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Writing Tip: August 25, 2004
Possessive vs. Attributive Nouns
Which construction is correct in each of the following groups?
1. Fathers’ Day, Father’s Day, Fathers Day
2. Veterans’ Day, Veteran’s Day, Veterans Day
3. English Majors’ Society, English Major’s Society, English Majors Society
4. Bankers’ School, Banker’s School, Bankers School
5. International Executives’ Association, International Executive’s Association, International Executives Association
To ask which construction is "correct" in these groups is actually to pose a trick question: if these were not proper names, all of these choices could be grammatically correct depending on the context. Let's begin by examining how these phrases differ from one another:
--The first choice in each group is a plural noun in the possessive case (Fathers’, Veterans’, Majors’, Bankers’ and Executives’).
--The second choice in each group is a singular noun in the possessive case (Father’s, Veteran’s, Major’s, Banker’s, and Executive’s).
--The third choice in each group uses a plural noun that is not a possessive. We refer to it as an attributive; that is, it functions as an adjective rather than as a noun in the possessive case.
To make the best choices in the five groups above, we must consider whether the possessive or the attributive is more appropriate and, if the possessive case is appropriate, whether the possessive noun ought to be a singular possessive or a plural possessive.
Unfortunately, one rule does not govern in all cases when it comes to deciding when to treat a noun as merely attributive and when to make it possessive. The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.) admits that "the line between a possessive or genitive form and a noun used attributively--as an adjective--is sometimes fuzzy, especially in the plural." This style manual suggests that writers omit the apostrophe "in proper names (often corporate names) or where there is clearly no possessive meaning" (p. 284):
Publishers Weekly
Diners Club
Department of Veterans AffairsIn deciding whether to use an apostrophe in such constructions, we cannot always depend on logic to lead us to the correct choice. For example, referring to the second Sunday in May as "Mothers’ Day" would seem logical since we intend to honor all mothers and not simply one mother. But if we look up the phrase in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.), we find that the noun "mother" is rendered as a singular possessive: "Mother’s Day." Similarly, Webster’s gives us "Father’s Day," not "Fathers’ Day."
Webster’s also tells us that in the United States, November 11 is known as "Veterans Day"--plural, but not possessive. We might logically assume that we would render the name of a holiday honoring veterans in the same way we would render the name of a holiday honoring fathers or mothers, but once again logic will not lead us to the "correct" construction. We must rely on a reputable dictionary to tell us what has become the acceptable form for commonly used proper names such as these. In other words, knowing the "correct" form (apostrophe or no apostrophe) of widely used names means not that we follow a certain rule but that we determine what has become the conventional usage.
This issue arises particularly when we must render the titles or names of conventions, institutions, associations, societies, and the like (as in groups 3, 4, and 5 above), which we are not likely to find in any dictionary. Clearly, we cannot rely on logic alone to determine whether the possessive case is appropriate. And even if we do try to apply logic, sometimes it is unclear whether possession is indicated or not. In our third example above, for example, we could argue that the society belongs to a group of English majors (English Majors’ Society), or we could say, simply, that it is an organization for them (English Majors Society).
In the absence of a ruling in a reputable dictionary, then, we have to find out how the organization itself handles its name in official publications. If an organization does not use the apostrophe in its name, then neither should we--even if we could argue logically that possession is indicated. We would not, therefore, use an apostrophe in "South Carolina Bankers School," "Texas Classroom Teachers Association," or "International Executives Association" because the organizations themselves do not do so. Likewise, even though the names "Randolph-Macon Woman's College" and "The Navy Enlisted Man's Club" may at first seem counterintuitive (neither of these institutions belongs to or serves only one woman or one man), we must nonetheless render the names exactly as the institutions do. We can find this information on an organization’s Web site, its letterhead stationery, or other official literature it produces.
In situations where a new organization or conference is being created, the founders must decide how to handle the title. Most organizations omit the apostrophe and treat the noun as attributive rather than possessive, suggesting that the organization or conference does not belong to the group but exists to serve its members.
However, plural nouns that do not end in "s"--words such as "children," "women," and "men"--are almost always treated as possessives, no matter what the logic would be. We could argue, for example, that the Bakersville Children’s Home does not belong to the children but rather is for them. However, no one would consider writing "Bakersville Children Home." Likewise, the London Men’s Convention may more logically be for the men of London than belong to them, but "London Men Convention" would sound odd to most ears.
Thus, when you are confused about whether a noun in a title or proper name is attributive or possessive, follow these steps:
(1) See if the title or name appears in a reputable dictionary (as do "Father’s Day" and "Veterans Day," for example).
(2) If the name or title does not appear in the dictionary, check to see how the group or organization itself is rendering it.
(3) If the name or title in question is not well-enough established for a precedent to have been set in regard to its rendering, then make a decision based on logic (is possession clearly indicated?) and sound (would the phrase sound odd if the noun were not in the possessive case?).
Copyright 2004 Get It Write
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