1. Plurals: Letters, Numbers, Symbols, Time Periods, etc.
Writing Lab
Plurals: Letters, Numbers, Symbols, Time Periods, etc.

2. Plurals
Use an apostrophe and –s to form the plurals of letters, numbers, symbols, and words named as words.
*In some cases the apostrophe may be omitted.

3. Examples: Numbers Numbers Kristi skated nearly perfect figure 8’s. or
The clothing rack did not have any size 3’s.
The clothing rack did not have any size 3s.
*Many writers omit the apostrophe with plurals of
numbers; either style is acceptable.

4. Examples: Time Periods
Look what happened to employment in the 1990’s. or
Look what happened to employment in the 1990s.
Styles of the 1970’s are back in fashion.
*Many writers omit the apostrophe with plurals of
time periods; either style is acceptable.

5. Examples: Letters
Letters Students receive no credit for courses in which they receive F’s, WF’s or W‘s. or Students receive no credit for courses in which they receive or Fs, WFs, Ws. The Italian language has no j’s or k’s.

6. Examples: Symbols Symbols
The +’s and –’s indicate positive and negative numbers.
Initials and abbreviations
Joanette McGadney has to PhD’s.

7. Examples: Words used as Words
We’ve heard enough maybe’s.
I have too many but’s in my sentence.
There are too many wherefore’s and whereas’s in legalese.

8. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson