When you need to schedule a visit to your physician, do you say you need to make a “Doctor Appointment” or a “doctor’s appointment”? It’s a common question, and you’ll hear both phrases used frequently in everyday English. While both options might sound right, understanding the subtle grammatical nuances can help you choose the most appropriate and conventional phrase.
If you lean towards “doctor’s appointment,” you’re in good company. This form, using the possessive apostrophe, is the more widely accepted and conventional choice among English speakers. However, the slightly less common “doctor appointment,” without the apostrophe, is also perfectly valid from a grammatical standpoint.
So, why the preference for “doctor’s appointment”? And why is “doctor appointment” still considered correct? Let’s delve into the intricacies of English grammar to unravel the reasons behind this linguistic curiosity.
Understanding the Role of the Apostrophe: Possession and More
The apostrophe followed by an ‘s’ (‘s) in English is most commonly associated with showing possession. Think of phrases like “the dog’s toy” or “Mary’s car”—here, the ‘s clearly indicates ownership. However, the function of ‘s extends beyond simple possession.
While less frequently acknowledged, ‘s can also mark plurals in certain specific instances, such as “mind your p’s and q’s.” Furthermore, it serves as a contraction for words like “us” in “let’s” and “is” in “it’s,” “she’s,” and “he’s.”
But there’s another, often overlooked role of ‘s that’s crucial to understanding “doctor’s appointment.” Consider the phrase “the bird’s song.” While it might superficially appear possessive, implying the song belongs to the bird, it’s more accurately described as the song originating from the bird. In this case, the ‘s signifies not strict possession, but rather a genitive relationship, specifically what linguists call the genitive of origin.
Diving Deeper: The Genitive Case Explained
The term “genitive case” might sound like a complex grammatical concept, but it’s fundamental to understanding the structure of many English phrases. In essence, the genitive case is a grammatical category that expresses relationships of ownership, control, or association between nouns.
Think of the genitive case as a broader category encompassing the possessive case. In modern English, the terms are often used interchangeably, primarily due to the influence of grammarians who favored “possessive case” as a simpler label. However, “genitive case” more accurately captures the diverse range of relationships beyond mere possession, including control, origin, and description.
Within the genitive case, we find categories like the “genitive of origin,” as seen in “the bird’s song.” Another relevant category is the “descriptive genitive,” which is precisely how grammar experts Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman categorize “doctor’s appointment” on their Grammarphobia blog.
According to Grammarphobia, in “doctor’s appointment,” the term “doctor’s” functions genitively to describe the type of appointment. Conversely, in “doctor appointment,” the noun “doctor” acts attributively, essentially functioning like an adjective to modify “appointment.”
In the phrase “doctor’s appointment,” the noun “doctor” is being used genitively to describe the type of appointment, while in “doctor appointment,” the noun is being used attributively (that is, adjectivally) to do the same thing.
The term “doctor’s” in the first example is often called a “descriptive genitive,” and “doctor” in the second an “attributive noun,” a “noun adjunct,” or a “noun premodifier.”
Essentially, both forms are grammatically sound. There are no rigid rules dictating whether to use a noun genitively or attributively when modifying another noun. Instead, usage often depends on what sounds more idiomatic or natural to native speakers.
Convention Rules: Why “Doctor’s Appointment” is Preferred
Research indicates that both “doctor’s appointment” and “doctor appointment” are grammatically and syntactically correct. The preference for “doctor’s appointment” when referring to a scheduled meeting with a physician is largely a matter of convention.
While the exact historical reasons for this preference are difficult to pinpoint, it’s likely that “doctor’s appointment” simply became the more common and accepted form over time, particularly as the need to differentiate types of appointments became more frequent in the latter half of the 20th century. Language evolves through usage, and in this case, “doctor’s appointment” has emerged as the idiomatic standard.
In conclusion, while “doctor appointment” is grammatically valid and understandable, “doctor’s appointment” aligns with conventional English usage and is generally considered the more natural and preferred phrase when discussing a scheduled meeting with a doctor. Both options effectively communicate the intended meaning, but opting for “doctor’s appointment” ensures clarity and adherence to established linguistic norms.
