Apostrophe Question

[rsvp]

If I want to write the sentence
is there an apostrophe after the word years? My instinct is no but am not 100% sure. Thank you.

[Zeuhl]

Have you missed something out there rsvp?

[Zacs-Master]

In what context?

[ladyalex]

I do not think that there should be an apostrophe....but I'm not sure what your sentence is.
Can you write it out in full without the apostrophe and I'm sure loads of people will be able to tell you.

[aelmpvw]

your instinct is correct

[factor-fiction]

If you meant to add something such " after 33 years' service I have decided to retire'" then yes, you need an apostrophe.

One way to check is to imagine if it was one year. To say "one year service" would sound odd; "one years service" would sound right but would clearly be wrong; so that leaves "33 years' service"- service of 33 years

[rsvp]

Oh, don't know what happened there - sorry - the sentence is

[Old_Geezer]

No expert but I would doubt it. I can't see it would stand for something missing and as possessive does English allow a year to own something ? I think 5 years owns its own length but I doubt the rules allow it.

[Zacs-Master]

Well, that's cleared that up then (?)

[aelmpvw]

i thought 'is there an apostrophe after the word years?' was the sentence

[Zeuhl]

rsvp

are you cutting and pasting 'your sentence'?

its format appears to be invisible on AB

[rsvp]

sorry about this guys, seem to have a gremlin in my computer - the full question should read.......If I want to write the sentence >>>>>'We will offer up to two years accredited and non accredited training programmes that can include'

[rsvp]

oh dear, definitely a gremlin in the works - am off to scan.

[ladyalex]

Definitely no appstrophe needed in the sentence I can read.

[factor-fiction]

I say YES it should have an apostrophe, given that if the requirement was one year you wouldn't write one year or one years- you'd have to say one year's accredited service.
But if in doubt, change the sentence round accredited service of two years

[Mick-Talbot]

This thread is a bit of a catapostrophe

[Zacs-Master]

I agree with ff.

[Zeuhl]

No apostrophe required there rsvp

the two years is just defining the training, as would 'high quality' or 'one year' or 'five months'

the training isn't belonging to 'two year' or 'two years'

[ladyalex]

No tsure I agree about the apostrophe, FF, but I do agree that wording the sentence differently would be better all round.
We will offer training programmes of up to two years, accredited and non-accredited.

[factor-fiction]

Two years' service is a possessive, in my view- it's service of two years.
Look at what you'd say if was one year,

[Zeuhl]

ff

I think you'd need to say;

'one year of accredited training'

isn't 'two years accredited training' just an abbreviation of 'two years of accredited training'?