Plural versus possessive numbers
Which sentences are correct?
- Fads of the 1980’s include shoulder pads and acid-washed jeans.
- Fads of the 1980s include shoulder pads and acid-washed jeans.
- Did 1980’s Kentucky Derby winner also win the Triple Crown?
- Did 1980s Kentucky Derby winner also win the Triple Crown?
- New wave music was popular in the 80’s.
- New wave music was popular in the ’80s.
The correct sentences are B, C, and F.
Why?
An apostrophe + s indicates the possessive form of a single year: 1980’s
An s alone indicates the plural form and represents a decade: the 1980s
An apostrophe at the front indicates a contraction and represents the missing numbers in a decade: the 1980s → the ’80s
When typing an apostrophe at the beginning of the contracted form (e.g., ’80s), make sure to use the correct character for the apostrophe. If using curly quotation marks, also known as smart quotes, insert an end curly, not a front curly.
Search the internet or ask AI for a shortcut for how to enter an end curly that is specific to your device. Alternatively, use this manual method, which will work for everyone:
- Type the first two digits of the year: 19
- Add a single smart quote: 19’
- Then type the last two digits of the year: 19’80
- End with the letter s: 19’80s
- Go back and delete the first two digits: ’80s
What about other numbers?
The same rules apply equally to other quantities.
Which sentences are correct?
- How many $5’s, $10’s, and $20’s do you have?
- How many $5s, $10s, and $20s do you have?
- Most applicants are in their 30’s and 40’s.
- Most applicants are in their 30s and 40s.
- There are 1000’s of ways to save money.
- There are 1000s of ways to save money.
The correct sentences are H, J, and L.
Why?
An s alone indicates the plural form, or multiples of, each quantity
When it comes to numbers, rarely, if ever, will you want to use an apostrophe + s.
