Short answer: it depends on what comes next. “Years’ experience” (with an apostrophe after the s) is correct when the phrase stands alone, as in “five years’ experience,” because you’re describing experience that belongs to those years — a possessive. But when you attach “of” to the phrase, like “five years of experience,” no apostrophe is needed at all. Writing plain “years experience” with no punctuation is the version grammar sticklers will flag.
The Short Answer
Here’s the rule in one line: treat “years” like a possessive when it directly modifies “experience” without “of” between them.
- Correct: “She has ten years’ experience in marketing.”
- Correct: “She has ten years of experience in marketing.”
- Incorrect: “She has ten years experience in marketing.” (missing apostrophe)
- Incorrect: “She has ten year’s experience in marketing.” (apostrophe in the wrong spot)
Why the Apostrophe Belongs There
This trips people up because “years” doesn’t look like it’s owning anything the way “the dog’s bowl” clearly belongs to the dog. But grammatically, it works the same way. Think of it as a time-based possessive, similar to “a day’s work” or “two weeks’ notice.” The experience is measured in terms of years, so the years “possess” that stretch of time. Drop the “of” and you need the apostrophe to show that relationship.
Where the apostrophe goes depends purely on whether “years” is singular or plural:
- One year: “a year’s experience” — apostrophe before the s, because it’s one singular year.
- Multiple years: “five years’ experience” — apostrophe after the s, because “years” is already plural.
The “Of” Workaround
If you’d rather sidestep the apostrophe question entirely, add “of” and the phrase becomes a straightforward prepositional one — no possessive, no punctuation to worry about. “Five years of experience” is just as correct as “five years’ experience,” and honestly, it’s the more common phrasing in everyday writing, job postings, and casual speech. Résumés and LinkedIn summaries use both forms constantly, so neither will raise eyebrows.
A Quick Comparison
| Phrase | Correct? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years experience | No | Missing apostrophe on a possessive |
| 10 years’ experience | Yes | Plural possessive, no “of” |
| 10 years of experience | Yes | “Of” makes it prepositional, no apostrophe needed |
| 10 year’s experience | No | Apostrophe placed as if singular, but 10 years is plural |
Where This Shows Up Most
You’ll see this exact wording battle play out in job listings (“requires 3 years experience”), résumé bullet points, and LinkedIn headlines. Hiring managers rarely reject a candidate over a missing apostrophe, but on a résumé — a document meant to showcase attention to detail — getting it right is a small, easy win. Style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Stylebook both support the possessive treatment for time durations, so this isn’t a matter of opinion; it’s a settled rule that just doesn’t match casual intuition.
Examples in a Sentence
- “He brings over 15 years’ experience in software architecture.”
- “After just one year’s experience, she was promoted to team lead.”
- “The role requires a minimum of two years of experience in customer service.”
- “With 20-plus years’ experience, our lead contractor has seen it all.”
Key Takeaways
- “Years’ experience” needs an apostrophe after the s when “of” is dropped, because it functions as a possessive.
- “Years of experience” needs no apostrophe — “of” replaces the possessive structure entirely.
- For a single year, the apostrophe goes before the s: “a year’s experience.”
- Plain “years experience” with no punctuation is the version most style guides consider incorrect.
- On résumés and job postings, either “years’ experience” or “years of experience” reads as professional and correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “years experience” or “years’ experience”?
“Years’ experience” is the grammatically correct form when you drop “of.” Plain “years experience” without any apostrophe is considered a punctuation error, even though it’s extremely common in casual writing and job ads.
Do you say “year’s experience” or “years’ experience”?
It depends on the number. Use “year’s experience” (apostrophe before the s) for one year, and “years’ experience” (apostrophe after the s) for more than one year.
Is “5 years of experience” grammatically correct?
Yes. Adding “of” turns the phrase into a normal prepositional construction, so no apostrophe is required. “5 years of experience” and “5 years’ experience” are both correct and mean the same thing.
Can I just write “5 years experience” on my résumé?
You can, and many people do, but strictly speaking it’s missing a needed apostrophe. If you want your résumé to be punctuation-perfect, use “5 years’ experience” or “5 years of experience” instead.
Why does “years” need an apostrophe if it’s not showing ownership?
It’s a time-based possessive, the same pattern used in phrases like “a day’s pay” or “two weeks’ notice.” The years measure out the duration the experience covers, so grammatically they “possess” it.
Small punctuation choices like this rarely make or break a sentence’s meaning, but getting them right shows care — especially on a résumé. Browse more quick grammar fixes on the site next time a phrase like this catches you off guard.