack did not have any size 3 s. • *Many writers omit the apostrophe with plurals of • numbers; either style is acceptable.

Examples: Time Periods Look what happened to employment in the 1990’s. or Look what happened to employment in the 1990 s. Styles of the 1970’s are back in fashion. or Styles of the 1970’s are back in fashion. • *Many writers omit the apostrophe with plurals of • time periods; either style is acceptable.

Examples: Letters Students receive no credit for courses in which they receive F’s, WF’s or W‘s. or Students receive no credit for courses in which they receive or Fs, Ws. The Italian language has no j’s or k’s.

Examples: Symbols The +’s and –’s indicate positive and negative numbers. Initials and abbreviations Joanette Mc. Gadney has to Ph. D’s.

Examples: Words used as words We’ve heard enough maybe’s. I have too many but’s in my sentence. There are too many wherefore’s and whereas’s in legalese.

That’s all, folks! • This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series • Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon • To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson