When it comes to discussing grammar rules, there are always a few debates that leave us scratching our heads. The debate over whether to use a possessive apostrophe in kids meal is one of those debates. For example, is it a kid’s meal or kids meal? Is there a definitive answer? Let’s take a look and see if we can figure it out.
The Possessive Apostrophe
The possessive apostrophe is an important part of English grammar. It is used to indicate possession or ownership of something. For example, if you have a dog, you would say “my dog’s food” to indicate that the food belongs to your dog. The apostrophe is also used to indicate a plural form of a word, such as “apples” becoming “apple’s” when you are referring to more than one apple.
The Plural Possessive Apostrophe
When you are dealing with the plural possessive apostrophe, the rules become a bit more complicated. Generally speaking, if you are referring to multiple people or things that belong to one person, you do use the apostrophe. For example, if you were talking about the children of a family, you would say “the Smith family’s children” because there is one family, but multiple children. If you were talking about multiple people and the items that belong to them, you would say “the Smiths’ children” because there are multiple people, and each person has their own children.
Is it Kids Meal or Kid’s Meal?
So, what about when it comes to kids meal? Is it a kid’s meal or kids meal? The answer is that it depends on the context. If you are referring to a meal that is meant to be shared by multiple children, such as a family dinner, then it should be written as “kids meal” without the apostrophe. On the other hand, if you are referring to a meal that is meant for one child, then it should be written as “kid’s meal” with the apostrophe.
Examples of Usage
Here are some examples of how you might use each phrase:
“The restaurant has a special kids meal for families.”
“I ordered my daughter a kid’s meal.”
Conclusion
As you can see, the usage of the possessive apostrophe in kids meal can be a bit confusing. The important thing to remember is that it depends on the context. If you are referring to a meal that is shared by multiple children, then you should use “kids meal” without the apostrophe. If you are referring to a meal that is meant for one child, then you should use “kid’s meal” with the apostrophe. With a bit of practice, you will be able to use the correct phrase in all of your writing.