Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

slafaive said:

"Horticulturalist Professionals Seminar." She asked me where the apostrophe would go. Of course, I said after the "s" on "Professionals" since it's plural. By then I started wondering about the actual possession going on, and I realized there really is no possession. The professionals don't own the seminar; it's just forthem.

Is this a case of the attributive noun, or is it actually possession?

I can't see that there's a need for a possessive here – the phrase “Horticulturalist Professionals” could be being used adjectivally – it describes the seminar. I, as a non-horticulturalist, or amateur horticulturalist – wishing to find out what happens in the professional world – can attend it without the apostrophe; with the apostrophe, I am barred from attending.

The confusion lies, I feel, in the fact that the topic is also descriptive of the attendees. If the title had been “Mediaeval Knights Seminar”, would we be having this discussion? As mediaeval knights are unlikely to attend, it isn't being addressed to the audience, but to the content of the seminar.