Language Question

[mabfan]

So far today, I've seen

Veterans Day

Veteran's Day

Veterans' Day

Which is it?

Comments

[desireearmfeldt]

I don't know which is *is*, but it *should* be (IMO) "Veterans' Day," that is, the day belonging to/in honor of all veterans.

(I suppose I might not entirely object to "Veterans Day," in that "Ice Cream Day" or "Beethoven Day" don't sound too wrong. But it's not as straightforwardly grammatical.)

[gingicat]

This.

[cellio]

Ditto.

[sdelmonte]

Armistice Day.

[sethg]

Great minds think alike.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

If you look in my last post, you'll see that I already knew that.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I was totally going to say that. :)

[sethg]

Armistice Day.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

If you look in my last post, you'll see that I already knew that.

[sethg]

I think the linked-to post has a good argument for why "Armistice Day" is not merely an alternative name for "Veterans' Day" (my preferred punctuation) but a more deserving name.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I agree, but the sad fact is that if I tried to use the term Armistice Day in this country most people would have no idea what I was talking about.

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Veterans Day says this article.

This article has more information which supports that "no apostrophe" choice, including information on the declaration of the day by Eisenhower.

The text of HR7786, which is the declaration Eisenhower signed to change the name, is here, and it supports the use of Veterans Day.

That is all I can find in the spare minutes I have. :-)

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

I say that va.gov link ftw. (See also their direct FAQ on the question.) They seem as good a party as any to have the right to "the" answer ....

[scottedelman.livejournal.com]

It's Veterinarians' Day.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

There's one in every crowd. :-)

[scottedelman.livejournal.com]

And I'm usually the one!

[debtaber.livejournal.com]

I'm in favor of the apostrophe-free version on the argument that it is a day set aside for the rest of the population to honor veterans, not a day that is possessed by veterans alone. "Veteran's" day is definitely out.

[jimvanpelt.livejournal.com]

The grammatical explanation that makes sense to me is that it is "Veterans Day" in the say way that it is the "Boys swim team."

"Veterans" is an adjective in this case telling you which day, not telling you who owns it, in the same way that "Boys" tells you which team rather than indicating the boys own the team.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Possibly it should be Veterans' Day?