I would like as many eyes as possible on this edit where I edit the release group title (releases should follow) to the printed title, back from a fixed English title even mentioned in our Style/Principle/Error_correction_and_artist_intent guidelines (@reosarevok).
We could say that, as all track titles are also in full lowercase, they are more a design thing than actually part of the title, we can remove the lowercase style:
EP’s 1988–1991
But the apostrophe S seems like artist intent to me. Or at least as THE official title.
As it is really use consistently across all editions and also updated official websites.
What do you think?
Should we still keep this as EPs?
Note that I can’t realise how much this is an English error, myself (I’m French).
EP’s may be “wrong” English, but I think the artist has made it Artist’s Intent here. They use it consistently as the title. I also notice Wikipedia has picked up and used it too.
Often in written UK English that apostrophe sneaks into text like EP’s, LP’s or 1980’s. It is technically wrong, but in common use.
“EPs” could look like a TLA. Their choice of lower case would look like “eps” and therefore lead to confusion. The apostrophe adds clarity.
I would use EP’s throughout as the title, but would still describe them as “A collection of EPs”.
(if it wasn’t against guidelines, I would go one step further and use ep’s as all their titles seem to be lower case… but that would cause a riot so best avoided)
As far as I know, EPs is standard British English, EP’s is standard American English (although the idea of any ‘standard’ for English is a bit far-fetched).
The correct way (in the USA) to write these things are EPs LPs 80s 90s 45s etc.
But, since the internet and texting (typing, not speaking) has become prevalent, it has become acceptable to write with the apostrophe. It is not proper, but can make a difference in clarity when discussing certain issues.
It’s consistently printed and typed with the apostrophe by the band, so it should be there, even if it’s incorrect English (whether British or American).
