Boy’s Room vs. Boys’ Room

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, my name is Kelly. I’m from Potsdam, New York.

What can we do for you today?

Well, I observed in a high school a bathroom that was labeled

Boys Room, B-O-Y apostrophe S.

And it struck me as, hey, I don’t think it should be punctuated that way.

So I brought it up with several friends, and I have my opinion,

Which I think is right, so I don’t even think it’s an opinion.

I think it’s a fact.

I think it should be B-O-Y-S apostrophe, if you’re going to put an apostrophe.

I got mixed results on people’s opinions on whether or not the way it was labeled was correct.

I did.

Whom did you consult?

Teachers and professors and scholars?

Boys?

Scholars? Boys?

Girls?

Well, I put it on Facebook, and I let my friends reply,

And they are of mostly very educated backgrounds.

So I was surprised that there would be differences of opinion.

So you’re hanging out with a lower class of person than you first thought.

Is that what you’re saying?

You have a way with reading minds.

So, okay, so this is a standard bathroom in a high school, grade school, middle school?

A high school.

High school.

And it’s labeled boys’ room with an apostrophe, B-O-Y apostrophe S.

Correct.

That’s odd in the first place.

Let’s just forget the posture for a second.

Are there couches in there, like pinball tables?

Why is it the boys’ room?

Why is it just bathroom?

If it’s anything like the girls’ room, it’s just stalls in a sink.

Okay.

You haven’t gone in there to explore.

Right, right.

I think you still have some research to do.

Oh, no, I probably should go back.

Well, Kelly, does it say boys’ room or just boys?

I believe it says boys’ room.

It’s been a while since I went there, but as I recall, boy’s room.

And your argument that the apostrophe should come after the S to indicate that there’s more than one boy,

And the room belongs to all of them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

B-O-Y-S apostrophe room.

That’s what you’re saying.

It should be.

I’d say you’re right, Kelly.

The best thing that should be up there is B-O-Y-S apostrophe room, boy’s room.

There’s more than one boy.

It belongs to all of them, or they all can use it, and it’s clear.

Not that there’s any confusion the other way, right?

It’s not that people are actually thinking, well, which boy is it?

Can I actually go in there?

I don’t think they designated me.

Is it my turn today?

Well, it sounds like you have some Facebook friends to defriend.

Or at least start a new group with them.

Grammar is really awesome and you should learn it.

Yeah.

Well, you certainly made it crystal clear that I was right, which was my goal in calling.

Are you going to go fix the sign?

Are you going to get your whiteout and your Sharpie and do a little fixing?

I’m not sure.

Never thought beyond getting a definite answer.

Oh, yeah.

Well, Kelly, you’re right.

I’m glad that you got an answer that you liked.

Oh, I appreciate it.

Really, so much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Kelly.

All right.

Take care.

You’re welcome.

Bye-bye.

Take care, too.

Bye.

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