Bull's Eye Business Writing Tips

Jane Hoffman, Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation asked: We are having a hard time deciding whether Veteran Services, Veteran's Services, Veterans' Services or Veteran Services is correct. Can you help us?

My answer:

Thanks for the great question. The choice depends on what has been used as the standard form in the government.  Check with your boss, or check with the federal government.  I looked what the federal government has on the web, and the federal government uses “veteran services.”  However, some states such as Arizona uses “veterans’ services.”

I would suggest speaking to your boss.

Here’s another question regarding the apostrophe: Christine, Translator of English into French:  I have a follow-up question about this week’s topic, the "apostrophe S" I have been told by numerous English mother tongue colleagues, translators and interpreters, that "user's manual"  is not correct and that the correct form is "user manual", on the ground that, primarily, it is a manual created for the user and not a manual that belongs to the owner. Now in "The company manufactures women's blouses", I would obviously not dream of talking of a "woman blouse"... So, where does that user manual Vs user's manual stand ?

My answer: 

That’s a good question.  I have seen an “owner’s manual.”  Therefore, I would think a “user’s manual” is correct.