Residents Parking, or Residents' Parking

[Martin]

Should the street sign read RESIDENTS PARKING ONLY or RESIDENTS' PARKING ONLY?

I'd supposed the latter, as it is parking FOR the residents (just like girls' school is a school FOR the girls), but it has been suggested to me that RESIDENTS is being used adjectivally and that this would imply no apostrophe.

[Pete]

I think that either is acceptable, for precisely the reasons you give, Martin.

[Tone]

>I think that either is acceptable, for precisely the reasons you give, Martin. <

Indeed yes.
Some people just like to use the possessive.

Tone

[Pete]

But not usually the sign-writers.

[Tone]

>But not usually the sign-writers. <

But they often use an ordinary comma where an apostrophe is called for (and even not called for).
A notable sign-writer-writ sign near me announces that a motor factors premises is "Open seven day,s a week"

Tone

P.S.
Note my use of adjectival "motor factors".

[Pete]

Jun 10, 2011 19:49:24 GMT Tone said:

Note my use of adjectival "motor factors".

Duly noted.