# How bout we fight a tiny bit of ignorance by correcting apostrophized decades?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-fight-a-tiny-bit-of-ignorance-by-correcting-apostrophized-decades/1018720>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 23, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-fight-a-tiny-bit-of-ignorance-by-correcting-apostrophized-decades/1018720 "2025-05-23T20:03:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-fight-a-tiny-bit-of-ignorance-by-correcting-apostrophized-decades/1018720/61 "2025-05-26T03:44:07Z")

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I think we should ban arguments about that trivial style issue, the Oxford comma, and apostrophes in decades.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bout-we-fight-a-tiny-bit-of-ignorance-by-correcting-apostrophized-decades/1018720/62 "2025-05-26T04:12:32Z")

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> [@Dinsdale](#):
>
> BTW, I originally put this in ATMB because I feared it might be considered junior-modding, or run afoul of the “don’t be a jerk” rule.
> 
> Stupid sentiment ahead - in my ignorance as to the incorrectness of the plural apostrrophe, and in light of my general feeling of helplessness in the face of so much ugliness all around, I actually thought we could accomplish one teeny bit of improvement by informing our community as to this one usage. “This starfish” and all. But, alas, my underlying premise was incorrect. ☹

ATMB is for talking about the rules here, or moderation thereof. Stuff that’s official. There was never any possibility that it was going to be against the rules to use apostrophes wrong (or based on the wrong style guide.)

But it’s perfectly fine to opine about your preferred style, and how the world is ugly and we can many it nicer, here in MPSIMS.

Thanks for starting a fun topic, that makes this board a livelier place.

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