Happy New Year, Angela! I'm trying to give some basic English grammar that people often confuse -- even here in the USA. Our language IS confusing and basically anything goes now-a-days. You are awesome. I admire your ability with different languages. xoxo
It's not possessive, Alice. It is a plural. You use an apostrophe and s to form the plurals of letters, numbers, signs and words referred to as words. 1. There are two r's and two s's in embarrassed. 2. That happened back in the 1970's. 3. The last exercise had more +'s than 0's. Try combining your ideas using fewer then's in your essay. Hope that helps. Happy New Year! xoxo
Sorry I like discussing language. The correct way is "1970s" when referring to the decade. You don't need an apostrophe because you're simply making the number plural, not showing possession.
Use "1970's" only if you're referring to something belonging to the year 1970, like "1970's biggest hit song."
For decades, you can also write "the seventies" or "'70s" (note the apostrophe faces left to indicate the omitted "19"). You may refer to Chicago manual of Style.
Thank you so much for calling my attention to this discrepancy between my older reference, Warriner’s English Grammar & Composition textbook, and other manuals. I shouldn’t have been so lazy and should have checked the APA and MLA manuals we use in my fields. I’ll do better next time. I love to learn. Thanks again!
Of course, you got it correct. Took me a second, but The Little Old Lady With The Red Purse just recognized this long-ago "USHSer." Hope you're keeping warm up there in Michigan. It's freezing here. {{Hugs}} Happy New Year!
Oh, Cathey — you’re one of the people with whom I always correct my messages. 😂 I think my fingers work faster than my brain. Or is it the other way around??? Happy New Year to you too — looking forward to next week. ❤️
Haha, this is great!! I'm guilty as charged. I do what feels right. I used to write "I love 1980's music" but then I read (and copied) another way one of the big writer's way of doing it without the apostrophe! Okay, back to the right way. Loved this! (I'll start carrying my satellite phone in case I need to communicate back with you. :)
Newspapers & magazines use an AP handbook which tells them not to use ‘ with 1980’s — ‘cause it saves space. When you write your book, you should probably follow that big writer. 😁 Love your humor. {{Hugs}}
I love the little lady with the red purse. I’m guilty of this as well. I have never been very good at writing so thank you for the lesson. And Happy New Year to the Stoneburners’ did I do that right? Hope so.
Thanks to the Little Old Lady with the red bag for this grammar lesson. In Spanish we are Los Pancorvo without plural. My resolution for this year is to make my grammar classes more fun.
All the best to you and your family in this New Year. ✨
I loved the information. For me, as a foreigner, it's great to learn more about English grammar, which is very different from Portuguese in some ways.
Ahh, if there are any grammatical errors here, please forgive me hahaha
Happy 2025 to you and the Little old lady with the red purse.
Happy New Year, Angela! I'm trying to give some basic English grammar that people often confuse -- even here in the USA. Our language IS confusing and basically anything goes now-a-days. You are awesome. I admire your ability with different languages. xoxo
I've often wondered about that. Thanks, Little Old Lady With The Red Purse.
You are welcome, Janice. Happy New Year! xoxo
its 1980s. why would that be possessive?
It's not possessive, Alice. It is a plural. You use an apostrophe and s to form the plurals of letters, numbers, signs and words referred to as words. 1. There are two r's and two s's in embarrassed. 2. That happened back in the 1970's. 3. The last exercise had more +'s than 0's. Try combining your ideas using fewer then's in your essay. Hope that helps. Happy New Year! xoxo
Sorry I like discussing language. The correct way is "1970s" when referring to the decade. You don't need an apostrophe because you're simply making the number plural, not showing possession.
Use "1970's" only if you're referring to something belonging to the year 1970, like "1970's biggest hit song."
For decades, you can also write "the seventies" or "'70s" (note the apostrophe faces left to indicate the omitted "19"). You may refer to Chicago manual of Style.
Thank you so much for calling my attention to this discrepancy between my older reference, Warriner’s English Grammar & Composition textbook, and other manuals. I shouldn’t have been so lazy and should have checked the APA and MLA manuals we use in my fields. I’ll do better next time. I love to learn. Thanks again!
Love it! -The Cheneys :)
Of course, you got it correct. Took me a second, but The Little Old Lady With The Red Purse just recognized this long-ago "USHSer." Hope you're keeping warm up there in Michigan. It's freezing here. {{Hugs}} Happy New Year!
I resolve not to send correction texts and messages, too. But typos make me crazy!! Have a fantastic 2025, Jan!
Oh, Cathey — you’re one of the people with whom I always correct my messages. 😂 I think my fingers work faster than my brain. Or is it the other way around??? Happy New Year to you too — looking forward to next week. ❤️
Me, too!
Great post. My theme for this year is “You will thrive in 2025.”
Yay! I hope I get to see you in March, Debbie, when I come to California for my granddaughter’s wedding. Happy New Year!
Haha, this is great!! I'm guilty as charged. I do what feels right. I used to write "I love 1980's music" but then I read (and copied) another way one of the big writer's way of doing it without the apostrophe! Okay, back to the right way. Loved this! (I'll start carrying my satellite phone in case I need to communicate back with you. :)
Newspapers & magazines use an AP handbook which tells them not to use ‘ with 1980’s — ‘cause it saves space. When you write your book, you should probably follow that big writer. 😁 Love your humor. {{Hugs}}
I love the little lady with the red purse. I’m guilty of this as well. I have never been very good at writing so thank you for the lesson. And Happy New Year to the Stoneburners’ did I do that right? Hope so.
Forget the ' after the s, and you've got it. Happy New Year, Shari!! xoxo
Such fun! Thanks for the reminders.
Thanks to the Little Old Lady with the red bag for this grammar lesson. In Spanish we are Los Pancorvo without plural. My resolution for this year is to make my grammar classes more fun.
All the best to you and your family in this New Year. ✨