[Editors] Grammatical question

[Eve Sullivan]

>Is the following use of "learnings" correct?
>
>"....shared their learnings with other companies......."
>
>I have a colleague who says it should be "learning's". He was an 
>English major in college, not an engineer, so I thought I'd better 
>check with this group!
>
>Thanks.
>Lois

Hi Lois,

I think the use you suggest is correct.  In my
dictionary 'learning' is listed as a noun.

No one puts an apostrophe on the third person
singular verb (put's?) or on the plural of a noun
(table's?).

The apostrophe is either to indicate possessive
(the boy's hat) or to indicate a dropped letter
(it's for it is).

Your esteemed colleague should perhaps
take a refresher course in grammar? Maybe
I am wrong and should do the same!  I look
forward to seeing the others' responses.

Regards, Eve