'Three RBI' or.......

[LonghornCatholic]

....."Three RBI's"?

This has been killing me for a couple of years.
Many in the sports media now say, "He had 3 RBI", as opposed to "He had 3 RBI's".
I've heard the argument for using RBI but I'm not so sure that is correct.
Can someone who knows - really knows - help me with this?
What is the proper and correct way use 'runs batted in' in this context?

 

[LITNIN HORN]

RBI

 

[AstroVol]

You know who doesn't have 3 RBI?

The Houston Astros, through 2 games.

 

[Texanne]

AstroVol,

I don't care who you're a fan of, that's just funny stuff right there.

 

[accuratehorn]

Whatever the stylebook for the publication says, but I would lean towards RBI's. If you read the abbreviation as "runs batted in," then you wouldn't add the apostrophe, but if you read it as written, as an abbreviation...arr, bee, eye, then you would add the apostrophe, IMO.
What does the AP stylebook say about this? I have one at home.

 

[daytonhorn]

I hate the term "attorneys general". I say "attorney generals" because its the plural of "attorney general". But don't get me started.

 

[DigglerontheHoof]

It was always RBIs until some douchebag Disney employee started making their talking heads say RBI.

No one says thousands of POW, it's POWs. ******* ESPN.

 

[PFD]

RsBI?

 

[PFD]

In reply to:

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[Pericles]

It's been "Three RBI's" forever and a day -- no matter what some ebonics newbie wants to make it.

 

[notanative]

Unless, of course, you want to say that a particular player had a 3-RBI game.

 

[Horns11]

"ebonics newbie"

WTF does it have to do with ebonics? Proper grammar would have people saying "He had three runs batted in." Hence, 3 RBI.

Adding the plural s to the end makes it redundant. But if you're cool with calling certain sports terms certain things, like the ridiculously stupid "shuttle" pass in football, then go ahead.

 

[Nolalonghorn16]

Concur with RBI.

 

[GemStateJim]

In print, RBI is preferred but some publications accept RBIs.

RBI's, however, is substandard and should be avoided. Remember, sirs, that apostrophes do not make plurals!

 

[adUTleander]

Run's Batted In........S

Its always RBI, whether you're talking about multiple runs or just one run. R can stand for run or runs, but there should never be an 's at the end of RBI

 

[PFD]

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[LonghornCatholic]

So, if you argue that "3 RBI" is correct -
how do you grammatically reconcile POWs (prisoners of War); WMDs (weapons of mass destruction); RPMs (revolutions per minute)?
Why don't you apply the same rule to these as with RBI?

I think ESPN announcers are trying to "out think the room".
I believe "3 RBIs" is the proper and accepted English form to use -
but concede I can't prove it..........yet.

 

[KazooMan]

Some old style announcers also use "ribbies" - and we ain't talking steak. "Runs batted in" is correct. But if you look at "RBI" as a noun, instead of an abbreviation, then adding an "s' to the end of the "word" would correctly make it RBIs.

Is RBI in common enough use to be considered a noun instead of an abbreviation? I guess that depends on whether you are a member of the wild bunch or someone sitting in Deloss' box at the games. I vote for RBIs over proper English.