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<disclaimer> I would normally answer this off-list, because it is off-topic. However, every time I do that, fifteen other people say exactly the same thing I said, but on-list. So I'm doing this on-list in hopes of preempting the flood.</disclaimer>
Jason,
This is an example of a style choice. The general consensus of editors used to be that this was the way to treat simple plurals of abbreviations. AM's and PM's, DT's, etc.'s, et al.'s, and so on. The general consensus has now swung toward eliminating the apostrophe.
Nonetheless, it is a matter of choice for any given organization's style guide. It is not incorrect, so long as it is applied consistently within a work.
Dick
"Logue, Jason" wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>I have a question concerning grammar. When I see PCs in some documentation
>or on signs, I often see it in the plural possessive form - PC's - when it's
>not in the possessive.
>
>Example: The application was a "stand alone" application residing on
>individual PC's.
>
>Now, I have read that sometimes an apostrophe is used to clear up any
>possible confusion with surrounding words, but I don't think this is the
>case here or in any of the other examples.
>
>I realize this may be an elementary question, but I am seeing this in some
>very importatnt professional documentation.
>
>-Jason
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