How do you write it: 1990s or 1990's?

Question

When writing decades do you write them like 1990s or 1990's? I had a teacher that once did a 10 minute rant on the fact that no one does this right, but I cannot remember which way is correct!

My meaning is the whole span of the decade, not just the year 1990. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

1990s

That's one of my major irritants. The only time apostrophes are used are to indicate possessive or a contraction.

If one is saying "1990 is the year my car was built.", it's acceptable to say, "1990's the year my car was built." If one can say, "1990's most popular song was xxxx.", that indicates that "the most popular song" belongs to 1990.

If you're referring to the decade 1990, 1991... 1999, you've got a simple plural, thus rather than one 1990, there are a whole decade of them, there is no apostrophe.

Answer 2

I would think that 1990s is the more correct form. I seem to remember being told at school that when you put in an apostrophe it means 'belonging to' . As your question refers to more than one year, I would think that 1990's refers only to the year 1990.

Answer 3

1990s is the write answer. Have a look at following reference, it clearly explains it :)

http://www.theyuniversity.net/post/51573910621/yo-grammar-is-it-the-1990s-the-1990s-the

Answer 4

1990's

Answer 5

1990s

It's not possessive. So it can't be 1990's. It's plural so...1990s

Answer 6

Do it the second way (1990's).