It’s 1900s, not 1900’s. You only use an apostrophe when you’re omitting the first two digits: ‘90s, not 90’s or ‘90’s.

Why YSK: It’s an incredibly common error and can detract from academic writing as it is factually incorrect punctuation.

  • Piecemakers@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    “Factually incorrect” is used when referring to a statement of fact (or the lack of), not incorrect punctuation, to be fair. 🤦🏼‍♂️

  • CaptObvious@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Once upon a time, apostrophes in these plurals were considered correct. If you aren’t using a particular style guide, it’s writer’s preference today.

  • bhj 🦥@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    Same when you pluralize an initialism or acronym. ATMs not ATM’s. Unless it is needed for clarity. If you had the acronym “AS” you might choose AS’s instead of ASs.

  • Mike D.@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    What do the common style guides say?

    As an example, I was taught to use the Oxford comma but know some style guides advise against using it.

    • xx3rawr@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      d̶̞̩̑ͧ̍̎̌̋o͆͑͊͒̇̑́n̘̼̞ͫͮ͊̑ͥ͜’͉̗̥͇͎͔̋̃t̯̳͉͇̘̑̀ ͚̹͔̖l̻̮̅̒ͭ̂i̬̼͎̝̘̺̋ͯͬͮs̝͈͉͚ͣ̈́ͦ͒ͥͪ̈́ṱ̖̮̙̟̂ͅén̤̣̼͘ ̢̖͍̩͕͎͎̳t̐ͭ̆̽o̦̤̥̼̦ͮ̒̈̂̋̒͘ ̤̥̘͐ͨ̚t͎̀́͑̋̈́̊̇h̻̔́ͫe̷̦̫ͪ̊̊̅̐m̉͜.̓̈́ ̨̱͍̼̺͈̩̀ͩa͕̗̎̽̾̓ḷ̩̓ͣ̇w̰ͨ̐̈́ͩa̩̐y̧͖̞̮̦̱͙̮ͥ̓̆̏ͦͧ̾s̱̼͙ͪ ̺̮̠̹̀ǘ̜̝̼͙͊̿̾̿ͤͅs̷̹̥̘͓̣ͪͩ͛̍͐ͅe̱̿͊̈́̽̑͢ ̻͕̺̦͉͒̆̕o̦̬̖̹̒̽ͤͬ͠x̨͕̻̲͔̲̭̀͛̍̋̚ͅf͈̺̰̫̾̄́ͯͬ͋ͅoͤ͑̏̇̓͜r̜̺̳͕̒́̾͆d͚̰͚̻̞͓̭͌̽ͣ͒̑ ̝̯̍̌͂̅͟c̼͍͐͊̎͐̎̅o̞̪̙͈̳m̻̬̄́m̠̰̪̱͙̍ͫ̊́͝a̸ͦ̈̾̊̋s̰ͩ̒ͫͥͦ

  • Omar Khayyám@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I disagree that this is wrong, it’s up to the writer, but yes, it is not necessary. Apostrophes are not just for possession, but also for missing letters, or separating elements for clarity: such as a group of letter u’s, or separating a surname from the plural, such as the Johnson’s. It’s this last use that people apply to the year… I think the worst point is the waste of typing the ‘ in 1900’s.

    • The Sourcerer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s up to the writer. Exactly. It’s also important to remember to pick one way of doing it and do it that way consistently throughout the work you are writing for.

  • code@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is so common that I’ve actually started second-guessing myself when I write '90s