Grammar check: Brit's Guide or Brits' Guide?

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Which is grammatically correct:

A Brit's Guide to Orlando

or

A Brits' Guide to Orlando

I've used both versions (I normally throw apostrophes around randomly) but I'm not sure which one is correct. Simon's book is 's but tonight I'm more tempted to use s'. Anyone like to help me out? Simon...?

Regards

Rob

 

[AlisonB]

Rob

Doesn't it depend on whether the 'a' is referring to the guide or the Brit? If it's the guide then it should be s' or if it refers to the Brit then it should be 's....

......I think!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Yes, you're right ... I think!

I assumed that the A refers to the guidebook, not the reader, hence my desire to use s'. But I suppose I could equally think of the A as refering to the Brit, in which case 's is correct. So the answer to my questions seems to be that either version is correct, depending on your state of mind! Phew, I'm glad we got that sorted out. I can sleep easy tonight.

Regards

Rob

 

[JANNYANS]

A Brit's guide means the guide belonging to a Brit the use of the apostrophe here shows possession .A Brit owns the book


A Brits' book means the book belonging to many Brits

see http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/

for more on the protection of our apostrophe.

 

[WDWfan uk]

LOL Rob!!

Alison is right I think - the Guide belongs to the Brit so therefore the apostrophe is in the correct place - 's

I should imagine Simon would have gone into this with the publisher when he chose the title ..........Simon?

 

[Sian]

It makes it easier to think about if you substitute American for Brit, eg An American's Guide - the person is singular. For the indefinite article to refer to the guide not the reader it would have to be A Guide for Brits. So, I think it is A Brit's Guide.

 

[BONZO]

Says it all really!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks to everybody, especially Bonzo's cartoon, for helping with my education! It's scary that I used to write official documents for a living but I still get apostrophyitus...

Regards

Rob

 

[SimonV]

LOL, Rob! Thanks for the mini-debate. Yes, it is Brit's and not Brits' as it is intended to be a British person's guide to, etc, etc. It is something we looked at a while back, and the apostrophe-ess version was a clear winner

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks Simon. So much trouble, over such a little punctuation mark...

Regards

Rob

 

[mike230652]

Point made ?

..............Groan ............

mike230652