UsingEnglish.com

Poll: Which is correct?

Which is correct?

It's a five-hour drive from here.
It's a five hours' drive from here.
Both

Statistics Poll Stats

This Poll:

  • Votes: 592
  • Comments: 9
  • Added: October 2003

Comments:

Willbut

I don't like the second. I'd say:
It's five hours' drive from here.

I think the article is wrong here.

andy

Yep. I agree. But I wouldn't use the silly apostrophe after hours.

willbut

Many purists prefer it. I think it is on its way out, though.

ad

This is clearly a possessive, so the apostrophe should be there.

tdol

It shouldn't have the apostrophe in this example because of the article. Without 'a', I'd agree with you.;-)

Amutha

It gives sense and sounds better.

Lidier

I think the second one seems to be the right one. However, the apostrophe is not necessary.

Jim

You're wrong Lidier; it's the first one. Secondly, if the article was not there, which would make the second right, the apostrophe would still be required.

louise mcbride

i am so intelligant every one says ..x hopefully im right

Browse our language polls:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

Trustpilot