Don't know if this has been asked before but isn't the correct way of saying the plural form of IP, IPs? IP's would be the posessive form, correct? I pretty sure this is the normal English grammar convention but I see IP's so much (and there are also the many other sites that use both IPs and IP's) that I wonder if it really is IP's and not IPs.

It really should be IPs and not IP's and for the reason you gave... IP's is the posessive form. At least that's what I think. :) I know I'm guilty of doing it both ways. :D

I have 200 IPs.

This IP's broadcast address is 12.23.34.255.

Originally posted by mushrew
but I see IP's so much (and there are also the many other sites that use both IPs and IP's) that I wonder if it really is IP's and not IPs. Well you certainly can't use the fact that a particular usage appears a lot on the web to determine whether it's "right!"

The general rule would be that you wouldn't use an apostrophe for the plural form of an acronym that is written without periods, unless the acronym ends in "S." But acronyms using periods would take an apostrophe, as one of the few exceptions in which a plural form would be written that way.

So a bunch of C.P.A.'s would send SOS's from multiple IPs.

Originally posted by JayC
The general rule would be that you wouldn't use an apostrophe for the plural form of an acronym that is written without periods, unless the acronym ends in "S." But acronyms using periods would take an apostrophe, as one of the few exceptions in which a plural form would be written that way.


heh... cool... I learned something new today. Thanks JayC. :)

Actually, using IPs or IP's isn't proper to begin with. In order to use an acronym within a sentence it has to make sense if the acronym is expanded, therefore it should read "I need more IP addresses" or "It's the IP address' own fault."

So why nit-pick IPs versus IP's, when the use itself isn't correct?

bla bla bla....well I guess your right...

Originally posted by DizixCom
. . . . . . . .
So why nit-pick IPs versus IP's, when the use itself isn't correct? Because we wanna say IPs. :stickout
Addresses has waaaaaaaay too many letters in it. :rolleyes:

Now that I think about, waaaaaaaay has too many letters in it.

hmmm (not sure if it has too many letters) ["hmmm" not "it"]

Now look at all the letters you made me put here; when we were just interested in how to use three.



:pimp: Sure am glad that secretarial schooling is finally paying off for me.







:D

Originally posted by JayC
Well you certainly can't use the fact that a particular usage appears a lot on the web to determine whether it's "right!"

The general rule would be that you wouldn't use an apostrophe for the plural form of an acronym that is written without periods, unless the acronym ends in "S." But acronyms using periods would take an apostrophe, as one of the few exceptions in which a plural form would be written that way.

So a bunch of C.P.A.'s would send SOS's from multiple IPs.

I thought there was a rule like which might make it IP's and so many sites have it as IP's I figured I was probably missing out on the rule, but I had no idea what it was. Thanks for your enlightenment =).

IPs, IP's would show possession. IPs shows plural.

Originally posted by DizixCom

So why nit-pick IPs versus IP's, when the use itself isn't correct?

Depends on your usage. If you are referring to multiple Internet Protocols, then IPs would be correct (unless you are referring to a trait possessed by an Internet Protocol in which case IP's would be correct).

However, most of the time, people are referring to multiple Internet Protocol Addresses, in which case you are absolutely correct, it is IP Addresses.

Of course, there are bigger fish to fry around here grammar-wise. The you're your confusion that some people seem to have is much more troublesome. :p

i see IPs most!

but have seen some IP's

I always say IPs :D

Originally posted by DizixCom
So why nit-pick IPs versus IP's, when the use itself isn't correct? Well, if you're really going to be picky, most grammarians would probably say that it's the usage that isn't correct. :)

But I think an argument could be made that "IP" has become accepted as synonymous with "IP address," based on how commonly its used that way.

Grammarian? Some of us are just curious =P.

Er, yeah, what SoftwareRevue and uualan said is good stuff. And JayC was right as well, I shoulda used usage, but, umm, I was testin ya'll! Yeah...

IPs, IP's, IP Addresses, Their, There, They're, Which or Witch. It's my language and I'll butcher it however I see fit! So they're! <-- :)

I also wonder about the usage of some acronyms, ie:

Is it an LLC or is it a LLC? Do you build your sentence assuming the acronym will be expanded, there for the word "limited" comes after the "a", or do you build your sentence assuming the acronym will be spoke as written, like "El El See", in which case "an" is more appropriate than "a".

is are was were have had has am will do does did be been, etc. etc. etc as the bald guy used to say.