Apostrophe in Organization Names
The Apostrophe
Rulebase Summary
Check carefully the names and titles of all associations, organizations, and publications when in doubt about the apostrophe. Some titles include it and others do not — there is no shortcut other than looking it up.
Examples
A. He was treated at the Veteran's Affairs hospital.
A. He was treated at the Veterans Affairs hospital.
The official name is Veterans Affairs — no apostrophe. Always verify organization names.
A. We ate at McDonalds last night.
A. We ate at McDonald's last night.
The official name is McDonald's — with an apostrophe. There is no shortcut other than looking it up.
Transcript Notes
Check carefully the names and titles of all associations, organizations, and publications when in doubt about the apostrophe. Some titles include it, others do not — there is no general rule, only what the organization itself uses. Examples of titles WITHOUT an apostrophe: Teachers College, Columbia University; Funk and Wagnalls; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Department of Veterans Affairs. Examples WITH an apostrophe: Reader's Digest; National Court Reporters Association.
Style Guide References (1)
Morson's