We mostly visit the doctor or dentist for a routine check-up or when we get sick. This involves booking an appointment with the doctor. So, how do you write this action in a sentence?
“I have a doctor’s appointment today.”
“She has a doctor appointment.”
If you’re like the majority of English speakers you’ll say “doctor’s appointment,” even though nothing is wrong with the less common “doctor appointment.”
How to use the apostrophe
Most of us use the first example when talking about visiting a doctor. However, this doesn’t mean the second one is incorrect. Let us discuss the use of the apostrophe in the first sentence.
Often we use an apostrophe and s (‘s) to carry out some of these functions:
- The apostrophe may often show possession or ownership.
Example: My mum’s email address was blocked.
- The apostrophe may also serve as the contracted form of us. An apostrophe replaces words or letters when contracting
Example: Let’s go make some pancakes. ( Let us go make some pancakes)
- ‘s functions as the contracted form of is.
Example: It’s going to be well soon. ( It is going to be well soon)
Therefore, when we say doctors appointment, does the appointment belong to the medical doctor? Since it is a noun. it becomes confusing because when you visit the doctor’s office is it the patient’s appointment or doctor who you are going to see. Then, why do we say a doctor’s appointment? The question is how are the words doctor and appointment related in terms of language.
It is really easy for people to think that since the doctor is also having an appointment with you, the term doctor’s appointment is appropriate. However, this is not the case. At first when you look at “doctor’s appointment” you might think it is just another regular possessive marker; this may not always be the instance.
In English, we have something referred to as case. In this instance, this is a genitive case. Let us explore a bit on the cases in language.
Cases in language
The English language has a few cases, but first, we want to know what a case is.
A case refers to the way nouns, pronouns, participles, adjectives and numerals are put into a category depending on the function they serve in a sentence or a phrase. We will look at how they are often used in English;
- Subjective or nominative: This means they function as the subject in a sentence or a clause
- Possessive case: This shows possession and is also sometimes termed as genitive.
- Objective case: This one shows the object receiving a certain action in a sentence.
- Genitive Case: This one shows ownership. Besides, it shows something or someone is controlling or associated with someone or something else.
- Dative cases: We use this for the indirect object in the sentence.
These are only a few of the cases as languages vary. When you say doctor’s appointment the noun doctor’s is being used genitively. Let us explore the genitive case:
Genitive case
In modern English, it is common for the genitive case to be like the possessive case. During the 18th Century, a very influential master of grammar, Bishop Lowth, thought the possessive case would sound a little much better. A lot of confusion comes when you check on the meaning of the word possess, it only means ownership.
But when we look at the genitive case apart from ownership, it also shows control, association, the date or time, the source, the type, a part of something, an amount or even a duration.
Nouns that have been linked by the genitive case may not be related to each other through possession. Here are some examples:
- Even as the dog’s bark was heard across the estate no one could find where it was.: – Here it is not about the bark belonging to the dog but as much as it comes from the dog
- I would never miss my dentist’s appointment, though I might ask him to reschedule.: – In this case, it is my appointment, it doesn’t belong to the dentist. It describes the type of appointment.
- The teacher had to check whether the girl’s story was true, though it was very interesting: – This gives the information that the source of the story is the girl and not the strict possessiveness of the story.
- Yesterday’s windy weather ruined all his crops, although it has never happened again: – This shows the date when the weather was windy
- The women’s football team did not take the results well this time: – Here, it indicates that the football team is made up of women; hence showing the type
- I will share the book’s new cover template via email by the time he is back: – The book’s cover is genitively used to show part of the book
- She didn’t know it was only like three cups’ worth.
- It would take you ten years’ experience and a lot of help to get a new good job
The seventh and eighth examples show amount and duration respectively. Note in the last two the apostrophe comes after the ‘s’.
In all the above cases the apostrophe and s (‘s) indicates association and is used genitively. This can make sense when we apply it to the doctor’s appointment. The noun doctor is being used in the genitive case to showcase the type of appointment. Hence, it is a type of genitive case known as the descriptive genitive. It is important to note that although it is descriptive it can never be termed as an adjective or a pronoun.
When it comes to doctor appointment the noun doctor is used to attribute another noun ( it is being used as an adjective). Doctor appointment is also correct since doctor is an attributive noun. Therefore, both doctor’s appointment and doctor appointment share meaning for they pass the information that you have a visit to the doctor at a specific time.
Which is correct, doctor’s or doctors?
Most people seem a little stumped by this, but it is not new. The most noticeable difference between the two forms of the noun is, doctor’s shows possession while the later indicates the plural for the noun doctor. The use of these two words all comes down to the context as we can see below.
The plural context
The most common way English words get their plural is by adding an ‘s’ to the word.
- Doctor – doctors
- Dentist – dentists
- Chair – Chairs.
Whenever you are referring more than one doctor, the best to use is doctors but it is inappropriate to use it when referring attributes like possession or the genitive case. Look at the following instances:
- The doctors office is like a fortress.
- These doctors are good they like to help whenever they can.
In the first statement, it is supposed to show the office belongs to the doctor but this is not the right way to show it. The second illustration is the right way to use doctors since it is showing that there are more than one doctor who like to help.
The possessive and genitive context
We have already covered how to show possession, by adding an apostrophe with an s (‘s). We also have in mind that apart from forming possessive words, it can also be used in the genitive case. Whether it is in possessive or in the genitive case, this depends on the context. Examine the following statements:
- I recommend a doctor’s appointment. you will thank me later.
- I recommend you subscribe to a regular doctors appointment.
In this context, the first statement genitively describes what type of appointment. The second statement is wrong and doesn’t show any possession or case.
How do you abbreviate titles?
An abbreviation is a shortened configuration of a word or a phrase. Never confuse acronyms with abbreviations for they are different. Here are some titles abbreviated when affixed to names.
- Doctor – Dr.
- Mister – Mr.
- Stock keeping unit – SKU
- Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
Always use the correct rules for abbreviating. The word doctor’s appointment is made up of two words: doctor and appointment. Both of these words have different abbreviations, “Dr.” for doctor and and “appt” for appointment.
When there is need to abbreviate doctor, note that it should always be followed by the name of a person who is actually a medical , social or scientific doctor. For instance, we say “Dr. R . J Lupin. Having this in mind, we don’t say Dr’s appointment since the abbreviation “Dr” should be followed by the name of a person.
It is not common to find the abbreviation of appointment being used. However, do not confuse it with “apt”, which is the abbreviation for apartment. When referring to a doctor’s appointment we can say “doctor’s appt”.
Although there is no clear instruction about using words in sequence which are both abbreviations, we can use abbreviations informally as long as we are not misunderstood.
- Please subscribe to a regular dr’s appt.
- What’s your dr’s appointment?
- She has to book for a doctor’s appt.
What does a routine appointment at the doctors mean?
An appointment is an agreement of meeting someone at an agreed time and place. A doctor’s appointment is a particular time the patient has set to get to see a medical doctor. This can be done through an email or online by booking a time prior in order to get the first slot available. A routine is a succession of activities that are consistently followed.
Routine appointments, especially to a family doctor, is when you visit the doctor at set intervals. In some instances, you subscribe to a routine checkup to see the doctor via email. You also receive the appointment approval in your email.
- I book my routine appointment at the doctor’s using my email address.
- Ask him if he has made a routine appointment at the doctor’s.
- I need to subscribe to a routine appointment to see the dentist.
Clap
