Reply to: Grammar question

[dang65]

That's a relief. I started reading this thread thinking that my CV had been wrong all these years but it turns out I was right all along.

Your CV had all these years' rightness, you mean?

[OrangeHopper]

"Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is a good book. Dunno if it was mentioned...

Page 41.

It [the apostrophe] indicates time or quantity:
In one week's time
Four yards' worth
Two weeks' notice

[wurzel]

Most CVs I read these days say "I am having 10 years java"

[Gonzo]

That's a relief. I started reading this thread thinking that my CV had been wrong all these years but it turns out I was right all along.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

It's:

I have ten years' experience

with an apostrophe.

This example is all over the internet and the apostrophe is correct. Which is what I first thought FWIW.

However, if you have 10 years of experience, there is no apostrophe.

Best explanation I found is here:
http://www.businesswritingblog.com/b...-or-years.html

Case closed.

Crikey - you live and learn eh?

[stek]

"Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is a good book. Dunno if it was mentioned...

[OwlHoot]

It's:

I have ten years' experience

with an apostrophe.

This example is all over the internet and the apostrophe is correct. Which is what I first thought FWIW.

However, if you have 10 years of experience, there is no apostrophe.

Best explanation I found is here:
http://www.businesswritingblog.com/b...-or-years.html

Case closed.

WHS

[Platypus]

It's:

I have ten years' experience

with an apostrophe.

This example is all over the internet and the apostrophe is correct. Which is what I first thought FWIW.

However, if you have 10 years of experience, there is no apostrophe.

Best explanation I found is here:
http://www.businesswritingblog.com/b...-or-years.html

Case closed.

[VectraMan]

So you're wrong then. OK.

Except for the fact I was right.

[d000hg]

Yes. Next.

So you're wrong then. OK.

[NickFitz]

How to Use an Apostrophe in illustrated form

[The Wikir Man]

That seems right to me, what about this one:
If I have an acronym, such as 'NDA', where the pronunciation starts with a vowel (en-dee-ay), is it correct to write 'I'll agree to sign an NDA'? Is it the same way in speech? Strictly speaking shouldn't it be written 'a NDA' and spoken 'an NDA'?

Write it as it's spoken - "an NDA".

It gets more complex if you have an acronym which could be pronounced in two different ways, e.g. SQL (see-quel, or ess-queue-ell).

To be honest, I wouldn't fuss too much - if anyone says anything, blame it on the dodgy keyboard.

[The Wikir Man]

Correct since years is a plural? Or no apostrophe at all?

"I have worked with Java for 10 years". Simple.

[OwlHoot]

But the second one is gramatically incorrect. It makes no sense to use a quantity like that; it's like saying "I have the milk of two pints".

It's figurative, like saying "I have the milk of human kindness".

Whether it makes practical sense has no bearing on the grammar.

[VectraMan]

There are 4 badgers. The badgers' feet are small. Isn't this correct?

Yes. Next.