Valentine or Valentines?

We pride ourselves on being sticklers for grammar, and one of the most common mistakes we see each February surrounds the phrase "Valentine's cards." So in case you're wondering, we're here to let you know once and for all whether "Valentine cards," "Valentines Day cards" or any number of alternative spellings are most accurate.

Although we commonly see "Valentine card" or "Valentines Day card," in fact neither of these spellings is correct. Valentine's Day is a possessive phrase shortened from Saint Valentine's Day, and therefore any phrase used to describe something related to Valentine's Day should reflect a similar structure. As a result, instead of "Valentines Day cards" or "Valentine cards," the proper spelling is "Valentine's Day cards. We're only willing to let the rule slide in the case of children handing out "valentines" to their friends and classmates.

We hope that helps clear things up. Here's to a fun February filled with plenty of Valentine's Day cards (with nary a "Valentine card" or "Valentines Day card" in sight!).