A month's experience

Question

Hello,Are both examples idiomatic:I've got a month's experience as a doctor.I've got a one-month experience as a doctor?thanks!

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

The first is, but the second is not.

MustAsk · Answer

Is it because the word 'experience' is a non-count noun?

Grammarfreak · Answer

Apostrrophe, or not, to me, both sentences have semantic issues. First of all, if one only has worked as a doctor for a month, he basically has zero "experience". Secondly, " a month's experience...", sounds odd to the ear. Experience as used here should not be a countable noun. For the apostrophe question, if we change the wording a little and replace " a month" to " 5 years", then we can say " He has 5 years' experience in medical equipment industry". However, most natives are unlikely to say it that way. The other choice is, " He has 5 years of medical equipment experience.

Here is an excerpt and the link that may help clear the grammatical cobweb: http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2008/08/years-or-years.html

If you don't want to use phrases such as "a week's pay" and "five years' experience" because they seem odd or awkward, add the word of, like these correct examples:

He is owed a week of pay.
The job requires five years of experience.
In October he will begin a year of sabbatical.

But if you are happy using "a year's time" and "two weeks' notice," keep on using them confidently. Every punctuation guide on my bookshelf promotes that usage as correct

Anonymous · Answer

For me, "a week's pay" and "five years' experience" are more natural than the alternatives with "of". In fact "a week of pay" sounds positively odd.

Grammarfreak · Answer

This is from the excerpt. I agree with the you in the above contexts. But as far as " experience" and other context go, I 'd be reluctant.

Enoon · Answer

MustAskIs it because the word 'experience' is a non-count noun?

It is supposed to be in your sentences, but it isn't always. You can have a single experience: "Climbing Kilimanjaro was an exhilarating experience for us." Your second sentence, "I've got a one-month experience as a doctor?", is wrong because you tried to use it that way.

"I've got a month's experience as a doctor." This is good English. "A" means "one" sometimes, and it does here. There is no problem with that. You can have any amount of experience, but below a certain duration, it becomes comical: "I've got thirty seconds' experience as a jet pilot." You are fine with a month, though.

A month's experience

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