Grammar for People Who Hate Rules: Killer Tips from The Ruthless Editor Archives

When to Use an Apostrophe with Numbers and Dates

February 13, 2019 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

When to use an apostrophe…

Sometimes, “apostrophe confusion” is more apparent than reading weather reports during an extreme cold snap.

If we can trust Punxsutawney Phil, the end of these sub-zero temperatures should be near…but in case a groundhog isn’t your first choice for meteorological – or grammatical – advice, let’s cover the basics with examples inspired by fellow grammar-guru Kathleen Watson.

Adding an “s” to numbers…

If you’re pluralizing a number, don’t add an apostrophe.

Temperatures will drop into the 30s tonight.
There were four 747s waiting on the tarmac.
She said both size 8s were too loose.

Adding an “s” to decades…

If you’re writing about years as decades, don’t add an apostrophe.

He teaches a class on rock bands of the 1960s and ’70s.*
They worked together to refurbish a vintage car from the 1940s.
This is the most snowfall the region has seen since the 1980s.

When writing about a trend in a year or decade…

When a year or decade defines something that could be replaced by another proper noun, use an apostrophe to indicate possession.

During Germany’s Olympic Games in Berlin, Jesse Owens won four gold medals.
During 1936’s Olympic Games in Berlin, Jesse Owens won four gold medals.
Funds raise by Mary Holmes in 2018 surpassed Jane Smith’s efforts in 2017.
Funds raised in 2018 surpassed 2017’s efforts.
The Chicago White Sox were World Series Champions in 2005.
The Chicago White Sox were 2005’s World Series Champions.

When starting a sentence with a number…

Whenever possible, avoid using a number at the beginning of a sentence unless it’s a year. And be sure to add an apostrophe according to the rules above.

1929’s stock market crash marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
2019 was the most robust year for new car sales in our region.
Seventy percent of my day is consumed by responding to emails.

In summary…

Don’t use an apostrophe to pluralize numbers:

Incorrect: “The airline owns a fleet of 747’s.”

Correct: “The airline owns a fleet of 747s.”

Don’t use an apostrophe with a number that indicates a decade:

Incorrect: “The 1960’s were marked by advances in civil rights and space travel.”

Correct: “The 1960s were marked by advances in civil rights and space travel.”

Do use an apostrophe to designate possession.

Incorrect: “Funds raised this year surpassed 2019s target.”

Correct: “Funds raised this year surpassed 2019’s target.”

*Bonus: Use an apostrophe to indicate missing digits.

Incorrect: “Most people look back at the 60s with fondness.”

Correct: “Most people look back at the ’60s with fondness.”

Following the guidelines of good grammar is always important. Why? When you communicate in a clear, correct manner, your message carries more resonance and credibility.

What are some of the grammar rules that trip you up in your everyday communication? I’d love to know.

Did you find this article helpful? Here are a few more gems.

Poor Writing Means Your Credibility is at Stake!
Active Verbs Motivate Your Reader to Take Action When the Time is Right

Thanks to Kathy Watson for her input to this post. I highly recommend her reference guide Grammar for People Who Hate Rules to help you get over the grammar hump with ease.

Do You Lie Down or Lay Down?

October 17, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Kathleen Watson (used with permission)

Lie vs. lay is one of our most confusing word choices.

You might want to lie down when you finish reading this blog, but I’ll lay it on you lie-vs-lay-on-beach-150x150 anyway. I’m counting on my examples to help you make the right choices.

lie: to recline

Nicole can’t wait to lie on the beach in Florida.
Steve thinks he should lie on several mattresses before he decides which one to buy.
Grandpa likes to lie on the couch and take a nap.

Tip: Lie shares three letters — l, i and e — and a similar i sound with recline.

Other forms of lie:

Grandpa lies on the couch every day.
He will lie on the couch tomorrow.
He has lain on the couch every day for a month.
He would have lain there sooner if he’d had the chance.
but: He lay there all yesterday afternoon.*

Tip: You want to recline, to lie, on something soft. The letter d is a hard sound, so laid should never be used when talking about reclining.

lay: to place

Nicole wants me to lay her towel on the sand.
The salesperson asked Steve to lay his shoes on the floor before trying the mattress.
Grandpa asked me to lay his glasses on the nightstand.

Tip: Lay shares two letters‚ l and a — and a similar a sound with place.

And lay requires an object; you have to lay something: a book, a set of keys, a pair of shoes, etc.

Other forms of lay:

I lay Grandpa’s glasses on the nightstand.
I laid them on the nightstand yesterday.
I will lay the glasses there tomorrow.
He often has laid them there himself.
I would not have laid them there if he hadn’t asked me to.
but: Grandpa left his glasses lying on the nightstand.*

Notice the two exceptions:*

The past tense of lie is lay, the verb that also means to place:

He lay there all yesterday afternoon.*

Although you lay objects on something, once they get there, they are described as lying.

Grandpa left his glasses lying on the nightstand.*

I have yet to think of a catchy, easy way to remember the difference between these two uses of lie and lay. In essence:

Lie is to recline. Lay is to place.
The past tense of lie is lay. An object that is placed somewhere is lying there.

Is it any wonder people consider English a complicated language?!

You likely won’t be judged for using lie or lay wrong; few people keep them straight. But as The Ruthless Editor, I need to know the difference and to try to set a good example.

Two more tips:

Avoid laying in all cases; it is nonstandard English.
Don’t count on silly spellcheck to make the right choice for you.

Kathleen Watson is known as the ruthless editor. She has just published an excellent grammar book that clears up questions that have been festering. Lie vs. lay is just one of 60 tips you’ll find in Grammar for People Who Hate Rules: Killer Tips from The Ruthless Editor. At $8.95, that’s just 15 cents a tip!

To buy your copy, click on the link to order now.