omit apostrophe in noun clause

Question

we say: "International Telecommunication Union", why not: "International's Telecommunication's Union".
I feel it's hard to say: "Johnny telephone rings." So we say correctly "Johnny's telephone rings."
In all, when to use apostrophe and when not?

P.S: In German language it's common also to omit apostrophe and it's all one word then: Internationaltelecommunication..."

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

youssefdirwe say correctly "Johnny's telephone rings."

Yes, but here the telephone belongs to Johnny.

youssefdirwhy not: "International's Telecommunication's Union"

"international" is an adjective. We only place "apostrophe s" after nouns.

"telecommunication" is a noun, so the "apostrophe s" might seem possible. Yet the abstract concept of telecommunication can't truly own a union. The union doesn't belong to the concept "telecommunication".

The more abstract the thought, the less likely the use of "apostrophe s". On the other end of the spectrum, the names of people and nouns that refer to people frequently take "apostrophe s".

CJ

Youssefdir · Answer

The more abstract the thought, the less likely the use of "apostrophe s". On the other end of the spectrum, the names of people and nouns that refer to people frequently take "apostrophe s".

The boundary between the 2 limits is not a convention (a rule)? It's up to the estimation of each writer?

CalifJim · Answer

youssefdirThe boundary between the 2 limits is not a convention (a rule)?

No. There's no rule as such. Besides the "apostrophe s" and the compound noun form, there is also the of-construction, so all together you have three choices. Of these, the of-construction is usually used for the most abstract concepts.

Here are some links that may be useful to you if you want to read more on this topic:

CJ

omit apostrophe in noun clause

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