If I am writing a guide for beginners should it be 'A Beginner's Guide' or 'A Beginners' Guide' or are both correct?
I have seen both used in various places although the use of beginner's seems to be more popular.
Both seem to make sense to me - it can be a guide for many beginners, in which case it is the beginners' guide, or it can be a guide for a beginner (an imaginary example beginner), in which it is a beginner's guide.
I've always though A Beginners' guide seems like better syntax just because it doesn't rely on implying an imaginary example, but that way is less commonly used. Does anybody know if either one is objectively correct, or have any thoughts on which one is best to use?
There can be a significant difference between the number of searches and the number of competitors for something titled Beginner's Guide, Beginners' Guide or Beginners Guide.
Use the Google keyword Planner and search results pages to help you make the decision. Search on Google for Electronics Beginner's Guide, Electronics Beginners' Guide and Electronics Beginners Guide to see the difference in competition and in results displayed.
That's a great idea - screw grammar and chase the cash instead!!!! I like your style Writer Fox.
Cash is the new grammar. That's how the term 'Web site' got changed to 'website.' It happened because Google willed it to happen and now that's the correct spelling in the dictionary.
Writer Fox, you are clever and cunning as a fox. You sure picked the right name.
"A Beginner's guide" ONE beginner
"Beginners' Guide" Multiple beginners
"Beginners Guide" Acceptable common usage
A Beginner's Guide
Beginners' Guides
edit: if anyone who genuinely knows weird grammar rules comes along I will back out.
I was a sixty's child, wild and free, expression was everything and apostrophes were designed by Victorians to break tender spirits.
s' is for plurals and Golems. And also Tom Waits.
Unless someone who looks like a school marm comes along and shouts at me.
I am guessing Melissa will be along to put me in my place, soon.
Perhaps Rebekah will break my foolishness to me more gently.
Also why do so many women have names that no one can spell?
I had my mother name me something simple for your benefit.
Out of mystery they came
With a hard to spell name
To commence this here game
Called life
They get all in your head
Then they take you to bed
Till those two words are said
Your wife
Run your life from the start
Till you're just an old fart
And till death do us part.....becomes a goal
Thanks Will, but couldn't it be a singular guide for multiple beginners - with the 'A' implying the singular guide rather than a singular beginner?
OK , I'll be the schoolmarm and say, " A Beginner's Guide".. especially since you put "A" in front which signifies singular.
You may be addressing this to many beginners, but sort of individually , one at a time. It sounds better, too.
Yes but the real issue is
Beginners' Guides
or
Beginner's Guides
?
It depends on whether you are writing multiple guides for a single beginner, or multiple beginners.
You could, of course, avoid the headache entirely by choosing to name it "A Guide for Beginners."
I was thinking of multiple guides for multiple beginners.
@classicgeek - that's a great idea, it would sidestep the whole ambiguity altogether!
My non-marmish opinion is that you've got it right. We need cclitgirl to drop by and address this issue. She's an expert, and very non-marmish.
I believe your choice and use of the article "A" determines which is correct. "A", of course is singular and implies that you are talking about a singular item: a ball, the balls, ball or balls. "A" makes it a singular beginner. You could choose: Beginners' Guide or Beginner's Guide, but the "A" implies single beginner. Hope that helped.
But the 'A' could refer to the beginner or the guide in the sentence 'A beginner's / beginners' guide'. Which one does or should it refer to?
You can keep your title SEO friendly and make it more attractive at the same time using something like : Beginner's guide to InsertTopicHere: Electronics 101 or something else that draws attention.
Thanks for the tip, that's a good idea.
I would only use A Beginners' Guide if it is product directed to married couples. Just saying.
The "A" denotes the word "beginner" is singular. If there is more than one guide it could be "A beginner's guides", which I do not think is the intent.
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