Writing Decades: 1990s vs. 1990’s
Use “1990s,” without an apostrophe, for the plural name of the decade. The Australian Government Style Manual explicitly rejects “1990’s” for that plural; an apostrophe is appropriate only when it marks omitted digits in a shortened form such as “the ’90s.”
Write “the 1990s,” not “the 1990’s,” for the decade. Use an apostrophe in a shortened form only to mark omitted digits, as in “the ’90s.”
Key details
Important caveats
Omission Boundary
In a shortened decade such as “’90s,” the apostrophe marks the omitted “19”; it is not a plural apostrophe.
Further guidance
Plural Rule
Add s without an apostrophe to a full decade numeral: “1980s,” “1990s,” “2010s.”
Practical Application
Write a full decade with a plain plural s—“1990s.” Use an apostrophe only when a shortened decade omits digits, as in “’90s.”
Reader Check
Is the apostrophe marking omitted digits, or was it added only because the decade is plural?
Worked Example
Write “music from the 1990s.” If the house style permits the shortened form, write “music from the ’90s,” where the apostrophe marks the missing “19.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Dates and time — Australian Government Style Manual (opens in a new tab)Australian Government Style Manual · Australian Government guidance for day–month–year dates, ordinal dates, decades, centuries, time zones, and en-dash spacing in date/time spans