Apostrophes

[Clark]

a ten-year term
or
ten years' term

In the sentence in question it's not the apostrophe but the word 'jail' used as a 'time-measurable event' that confuses me.

[Why-ME]

I agree Mate.

[Huda-M]

yeah, i was right, first sentence is correct!!! Apostrophe cant be used in this sentence.

[BookAddict]

I'd say the second is good
The use of GENITIVE
- people: John's book
- temporal expression: a week's holiday
- distance: a mile's distance
- figure of speech, small animals: at a snail's pace

[5jj]

35 posts, and the discussion continues. Posts #2 and 3 sum it up for me.

[06Pavithra]

I feel the term ten years is most appropriate than ten years ' for the very reason that the time span is clearly mentioned towards the purpose --( IE) serving sentence in the jail

[Tan Elaine]

I would write: The crime can be punished by up to ten years in jail.

[Tdol]

That's cheating a bit. Try using one year and see if you'd add 's.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Neither makes sense:

- Ten years jail: What kind of jail is a ten years jail?

- Ten years' jail: How can a jail belong to ten years?

It should be "ten years IN jail." Maybe this is just another difference between British and American English.

[Tarheel]

Neither makes sense:

- Ten years jail: What kind of jail is a ten years jail?

- Ten years' jail: How can a jail belong to ten years?

It should be "ten years IN jail." Maybe this is just another difference between British and American English.

Yes, it is.