Apostrophes (i know, i apologise but please advise)

[littleducks]

I am normally good with apostrophes but am not really a stickler for grammar.

This looks wrong to me:

with over ten years? experience of

but then I am trying to justify it. Is the experience belonging to the ten years?

[HoneyPablo]

I think the years are plural and doesn't need an apostrophe.

[Feenie]

What?

Some plurals most certainly do need apostrophes!

ten years' experience is right, OP

[MinnieBar]

It's the experience of ten years, so yes, apostrophe after.

I'd suggest using capitals properly as well if you're posting in Pedants' Corner

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Yes there should be an apostrophe. Ten years' experience implies ten years of experience - it should be "ten years' experience in" not "ten years' experience of"

[Trills]

Cartoon

Ten years ago definitely doesn't need an apostrophe, it's just a plural. More than one year.

That year's winter needs an apostrophe because it is a possessive. The winter belongs to the year.

One year's experience I think does need one because it is a kind of possessive. The experience belongs to the year.

So Ten years' experience because when a plural ends in an s and is also possessive we don't say years's, we just say years'

That's my guess.

[littleducks]

Apologies about the capitals, I was just trying to ask a quick question!

Thanks for the advice.

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Hahaha Trills - that cartoon is awesome. I especially love the end - "when in doubt, DON'T use an apostrophe!" Seems to me, everyone does the opposite of that.

[Feenie]

Only unnecessary apostrophes in plurals, I hope, SayCool!

[Shanghaidiva]

10 years' experience is correct.
As in the film Two weeks' Notice - where the apostrophe was missing!

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

But of course, Feenie.

I genuinely get a faster heart rate (in a bad way) when I see a sign that says "No dog's allowed"

"No dogs' bollocks allowed" would be fine, however

[nickelbabe]

it is the experience belonging to the ten years, so yes, "ten years' experience" is correct.

otherwise people would point and laugh that you don't know how to use an apotrophe.

[nickelbabe]

Trills - love the cartoon - especially as it allows both the pedants who say "charles's" and those who say "charles'" to be correct.

(i'm a "charles's")