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What's the rule for apostrophes when it comes to abbreviations?

e.g. UFO, is it UFOs or UFO's when pluralised. And is it CD's or CDs if you're using the plural?

Thanks.

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You should not use apostrophes. One of the purposes of an apostrophe in the English language is to replace missing letters in a contraction. Therefore, because there are no missing letters in an acronym, an apostrophe should not be used.

    Source(s): Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Mass Communication and Journalism/Print Journalism.
  • 1 decade ago

    The apostrophe has three uses:

    1) to form possessives of nouns

    2) to show the omission of letters

    3) to indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters.

    Apostrophes are NOT used for possessive pronouns or for noun plurals, including acronyms.

  • Rose
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    UFOs and CDs are the plurals. UFOs' and CDs' are plural and possessive.

    I saw the one UFO in the sky. (singular)

    I saw the UFO's light in the sky. ( singular and possessive)

    I saw 10 UFOs in the sky. (plural)

    I saw 10 UFOs' lights in the sky. (plural and possessive)

    As you can see, abbreviations follow the same rules as other nouns.

    Source(s): Correcting essays for too many years to count.
  • jjc927
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    In plural form apostrophes are not used.

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