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Abbreviated plurals

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  • 24-11-2006 1:03pm
    #1
    Nature Boy
    Registered Users Posts: 801 ✭✭✭


    When you abbreviate a word, like PC, some people put an apostrophe before the s when writing the plural of it, e.g. PC's. I'd usually write it as PCs as you would with a normal plural.

    Which is correct?


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    #2
    FlutterinBantam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,576 ✭✭✭✭FlutterinBantam


    I would say PCs as the apostrophe would denote possesion,as in the PC's screen.


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    #3
    Yakuza
    Registered Users Posts: 5,141 ✭✭✭Yakuza


    According to the first few posts from this google search, you are correct in that you don't use the apostrophe.


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    #4
    Talliesin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,314 ✭✭✭Talliesin


    The use of an apostrophes for the plurals of an initialism is generally considered more old-fashioned than the form without. Similarly with the use of periods after each letter, though there's also a matter of some initialisms traditionally having them and some, particularly those acronyms pronouced as words, not.

    Both forms are received English though.


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    #5
    Twinkle-star15
    Registered Users Posts: 392 ✭✭Twinkle-star15


    IMO, if you use full stops (eg- P.C.) then you use the apostrophe, but if not, you don't. I think that's preference more than an actual guideline though.


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