Parents' or parent's

[LaylaandSethsmum]

I need an answer in next few mins before I leave work ( home lap top is broken).

Local newspaper headline was " Parents' fury ...." I'm probably wrong but I thought it should be parent's fury??

[wheresthehamster]

Depends if it was one set of parents or more

[LaylaandSethsmum]

One set of parents

[IdrisTheDragon]

How many parents were furious?

If one parent, then it should be parent's fury.

If more than one parent, then it should be parents' fury.

[wheresthehamster]

parent's - you were right!

[IdrisTheDragon]

One set of parents is made up of two parents, so it should be parents' fury.

[wheresthehamster]

Sorry I was wrong - it's too hot for me
One parent - parent's
More than one parent - parents'

[EffiePerine]

Parents' if there's two of them

As far as I know it isn't a collective noun

[LaylaandSethsmum]

OK cool, I can see now why its parents' not parent's, it's all too confusing!!Thanks

[PennyBenjamin]

Hmm, I would say it should be parents' fury, as parent means one person.

So, if it was a mum getting cross, it would be parent's fury, but if it is a set of two parents, it should be parents's fury?