At some point, whether while writing a corporate backgrounder, staff profiles, or an ‘About’ section, it’s fairly standard to include degree of experience. However, even with the simplest sentence constructions, possessives can be tricky business. This is especially the case regarding time and money because although seemingly awkward, it’s correct to make them possessive. Accordingly, the use of “years” takes a possessive form.  Think of it this way:

• The reputation of the woman is the woman’s reputation.
• The opinion of the executive team is the executive team’s opinion.
• The salary of a week is a week’s salary.

…And similarly, the experience of nine years is nine years’ experience.

Surprise! Just consider it another grammar oddity

The correct way to indicate possession regarding time and money is with an apostrophe:

• Carolyn gave two weeks’ notice.
• Carolyn has ten dollars’ worth.
• Carolyn will visit in one week’s time.

…And similarly, Carolyn has 20 years’ experience thinking about possessive use related to time and money.

It may seem odd, but it’s correct.

So hold your head high as you write “year’s experience” to indicate singular possessive and “years’ experience” to indicate plural possessive.  

(P.S. Just can’t do it? As an alternative, consider adding “of” and dropping the possessive and in turn, dropping the apostrophe: Carolyn has twenty years of experience. )

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