Specifically, the debate started when writers suddenly pondered was whether to write “Harris’s” or “Harris’” when making her name possessive. The answer would be simple, one might think. We should all be able to reach for one guide that tells us exactly what the correct answer would ...
Here are the answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about apostrophes. Where should I put the apostrophe when a name ends in “s”? Is it "James” or “James's"? As a first name, bothJames’andJames’scan be correct, depending on the style guide you use.Associated Pr...
When using an apostrophe to show possession, the first thing to check is whether the possessor (i.e., the noun that will become a possessive noun) already ends -s. If the word is singular, then it will probably not end -s, but it might (e.g., "Moses"). If the word is plural...
When somebody’s name ends with an “s” it is right to use an apostrophe without adding an “s” to show possession. For example, “Justus’ shoes.” It is also correct to add an “s” after the apostrophe. For example, “Francis’s car.” Whichever you choose to use make sure ...
Apostrophe always addresses its object in the second person. Sometimes this address involves the word "you" or the more formal "thou." Other times the "you" is not included, as when the narrator of Herman Melville's storyBartleby, the Scrivenerends his tale with the despairing apostrophe: "...
When the noun is plural and ends in an s, the apostrophe is simply added to the end of the word, with nothing else. Owners + ’ For instance: The houses’ roofs The Ryders’ caravan The horses’ hooves When the noun is plural but does not end in an s, the apostrophe is adde...
grammatical rules in English. Just add "-s", unless the name ends in "-s" or"-x", in which case, you add "-es" (The Joneses, The Marxes). <aside> Goggle Toolbar's spell checker wantedto change"Marxes" to "Marx's", among other non sequiturs, such as "Marx es". I...
What do you do with the apostrophe when you’re talking about things that belong to more than one person? When one thing belongs to two or more people jointly, make only the final name possessive: Bob and Jim’s bait shop (Bob and Jim co-own a bait shop.) Ryan, Jessica, and Elinor...
You can also place an apostrophe after the letter S when a proper singular noun ends in S. Depending on your grammar resource or style guide, you may need to add an additional S after the apostrophe. Both are grammatically correct, but some resources recommend one way or the other. ...
Justice Thomas, whose name ends with an S, seems to favor AP style, which recommends leaving off the extra S. AP style is Kansas’ Chicago Manual of Style Apostrophe Rules Justice Souter seems to prefer the recommendations of The Chicago Manual of Style, which says to add the apostrophe-S...