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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Apostrophe usage
I'm confused whether to use apostrophe in the following examples:
He will get an award of attorneys' fees. (Sometimes "attorney fees" is used interchangeably, hence my confusion of whether it's just the name of the fees or if it's possessive)
OR
He will get an award of attorneys fees. (Meaning just the name of the fees)
OR
He will get an award of attorney's fees. (Singular)
CONFUSION WITH THIS AS WELL:
Nurses' station
OR
Nurses station.
He will get an award of attorneys' fees. (Sometimes "attorney fees" is used interchangeably, hence my confusion of whether it's just the name of the fees or if it's possessive)
OR
He will get an award of attorneys fees. (Meaning just the name of the fees)
OR
He will get an award of attorney's fees. (Singular)
CONFUSION WITH THIS AS WELL:
Nurses' station
OR
Nurses station.
Top answer
It all depends. With one person (or thing) the apostrophe goes in front of the s. With two or more, it goes behind.
- It all depends.
- With one person (or thing) the apostrophe goes in front of the s.
- With two or more, it goes behind.
- This does not apply to pronouns, of course.
- Examples: Nurse's Station - One nurse Nurses' Station - More than one nurse And I believe that "attorney's fees" is correct, but it's a tricky sentence.
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5 Answers
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It all depends. With one person (or thing) the apostrophe goes in front of the s. With two or more, it goes behind. This does not apply to pronouns, of course.
Examples:
Nurse's Station - One nurse
Nurses' Station - More than one nurse
And I believe that "attorney's fees" is correct, but it's a tricky sentence.
Examples:
Nurse's Station - One nurse
Nurses' Station - More than one nurse
And I believe that "attorney's fees" is correct, but it's a tricky sentence.
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He will get an award of attorney's fees. Can someone explain the meaning of this sentence?
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The sentence reads better if written as follows:
He will be awarded attorney's fees.
The likely scenario is a lawsuit in which the losing party is obligated to pay the winner's legal costs.
He will be awarded attorney's fees.
The likely scenario is a lawsuit in which the losing party is obligated to pay the winner's legal costs.
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I made a mistake. What I wrote should have been:
He will be awarded attorneys' fees.
Sorry.
He will be awarded attorneys' fees.
Sorry.
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0 I think the original poster understands how to place an apostrophe in plural vs. singular possessives. 02 br
02 br
00 The question is specifically about the term "attorneys fees." I've seen it written with and without the apostrophe. What I'd like to know is if there is an accepted rule for writing it. 02 br
02 br
00 --If it is to be written with "attorneys
02 br
00 The question is specifically about the term "attorneys fees." I've seen it written with and without the apostrophe. What I'd like to know is if there is an accepted rule for writing it. 02 br
02 br
00 --If it is to be written with "attorneys
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