genitive

[clairec]

Hi,
Talking about shoes for boys in general do you say:
Boy's shoes
or
a boy's shoes?
This doubt is caused by revising a page of a grammar book I studied at university. They give the following examples: , a man's umbrella, a woman's stocking, boy's shoes. Is it just a misprint?
With plural it's easier, I think: BOYS' SHOES....Isn't it?

[TheParser]

Hi,
Talking about shoes for boys in general do you say:
Boy's shoes
or
a boy's shoes?
This doubt is caused by revising a page of a grammar book I studied at university. They give the following examples: , a man's umbrella, a woman's stocking, boy's shoes. Is it just a misprint?
With plural it's easier, I think: BOYS' SHOES....Isn't it?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Great question. Apostrophes drive everyone crazy.

(2) I think that you are 100% correct: "boy's shoes" would be correct only if you
were talking about one boy.

(3) I agree with you that the correct answer is:

Boys' shoes are now on sale at ....

(4) But many Americans are eager to remove "unnecessary" apostrophes. So I have

noticed that some stores simply advertise:

Big discount on boys shoes.

(5) So I guess in the year 2012, most people still insist on boys' shoes with some

people accepting boys shoes. But we are not ready yet to accept boy's shoes.

*****
Here in the United States, one day each year we honor all of our presidents.

I have seen the following:

Presidents' Day
President's Day
Presidents Day

(I have to admit that the "cleanest-looking" one is the third example. Some people consider many apostrophes as unnecessary "clutter.")