Is just s or ’s used with acronyms? Like MBAs or MBA’s and SWPPP’s or SWPPPs
Is the rule always the same for all acronyms or are there variations?
Acronyms That Are Plural
June 17th, 2004 by Heather Hamstra
9 Responses to “Acronyms That Are Plural”
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For acronyms, the rule is to use s without the apostrophe for a plural and the apostrophe-s for a singular possessive. Form plural possessive by adding an s-apostrophe. In the following example, assume I have many parts designated CTH and CTS, and only one CTM:
"Could you give me the engineering drawings for the CTHs? While you’re at it, get me the CTSs’ drawings, too. Don’t forget that the CTM’s total length depends on the size of the mandrel."
As far as I know, the previously posted rule is true of all acronyms and also of other nonstandard word-like things such as numbers (imagine substituting part numbers 300, 400, and 500 in the given example).
Just because an acronym looks like a word, moreover, does not mean it takes the same ending as a noun in every case. Some acronyms are not nouns, but adjectives, depending on context. Some acronyms are adjectives all the time. Be careful.
M.B.A’s and Ph.D’s are correct plural forms, according to <i>Chicago</i>.
That should be "M.B.A.’s". Sorry
I once read that in America, you use an apostrophe, but in England, it’s just the s.
Since I very fortunately do not work for the University of Chicago, a Chicago newspaper, or a Chicago-based corporation (anymore), I am free to use the construction that most of the country seems to prefer and which, likewise, seems to follow the most logical and understandable rule of clarity.
"…and that seems to follow…"
(gropes for early morning coffee)
When following the write it out once rule, if the phrase is plural, e.g., Metropolitan Statistical Areas, should the abbreviation in parentheses be (MSA) or (MSAs)?
In astronomy, one usually abbreviates Supernova as SN and the plural, Supernovae, as SNe.
Is this different because it’s an abbreviation and not an acronym?
Or is it a special case of the above rule?
Or, most likely, is it plainly wrong?