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Plurals of Symbols

You don’t need to use an apostrophe to show the plurals of symbols.

Examples: #s 1, 2, and 3 (numbers 1, 2, and 3)
$s, not €s (dollars, not euros)

For information on apostrophes with numbers, dates, and letters, click here.

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Posted on Friday, January 29th, 2010, at 4:27 pm

Forming the Plurals of Numbers, Letters, and Abbreviations

Rule: The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.

Example: She consulted with three M.D.s. BUT
Example: She went to three M.D.s’ offices.
The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.

Example: She learned her ABCs.
Example: the 1990s, not the 1990′s
Example: the ’90s or the mid-’70s, not the ’90′s or the mid-’70′s
Example: She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.

Exception: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.
Example: Please dot your I’s.
You don’t mean Is.
Example: Ted couldn’t distinguish between her 6′s and 0′s.
You don’t mean Os.

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Posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008, at 8:31 pm

Creating Signs and Symbols on Your Keyboard

You can create signs and symbols by holding down the Alt key while you press the numbers on the right side of the keyboard. Make sure the Num Lock is on. This works in WORD, WORKS, e-mail, etc. I’ve added some symbols to my site, Grammarbook.com.

Additional Tip:

The debate about using one space or two spaces after an ending punctuation may still be raging on within the land, but the war is over according to most authorities. Use just a single space after a period, exclamation point, colon, and question mark. Please remember that I am not “the decider,” just your humble messenger.

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Posted on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007, at 5:34 am