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Possible Duplicates:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
What is the proper way to indicate possession when using an abbreviation such as Dr.?

An example:

Most DD's have good packaging skills.

How did things come to that instead of:

Most DDs have good packaging skills.

Compare that to:

Most Debian Developers have good packaging skills.

[update] This question was asked with the presumption that the first example is correct, so I was surprised to find that it isn't the case.

Community
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tshepang
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    They don't. Many style guides recommend no apostrophe in "DDs". – ShreevatsaR Feb 03 '11 at 16:35
  • check this link. I think the question is duplicated. – Manoochehr Feb 03 '11 at 16:51
  • http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/10286/what-is-the-proper-way-to-indicate-possession-when-using-an-abbreviation-such-as/10292#10292 – Manoochehr Feb 03 '11 at 16:52
  • @man Although it's related, it really is a different question (and answer). – tshepang Feb 03 '11 at 16:58
  • The other question is about abbreviations like Dr., which is a very specific type of abbreviation. – apaderno Feb 03 '11 at 17:01
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    @kiamlaluno: well then, how about this: What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? – RegDwigнt Feb 03 '11 at 17:05
  • @RegDwight: That is indeed the correct one. – apaderno Feb 03 '11 at 17:08
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    It's not really a duplicate. He isn't asking which usage is correct, he's asking how the incorrect usage arose. – chaos Feb 03 '11 at 17:42
  • @chaos: fair to say, but I don't think there's a reliable and objective answer to that question. Speculating that it's just too many people going "OMG here comes an S" at once is probably as objective as it gets. Which is to say: not objective at all. Also, note OP's edit; he wasn't even aware that this usage is not universally recommended, which is precisely what is addressed by that other question. Had he found it, he probably wouldn't be asking this one. – RegDwigнt Feb 03 '11 at 17:56
  • @RegDwight: Thankfully, this is SE, not Wikipedia, so I am allowed to answer based on truth, not verifiability. :) – chaos Feb 03 '11 at 17:57
  • @chaos: I didn't even notice that that answer was by you. (^_^) – RegDwigнt Feb 03 '11 at 18:01
  • @reg I still think this question shouldn't be closed. Also, I might as well tag this one [history]. I also don't see why this can't objectively answered. Sure @chaos's aswer might be a mere guess, but it's a very good one, and a number of voters see to agree. – tshepang Feb 03 '11 at 18:11
  • Duly noted, Tshepang. Note that we still need two close votes, so it won't be closed necessarily. Also, chaos' answer will stay for people to upvote and yourself to accept even if the question does get closed. – RegDwigнt Feb 03 '11 at 18:17
  • @chaos there was a real duplicate a month later at http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/16967/why-did-they-spell-urls so the question can still be answered. – Jon Hanna Feb 19 '13 at 17:29

2 Answers2

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The (IMO, mistaken) apostrophe-based usage arises out of a feeling of awkwardness in simply appending an s or es to an acronym or initialism.

chaos
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The first quote is still considered incorrect, although (depressingly) widely used. "DDs" is likely to be strongly favoured (or favored for our US members) here...

Mike Woodhouse
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