Feedback

What's your question? Be descriptive.

By: [ Admin ] Asked from Denmark

What is the plural of GPS?

What is the plural of GPS?

Is it

  • GPS's

  • GPSs

  • GPSes

  • Something else

?


(Two weeks later someone added an entry on Wiktionary: GPS receiver.)

Update 2010-09-26: question on the general case, on an external site: What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?.

Add comment viewed 2,254 times Latest activity over 1 year ago

or Cancel

4 answers

  • 3

donald remero [ Moderator ]

The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Ed. says that "So far as it can be done without confusion,...form the plural by adding 's' alone."

This is also consistent with what I know of all the better technology journals. A lot of technical writers/editors can be neurotic about it, insisting that the use of an apostrophe is an egregious infringement on good taste and a marker of inadequate education.

Therefore, I say choose "GPSs."

That being said, this truly is a matter of pure style. It is not clear to me that there is anything patently "wrong" about using the apostrophe-plus-s method to make acronyms plural. And as such, the values of consistency and clarity should be overriding.

NN comments
j. d. o'conal
-

Although I agree with Mr Remero’s answer (the plural of GPS is undoubtedly GPSs), I cannot agree with his statement about the apostrophe. The apostrophe has no place in forming plurals: GPS’s (or, indeed, GPS') would mean ‘of the GPS’, not ‘multiple GPS units’.

donald remero
-

Even the Chicago guide recognizes that “mind your p’s and q’s” is standard usage. To say that this usage does not inform common practice with regard to pure acronyms is a little short-sighted based simply on the commonness of the “error.” Clearly using an apostrophe to form plurals is non-standard, but I can’t go so far in tone as to say it has “no place.” The meaning of the apostrophe, as with anything, is contextual and (gasp) may change according to context.

donald remero
-

My meaning of the term “pure style” is probably being interpreted as something like “it’s a free choice, do whatever you want.” What I actually mean is that for accepted/common usage and the regularization of printing practices, it is a matter of style. I am not saying, however, that this stylistic choice does not constitute clear usage standards, BUT you will notice that even Chicago hedges it’s bet so as to be open to choices that may avoid confusion. The only thing I take issue with is a harsh attitude about it. Using an apostrophe is an “error,” but I don’t see it as a jaw-dropping error.

or Cancel
  • 0

draemon

I would have thought it's "GPS".

GPS is an abbreviation of "Global Position System" which in the plural becomes "Global Positioning System**s** " which is still "GPS".

I see it a bit like people saying "PIN Number": The "N" already means "Number".

I'll admit this looks/sounds odd. I can say with certainty it isn't "GPS's" - as the apostrophe is only used for pluralisation in rare cases - such as pluralising letters.

or Cancel
  • 0

mjx

I have to agree that 'GPS' should function as the plural as well as the singular form, particulary given that, when people talk about 'a GPS', they're actually talking about the receiving unit (so talking about 'GPS units' or 'receivers' is another option).

or Cancel