Which sentence is correct?

Question

A) Without the attorney's signature, we couldn't file the complaint.

B) Without the attornies' signatures we couldn't file the complaint.

C) Without the attorney's signature we couldn't file the complaint.

D) Without the attornies signature, we couldn't file the complaint.

Answer 1

There are three things being considered here:

Is there one attorney or are there multiple attorneys?

Who does the signature belong to?

Do we need a comma?

The signature belongs to one attorney. Since there is only one attorney, the apostrophe goes before the s.

Lastly, is the phrase, “without the...signature” an introductory phrase? An introductory phrase doesn’t have a subject and a verb. This phrase has a subject, but it is missing a verb. So it is an introductory phrase and therefore needs a comma.

Now put the pieces together to choose the correct answer.

Answer 2

Three tutors, three opinions. I'm sorry, but this is what you'll sometimes get.

From my point of view, only answer A is correct. Why? Because the comma is missing in answers B and C, and the apostrophe is missing in answer D, whereas answer A does everything correctly.

Answer 3

B and C can both be correct, depending if there is one attorney or more than one attorney in the case.

A and D are not correct because the comma after signature in each sentence means that what precedes the comma is not essential but the material before the comma is essential. In addition, in D attornies needs an apostrophe.