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Urgent apostrophe help?

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  • 08-11-2014 12:48pm
    #1
    Sclosages
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 489 ✭✭


    Where should the apostrophe be in the following statement, if indeed anywhere?

    I have over 18 years' administrative experience.
    I have over 18 year's administrative experience.
    I have over 18 years administrative experience.

    I'm inclined to think it's the first one. Would it be simpler if I just wrote 'I have over 18 years of administrative experience', thereby eliminating the need for an apostrophe altogether?


Comments

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    #2
    Kenny Logins
    Registered Users Posts: 9,060 ✭✭✭Kenny Logins


    I'd go with no apostrophe.


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    #3
    Kenny Logins
    Registered Users Posts: 9,060 ✭✭✭Kenny Logins


    ...but I'd be wrong.

    http://www.writing-skills.com/years-experience-or-years-experience/


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    #4
    Sclosages
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 489 ✭✭Sclosages


    Merci!


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    #5
    Boskowski
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,361 ✭✭✭Boskowski


    Call me stupid but I'd still go with 3, defny not with 2 cos it's just the plural that brings the s into play. All there is missing is the word 'of'. 'Experience' is relating to 'I' as in 'I have experience' it's not relating to 'years'. It's not like 'my brother's experience' for example but I'm not really sure tbh, open to correction.


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    #6
    Yakuza
    Registered Users Posts: 5,141 ✭✭✭Yakuza


    Top option, or use "years of experience".
    Dealing with time periods modifies the noun, putting it into the possessive or genitive case.
    The man's hat. (The hat of the man).
    This year's fashion trend. (The fashion trend of this year).
    The last decade's most popular car.
    I have two years' worth of food in my fallout shelter.
    I have eighteen years' experience at doing xyz.


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