Apostrophe Question

[rsvp]

If I want to write the sentence
is there an apostrophe after the word years? My instinct is no but am not 100% sure. Thank you.

[rojash]

I agree with FF.
I also agree with Mick-Talbot :-)

[Zeuhl]

That's persuasive ff

So if your training was delivered by Fred, would it therefore be 'of Fred'?
you'd be offering 'Fred's training'

So if your training is 'two years' it is 'of two years' and would be 'two years' training'

[DTCwordfan]

One year of service = one year's service.

Ten years of service = ten years' service.

[Zeuhl]

DT

Yes

except that the apostrophe means that it is

Service of one year, not
One year of service

[rsvp]

thank you so much everyone for sticking with me during 'a technical malfunction' - hopefully the gremlin has been banished. Think I'll look at re-wording. Very, very grateful - thanks to all.

[gingejbee]

...and stick a hyphen between "non" and "accredited", too.

[echokilo]

FF is correct - but wording the sentence as ladyalex said would be my fim favourite!

[boxtops]

I say yes - it's two years' service

[FredPuli43]

Strictly, we write " The Hundred Years' War" and "the Seven Years' War" and here it should, likewise, be "two years' training". All last for a period of years; the training is of two years. If we want it adjectival we can put " two year " as an adjectival phrase.

[rsvp]

Thank you everyone for taking the the trouble to answer - it does seem like there isn't a definitive rule but I do have a lot to think about.

[DTCwordfan]

the beauty of our language in that there are several ways to skin a proverbial grammatical cat.......

[rsvp]

and the feline is being skuffed in numerous ways DT.

[rsvp]

even scuffed!!!!

[diddlydo]

Definitely no apostrophe required.

[factor-fiction]

Okay diddlydo- so if the training was only only for one year would you say one years accredited training ?