GCSE's - do they run out?

Although I use "GCSEs" myself, I have no problem with people using "GCSE's", given that it's the plural of an anacronym (or in other words, the apostrophe is signifying that the word "Education" has been abbreviated).

Some might say that it should really be "G.C.S.E.'s", but the periods tend to get ignored unless the abbreviation conflicts with an actual word.
 
Trifid said:
My manager and colleagues (who interviewed me) didn't ask about my GCSEs or A levels (had my interview on alevel results day last year). They were surprised when I said I did A level maths a few months ago even though it was clearly on my C.V.

I think it depends on what sort of job though.
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I think it's fairly common in some companies for very little attention to be paid to qualifications (and experience) once someone has actually got the job. Once you've been at a firm over a year, their opinion of your skills and experience will largely be based on what they've seen of you there, not what you've done in the past. It amazes me that they spend all this time coming up with skills matrices etc but then bias it heavily in terms of what roles an individual has held within that company, irrespective of the fact they may have done significantly more/different things in a previous job, or may have high level qualifications in a given area.
 
HangTime said:
Although I use "GCSEs" myself, I have no problem with people using "GCSE's", given that it's the plural of an anacronym (or in other words, the apostrophe is signifying that the word "Education" has been abbreviated).

Some might say that it should really be "G.C.S.E.'s", but the periods tend to get ignored unless the abbreviation conflicts with an actual word.
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It's not an acronym, it's not signifying that "Education" has been abbreviated, it's not "General Certificate of Secondary Education(s)" is it? As pointed out the plural in there would be on the word "certificate".

And you don't just stick apostrophes on words willy-nilly because they belong to someone, it's the owner who gets the apostrophe, not the item.

"Dave has 10 GCSEs"
"Dave's 10 GCSEs are at grade B or above"

"The GCSE comes in four parts; 1, 2, 3 and 4"
"The GCSE's four parts are 1, 2, 3 and 4"

It's a pity that being able to use an apostrophe is no longer a requirement for GCSE English Language, which is a shame, but not the end of the world.

:)
 
GCSEs are largely irrelevant once you've got better qualifications and some work experience but you may still run into a requirement for a C or above in English and Maths, especially at large organisations with a tick-list approach to recruitment.

That matter more as a stepping stone to A-Levels and then a degree.
 
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