AIBU to be infuriated with this grammar?

[Nquartz]

I come across this word multiple times a day at work, and it gives me the rage every. single. time: mens

Can that way ever be correct? I always write it men's, surely I'm right?

[AgathaCrispie]

You are right. And you are right to be annoyed.

[MrsOverTheRoad]

Well if you're talking about sentences like "Men's rights matter" then YANBU.

Is it that kind of thing?

[Nquartz]

It's things like men's shower gel or men's razors

[Allthebestnamesareused]

It can be correct if you are using latin - mens rea!

[BeyondThePage]

men is already plural, so the s can only be after an apostrophe - unless I got it wrong...

[Catsize]

Infuriated with, or infuriated by?... 😉

[Catsize]

Oh, I agree with you. Same with children's, women's etc. In huuuuuuuge 4ft letters in our local Sainsbury's.

[Dobinette]

Then you'll love this...

[Nquartz]

Oh, I agree with you. Same with children's, women's etc. In huuuuuuuge 4ft letters in our local Sainsbury's.

This is exactly what I mean

So glad it's not just me!

[OwlsinTowls]

What if it is something belonging to many boys?

It is the boy's toilet, or it is the boys' toilet? Wouldn't the former imply possession to a singular boy, and the latter plural possession?

[ImperialBlether]

Same with children's, women's etc

Eh? What's wrong with children's and women's?

[Nquartz]

Imperial

In shops they write it mens, womens, childrens etc

[NetballHoop]

I'll just pop this in here...

[HarimadSol]

How about this one?

[AWendyAteMyFitbit]

The worst is, imo, mistaking "woman' for 'women' - surely that's one of the most bizarre mistakes around. One is PLURAL, one SINGULAR. It's really quite simple. It's happening more and more and is even harder to get my head around than a missing possessive apostrophe, though that bothers me too op.

[BasketOfDeplorables]

Oh god Netball - an apostrophe in tapas!

[PocaMiseria]

You'll have to forgive the Spaniards- it's not their native language - as even English-speakers can't get it right.

[SmashingBlouses]

My grammar is crap. You either have it or you don't.

I won't lose sleep over it though.

[lazycrazyhazy]

Not sure if I missed the point but PP is right the apostrophe is before the s if the word is already plural e.g. children's playground.

With the example of boys, the boy's playground is the playground of one boy. The boys' playground is the playground of more than one boy.

The other issue is apostrophes being used inappropriately as in grocery shops where you see "tomato's". It's worth remembering that in most cases an apostrophe means belongs to. The exception is it's which only has one when it means "it is" not when something belongs to it.

[peachgreen]

@OwlsinTowls That's different because boy is singular. Men is already plural. So it would be 'boys' clothes' but 'children's clothes'. Clothes for boys, clothes for children. No s.

[NotYoda]

There seem to be people who throw in apostrophes willy nilly into plurals, and those who worry about getting it wrong so don't put any in

[BasketOfDeplorables]

Poca I was assuming that the sign for the Spanish restaurant was written by someone with English as their first language - hence shoving in the apostrophe.

[budgiegirl]

In huuuuuuuge 4ft letters in our local Sainsbury's

But that's grammatically correct, I'm pretty sure. Because it refers to a shop that was founded by one man, J Sainsbury.

[BonnesVacances]

I can see why people get confused with 's. But it's really simple and people just overcomplicate it.

1. Start with the singular
2. If needed, make it plural - usually by adding an S
3. Add 's on the end.
4. If you have S'S drop the last S

So with boy

1. Boy
2. n/a
3. Boy's
4. n'a

Boys

1. Boy
2. Boys
3. Boys's
4. Boys'

1. Man
2. Men
3. Men's
4. n/a