's in acronyms

Question

Is it correct when abbrevating purchase orders (plural, not possessive) to use PO's? I've seen people use PO's and even RFP's (request for proposal) instead of POs and RFPs.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I'd say it's correct to use the apostrophe, because it signifies that there are (lots of) letters omitted.

Best wishes, Clive

Mister Micawber · Answer

Sorry to disagree with Clive, but I am of the same opinion as the [url=http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/]APOSTROPHE PROTECTION SOCIETY[/url], which avers that the apostrophe is to be used only for possession, and never for plural. The apostrophes thrust rudely into these examples do not indicate omitted letters-- we do not write N'A'T'O' for NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Acronyms are not contracted forms.

I myself have been known to use a plural apostrophe in those limited cases (not including POs and RFPs) when the absence of one makes the intention definitely confusing: mind your p's and q's, for instance, rather than ps and qs-- but only in such extreme cases, and only after considerable soul-searching.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Point well taken. All I can do is throw myself on the mercy of the APOSTROPHE PROTECTION SOCIETY and have my counsel enter a plea in mitigation:

My Lords,

My client deeply regrets 'shooting from the hip' in this matter.

As regards the rude insertion of an apostrophe, he acknowledges the offence but claims that he was provoked by the deplorable modern habit of omitting to include a period after each letter in an abbreviation.

He states that he can accept cases where the abbreviation ends with a consonant (RFPs, VIPs, HQs, ICBMS) but that cases which end in a vowel (POs, BAs, CEOs, OBEs, DAs, NCOs) seem to him to resemble a tortured and unnatural word, not only an offence against nature but an abomination. He is, if you will, a victim of his own highly-developed aesthetic sensibility.

In closing, I draw the attention of Your Lordships to my client's fairly unblemished character and await that mercy which is the hallmark of all APSs (Apostrophe Appreciation Societies) throughout the civilized world.

MrPedantic · Answer

Let's hope those APSs aren't too monolithic. Otherwise it'll be the APSs' CEO's' mercy...

Mister Micawber · Answer

Cases which end in a vowel (POs, BAs, CEOs, OBEs, DAs, NCOs) seem to him to resemble a tortured and unnatural word, not only an offence against nature but an abomination. He is, if you will, a victim of his own highly-developed aesthetic sensibility.

Case dismissed on grounds of compassion.

Dodwell · Answer

Thank you for your response. I think I will follow your rule unless confusion plays a part (your example of p's and q's).

's in acronyms

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