Apostrophes with Words Ending in “s”
While normal people wonder about apostrophes in general, believe it or not, word nerds have heated arguments over whether to use an additional s with singular possession. In this newsletter, you will get the standard, most popular decision among authorities.
Rule: To show singular possession for a word ending in an s or s sound, use the apostrophe and another s.
Examples: the class’s opinion (one class), a bass’s stripes, Marx’s theories, Dickens’s novels
Rule: To show plural possession of a word ending in an s or s sound, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe.
Examples: the classes’ opinions, the basses’ stripes, the Williamses’ car, the Soos’ house, the Marxes’ children
Quiz
Place the apostrophe (and perhaps an s) where appropriate.
1. The classes opinions were predictable according to their grade levels.
2. The lasses clothing differed according to their sewing skills.
3. The lass clothing showed her sewing skills.
4. The class suggestion to go to the science museum was approved by the teacher.
5. The Joneses house survived the flood.
6. The Crosses dog bit the mailman.
7. The Smiths boat sank.
8. Alex rooster woke us up at down.
Answers
1. The classes’ opinions were predictable according to their grade levels.
2. The lasses’ clothing differed according to their sewing skills.
3. The lass’s clothing showed her sewing skills.
4. The class’s suggestion to go to the science museum was approved by the teacher.
5. The Joneses’ house survived the flood.
6. The Crosses’ dog bit the mailman.
7. The Smiths’ boat sank.
8. Alex’s rooster woke us up at dawn.
February 2, 2007 at 11:35 am
I’m sorry, but Ms. Jones owns a house, hence it is Ms. Jones’ house, etc.
“Joneses” as such states that more than member of the Jones familiy is being referred to. Adding (incorrectly) an apostrophe paramount to stating “The hot sun is hot.”
This “new” English or “incorrect English based on general, incorrect usage” is terrible. Or should we all say “He did good” just because so many English speakers use this phrase incorrectly?
February 2, 2007 at 3:44 pm
One could say “the Jones house” using “Jones” as an adjective. One could also say “I saw the Joneses yesterday” using “Joneses” as a plural. However, one cannot say “the Joneses house” without using an apostrophe. This is a plural possessive so “the Joneses’ house” is correct.
February 4, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I have come across one very reasonable exception to the rule for single possessive nouns. That exception states that only an apostrophe should be added to form the possessive of ancient names already ending in the “s” sound to which the addition of another “s” sound would produce a very awkward pronunciation.
For example:
Aristophanes’ play
Pericles’ speech
Moses’ staff
Should this exception be widely accepted, or is there another solution for ancient names like these?
February 4, 2007 at 5:15 pm
You are right about this exception, Chris. You could include Jesus in this list:
Jesus’ teachings
February 7, 2007 at 12:25 am
Ok, so I get that it is grammatically correct to leave a ‘ AFTER an s in certain phrases. But why? I mean, what if I had a last name like Sussis, or Sessisses? People probably have a name like that, and what do you say then? Saying “I’m going to the Sussis’ house.” sounds like Sussisses! That’s a major mouthful, don’t you think? It’s just an opinion, but I’ve always wondered about that.
February 16, 2007 at 12:26 pm
It is both correct to use ‘Mrs Jones’ house’ or ‘Mrs Jones’s house’. In different countries, one is more commonly used than the other. For example, in the UK it is more common usage as ‘Mrs Jones’s house’, in Australia it is ‘Mrs Jones’ house’ but either is sometimes used and neither is incorrect.
When there is a strong s sound to the end of a name, such as Sussis, adding the apostrophe without another s is a simpler and clearer way to go, e.g. ‘The Sussis’ house.’ Writing, ‘The Sussis’s house’ would not be incorrect, just somewhat clumsy, especially for speech. The important thing is the apostrophe to show possessive and whether or not to add another s is one of the few times you can make a choice about the rules of grammar.
February 26, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Hannah, you’re correct that you can write “Mrs. Jones’ house” or “Mrs. Jones’s house.”
I prefer keeping it simple by suggesting adding the apostrophe and the “s” to all singular possessive names, regardless of the letter they end in.
March 8, 2007 at 3:52 am
I teach my students in India the use of the apostrophe for possession by telling them to write down the name of the ‘possessor’, whether singular or plural, then add the apostrophe, and finally add an ’s’ if the sound requires it. I find that this way they do not get confused about, for example, “children’s, princess’s, the Joneses’….”
March 8, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Helen, I agree and also teach this method in the Apostrophe Rules section on my web site, http://www.grammarbook.com.
March 27, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hi! My question is wedding related. I’m working on RSVP envelopes and they’d like to use i.e. “The Smith’s” , not using the word House afterwards. Is that gramatically correct? They do not want the word “House” used after the last name.
March 27, 2007 at 5:45 pm
“The Smith’s” would never be correct because “The Smiths” should be plural.
I need more of the context to help you decide between “The Smiths’” and “The Smiths.” If house is implied, you can use “The Smiths’.” Example: There will be a reception at The Smiths’ at 2:00 p.m.
March 25, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Which is correct–Kirkland and Ellis’ or …and Ellis’s? It’s a law firm.
Victoria
March 25, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Which is correct: Kirkland and Ellis’ or Kirkland and Ellis’s (it’s a law firm)?
Victoria
March 25, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Kirkland and Ellis’s
April 18, 2008 at 6:05 am
Hi,
If I had to label a photo of 3 of my friends who are named “Chris”.. would this be labelled “My three favourite Chris’s…” or “My three favourite Chris’…” or how should I label this?!
I know usually if it was a singular Chris, we’d use Chris’ ball or Chris’ pencil case, but I’m really confused with the fact there are multiple people with the name Chris!!
Thanks,
Miranda
April 18, 2008 at 2:09 pm
With plurals of names, you don’t need apostrophes.
“My three favorite Chrises”
May 26, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Which is correct:
Bob and Joe’s fight
or
Bob’s and Joe’s fight
May 26, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Bob and Joe’s fight
Since they “co-own” the fight, you need an apostrophe only before the second name.
December 5, 2008 at 10:16 am
Which use of the word “chapter” is correct in the following sentence:
I have thirty-one (chapters/chapter’s) in my book.
Thank you,
Jeff Braman
December 5, 2008 at 12:09 pm
chapters
This is a plural usage, not a possessive usage.
May 8, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I have another example that comes up at work frequently. Either I’m consistently getting it wrong, or others are. I work at “Something” Industries. When referring to our facilities, people have written:
Something Industries facilities
Something Industrie’s facilities
I have always corrected them with:
Something Industries’ facilities
Please tell me if I am right or wrong. I may be wrong, but if I am, I am not clear on the reasoning. I know you must add the apostrophe to show possession; however, since the word ends in an “s” and “Industries’s” sounds absurd, the only logical solution seems to be the one I suggested.
I am an executive level assistant in my dept. Many of the people who work with me have BS degrees in health physics or related areas. I don’t think they think I know a thing! As it turns out, I have a degree in Communications (with a concentration in PR). Many of my professors tried to convince me to switch to a major in English, but I really was interested in pursuing a communications profession and felt very confident about my spelling and grammar knowledge. I also graduated summa cum laude, which most people don’t know. It’s just interesting how people assume that, because I am not a manager, I know less about everything than them. Hey, I know stuff!
They do the technical portion of their proposals and pass them to me. I organize them and make them sparkle. They do the content; I do the magic.
Elizabeth Hollman
May 9, 2009 at 11:43 am
Elizabeth, you’re right; they’re wrong. Doesn’t it feel good to be validated?
For proof, show them Rule 4 of this page: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
May 14, 2009 at 10:41 am
I am giving a door knocker as a gift to a recently married couple… their name is Theos. What is the proper use of plural/possessive? I would think their name would be plural because there are two of them and possessive as it is their house… however I’m struggling with the ending in s?!? And I think a door knoker that reads “The Theoses’” is a bit buch and to me appears to change their last name… Please HELP! Thank you!!!
May 14, 2009 at 5:02 pm
“The Theoses” is correct. If you don’t like the looks of this, you could use “The Theos Family.” No apostrophe is used because it is not a possessive unless you write “The Theoses’ House.” I hope this helps.
June 16, 2009 at 2:08 pm
My son has an “ancient” name: Atticus. Should his possession be Atticus’s or Atticus’ (see above comment: Jane 2/4)?
June 16, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Either is correct. However, I would use Atticus’s for the possessive because you are not referring to the ancient Atticus.
August 14, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Would it be wrong to write Mrs. Evans’ classroom? Every grammar book I have including MLA materials has contradictory explanations! So frustrating!
August 19, 2009 at 9:31 pm
It is better to write Evans’s to let people know that the original name was Evans. This is not mandatory, however.
September 23, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I think the following example comes down to sounding it out:
Possessive of “Smith and Williams” (law firm)?
I know that it could either be Williams’s or Williams’. From what you’ve written and what’s been said in the comments, however, the latter is incorrect as it’s not an ancient name. I think this is a rare exception to this rule. This name when possessive and sounded out is NOT the same as “Kirkland and Ellis’s.”
Do you agree that “Smith and Williams’” is correct? And is there a rule succinctly explaining why?
September 24, 2009 at 11:50 am
I agree that Smith and Williams’ is considered acceptable. However, because the name ends in an “s,” one could assume that Williams’ means that the name was William, not Williams. To avoid confusion, I recommend using the apostrophe “s” on all names ending in “s.” I don’t hear any difference between Ellis’s and Williams’s.
See http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
June 8, 2010 at 1:57 am
I’m so glad I found this post and this website! I am getting a
married in January and will be taking on my husband’s last name. I am a stickler for good grammar so I need to know how to use
my new name. I read the whole post and all the comments, but I still just want to double check that I’m right. My new last name will be Myers. Will the plural be Myerses? And the possessive plural is Myerses’ ? And singular plural is Myers’s?
I’m only double checking because it seemed like some things I read were differentiating between names ending in an “s” sound and a “z” sound.
Thank you so much.
Jasmine
June 8, 2010 at 10:47 am
You are correct on all counts, Jasmine. Good job!
July 9, 2010 at 10:05 pm
What about a company name… Waves?
Waves’ television programs
Waves’s television programs
I think the first one seems better, but which would use the best grammar?
Thank you!
July 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm
If you write “Wave’s television programs,” you are implying that the name is “Wave” rather than “Waves.” Follow the same rule that you would for forming the possessive of common nouns ending in “s.” Therefore, “Waves’s television programs” is correct.
July 19, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Hi Jane,
My question concerns acronyms that end in “s.” I work for a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES, pronounced BO-seas) and I write technical bids for our schools. I am currently writing one on behalf of two BOCES and am concerned about the proper use of the apostrophe in plural form here. To say “Orange and Sullivan BOCES’s networks” is very clumsy, especially since no one pronounces it that way, regardless of possesion.
So, which is correct; BOCES’, BOCES’s, or BOCESes’.
Thank you!
Bob
July 19, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Bob, this is tricky because the plural of Board of Cooperative Educational Services is actually Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. Therefore, it would be better if you could write “Orange and Sullivan Boards’ networks.” The other tricky aspect is that BOCES is really being used as an adjective here rather than as a possessive noun. Therefore, you could also write, “Orange and Sullivan BOCES networks.” Either of these two choices would be much better than any of the options you intuitively dislike.
July 27, 2010 at 11:59 am
If i have a sentance that reads “At least annually, the partners review the firms human resources policies….) Would firms be as it is, or would it be firm’s, or firms’. Probably easy for most, but very confusing to me.
Thanks.
July 27, 2010 at 12:50 pm
“At least annually, the partners review the firm’s human resources policies.” Firm is singular possessive in this sentence.
July 27, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Oh, thank you so much, I really appreciate the quick reply.
August 29, 2010 at 8:04 am
I’ve decided to name my son Brooks but I’m still having a hard time figuring out what is correct.
Brooks’ looks right to me.
Brookses just looks very odd and wasn’t how I was taught..
Brookses’ still doesn’t feel right.
Then there’s Brooks’s….
With the examples in previous comments, there are a couple options and seems like all are correct but example 1 is the only one that feels right to me.
Any suggestions?
Help!
August 29, 2010 at 10:25 am
Brooks looks right to/at me.
Brooks looks very odd.
Brooks still doesn’t feel right.
Then there’s Brooks…
Don’t use apostrophes for your son’s name or it will seem as though the name is Brook, not Brooks.