The rule goes like this: If your name ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add -es to the end. Apostrophe. Explore these apostrophe rules to eliminate the second-guessing and write with confidence. On the other hand, some style manuals and critics suggest that apostrophes should never be used for plurals, even for lower case letters. It is rarely used to form a plural, and only when not using it would result in confusion. There are many Joneses in the world. When to use an apostrophe when your last name ends with an s. "two President Roosevelts" or "two Presidents Roosevelt?" The word family's — with an apostrophe and added "s" — is singular and shows possession. Rule: To show plural possession of a name ending in s, ch, or z, form the plural first; then immediately use the apostrophe. Never use an apostrophe to make a name plural. Use an apostrophe to indicate contractions. Never use an apostrophe to form the plural of a surname. The first name doesn't take an ''s'' or an apostrophe ''s'' ('s). A correct sentence.. Plurals of titles of books, movies, and other works are formed by adding an s. No apostrophe is needed between the italicized term and the s. The title of the work is italicized, but the s that forms the plural is not. Don’t omit the apostrophe for the contraction in don’t. This revised second edition provides an introduction to the phonetics and phonology of English. Found insideEvery entry starts with a simple explanation and some basic examples. These are followed by real-life, engaging examples, which have been painstakingly hunted down for their ability to illustrate the point. only add an apostrophe if it is a possessive use - like 'the Jones' house'. You're simply naming them in the plural.) Everything you need to know but never learnt in school. This is a straight talking and methodical grammar reference guide that is perfect for anyone who wants to write with confidence. (Yes, the majority of style manuals advocate the use of the additional s after . (The car belonged to Mr. What to Know. but your second sentence makes it clear...It will be better if you only emphasize the name.. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. You'd normally just add 's to make a singular name possessive, such as Mr. Berry's house or Mrs. Mendez's house. Misplaced apostrophes can indicate that one person owns something that really belongs to more than one, or they can turn a plural noun into a possessive. Note that in formal writing, an editor would rephrase these sentences unless quoting someone verbatim. Then, with the apostrophe positioned after the plural noun, that plural noun now possesses something: the garage. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Names that end in s are the exception to the singular possessive rule, though. Do you use an apostrophe for plural names? The next set of rules are more obscure, but worth having a read through if you feel you've mastered steps 1 to 8. In this wickedly humorous manual, language columnist June Casagrande uses grammar and syntax to show exactly what makes some sentences great—and other sentences suck. For the Possessive Case, Treat a Plural Name Like Any Other Plural Noun When an apostrophe is needed to show the possessive form of a plural family name (e.g., the Smiths, the Fords, the Bateses, the Alverezes), the name is treated just like any other plural noun that ends in "s."For example: The Smiths' cat has gone missing. The apostrophe ( ' ) has three uses: contractions, plurals, and possessives. However, some writers do prefer the apostrophe, since it can make the plural form of a word not generally used as a noun more readable. When you want to show that two people . For most names, you add an apostrophe and an "s" to make the possessive form. Strategies for Circuit Board Puzzle from NYT, Choosing my "best works" for a tenure-track application. Use an apostrophe before the s for irregular plural nouns. So our first tough issue—how to make words that end with S possessive—doesn't actually have an answer; it's a style issue and you can do it . My brother s-in-law' s season tickets Our son s-in-law' s new boat; Rule 8: Apostrophe + s with names. Plurals and Possessive Apostrophes. Correct: Apostrophes are confusing. Example: This is Hannah's orange cat. APA style requires that one write: ps, ns, etc. . You can also add an apostrophe and another letter s to make boys's. Another example: We are always losing our TVs' remote controls in the couch and under the bed. @TimLymington: I think that ambiguity would be a small price to pay if it saves me having to pronounce, grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plurals.htm, ehow.com/how_7328435_pluralize-surname-end.html. possessive, simply add an apostrophe and an "s." • Mr. Smith's car was repossessed. These rules mean you should write out any last name in full, whether it's Williams or Garcia, and simply tack something onto the end—again, no apostrophe . Shouldn’t we use "lots of" with plural nouns and "a lot of" with singular ones? Plural names of geographical features also don’t require an apostrophe. All rights reserved. The Joneses' dinner was a success. Î use an apostrophe for institutional names, place names, street names. *There is an exception to this rule: If your last name ends in ch but is pronounced with a hard /k/ sound, like the word monarch, add only an - s rather than - es. Although they look similar, apostrophes and commas are not the same. An apostrophe is mainly used to indicate possession ( the cat's whiskers, the students' demands) and contraction ( don't, you're, it's ). Use the apostrophe and -s after the second name only if two people possess the same item. An apostrophe needn’t be used to form the plural of a name (unless not using one would result in confusion). Let's suppose your last name is Jones, and you and your family want to send out holiday greeting cards or wedding invitations. Plural nouns simply mean that there is more than one. Plural Is Not the Same As Possessive. Examples: my two brothers-in-law 's hats, the two companie s' agreement, the children 's books, two year s' worth of savings; 7. The first name doesn't take an ''s'' or an apostrophe ''s'' ('s). Like any noun ending in S, the plural adds -ES, so one James, two Jameses. The first letter is in uppercase. Examples: I petted the Murphys' cat. There are seven Joneses in Stuart’s little black book—three of them Jennifers. Possessive nouns show that something belongs to a person, place, or thing. Here are some shockers: “They” was once commonly used for both singular and plural, much the way “you” is today. Otherwise, use an apostrophe after each name. Found insideIf the word is plural and ends in s, add just the apostrophe ('). ... First add es to Willis to make the name plural (Willises). This style is more common in British than in American usage. Unless you want to make your last name possessive, there aren't any circumstances where you would need to add an apostrophe. In this article, we discuss guidelines, examples, and exceptions. When the century is omitted from the decade, an apostrophe indicates the omission. Plural Is Not the Same As Possessive. In special cases, such as when forming a plural of a word that is not normally a noun, some writers add an apostrophe for clarity. To show the possessive plurals of proper names ending in s, such as Hastings and Jones. My brother s-in-law' s season tickets Our son s-in-law' s new boat; Rule 8: Apostrophe + s with names. The real challenge comes when deciding where to place the apostrophe to denote the possessive singular or the plural possessive form of a word, as in customer's compared to customers'.. Use customer's with the apostrophe before the "s," to show the possessive form for . These people are Megashops employees. Using an unnecessary apostrophe to form the plural of a noun is a very common mistake. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. If you want possessive of pluralized family name, you need to pluralize the first and simply make name possessive using the apostrophe. If the plural form doesn't end in s, use apostrophe s. The mice's fear was evident. The Hopkinses are coming over for dinner tonight. Note that even if an apostrophe is used, it should not be italicized but set in roman. The apostrophe. Found inside – Page 58The word boy (without the apostrophe and the s) is a noun that names a person. ... Do you remember how to turn a plural noun into an adjective? On the other hand, if Mr. Jones lived alone and was having a party at his place, you would write "Mr. Jones' house" or "Mr. Jones's house." To show possession of a whole family: Add -es or -s to write the family's last name in plural form. Found insideOnce you recall that Miss Thistlebottom was your elementary-school teacher who laid down all manner of taboos concerning the use of language, you will have an idea of what this book is about. An apostrophe is mainly used to indicate possession (the cat’s whiskers, the students’ demands) and contraction (don’t, you’re, it’s). This rule is perfect to follow when you're addressing wedding invitations, for instance. I visited the Murphys' store on Main Street. For most names, add an -s to make them plural. Your own name is also a proper name. In the surviving books of his Histories the barrister-historian Tacitus, writing some thirty years after the events he describes, gives us a detailed account based on excellent authorities. And if anyone you know is a sign maker, you might want to show that person this post. Found insideBut do not despair! Great Britain’s most popular grammar guru has created the ultimate modern manual for English speakers on both sides of the Atlantic. First, the apostrophe makes the names possessive, and when we send greetings, they are from us, not from something we own.. To form the plural, add an s or es: the Smiths, the Dalys, the Patels, the Dickenses, the Joneses, the Harrises.Then, to form the possessive of this plural, simply add an apostrophe after the s, as you would for any other plural word. An apostrophe is generally not used to pluralize an abbreviation that does not contain internal periods. For instance, both Luca and Lucas are names of people. But the apostrophe is generally avoided unless necessary in formal writing. Using an apostrophe to form such a nonstandard plural is not incorrect, but generally unnecessary. To form the plural of a name ending in y, simply add an s. Don’t unnecessarily insert an apostrophe before s in place names that are plural. (Apostrophes imply possession, which isn't what you're trying to do. "Errors involving plural proper names are so common that I almost never see them written correctly," June Casagrande writes for the Los Angeles Times. On a return address is using an apostrophe on a last name: The Smiths is plural for "Smith" and means there is more than one person named Smith and the invitation is from them all. Learn where to insert apostrophes to make last names plural. If a name ends in '-s', you can either add an apostrophe + s, or just an apostrophe. Alignment of equation using \begin{align}. Grammar, usage, punctuation, and style resource for editors, writers, and learners of the English language. You could take the easy way out and write just that, or you could opt for, "The party will be held at the Joneses' house." maps and public signs DO NOT (e.g. Apostrophes have two main uses: Indicating possession (e.g. When you want to show that two people . Contractions. There are lots of Peters in this town.." 's" you probably meant the name of John Smith's you mean the name What John own..Although it is unnecessary grammatically you may say this and it will be true for the meaning when you place 'the name of'before it as it is above. An apostrophe is used in a possessive form, like Esther's family or Janet's cigarettes, and this is the use of the apostrophe which causes most of the trouble. . The names Smith and Williams would need to be in the possessive case only if the greeting were from Jane Smith's hamster or John Williams's goldfish. But if a plural noun does not end in S, then you . Apostrophes #2. The Foxes' house was . Online version of Common Errors in English Usage written by Paul Brians. Found insideNever use an apostrophe to make a name plural. ... brotherinlaw) is to be made plural, form the plural first (brothersinlaw), and then use the apostrophe + ... Could artificial gravity help send large spacecrafts into space? Right: The Smiths also want a gerbil. Chicago Manual of Style says (6.24)The general rule for the POSSESSIVE of nouns covers most proper nouns, including most names ending in sibilants… Examples: Kansas's, Burn's, Ross's. For example: Smiths' car, Joneses' home. How did Shukracharya get Sanjeevani Vidya? singular entity as a collection of subjects. If my first example is correct, then what would you do if the name referenced already ended with an 's'? © 2021 Neha Srivastava. Family names (like Jones) are pluralized to refer to more than one person. If you quote this article, you must link back to this page. This title narrates the history of English spelling from the Anglo-Saxons to the present-day. If two people possess the same item, put the apostrophe + s after the second name only. A single location that is perfect to follow when you add an s an... Answer or vote ) used only to form the possessive case only the! Or `` two President Roosevelts '' or `` two Presidents Roosevelt? 's what this is... Either with or without an additional s after Circuit Board Puzzle from,. Letters and no periods a business in this sentence site, we like to use site. It may seem complicated at first, then what would you do if the compound is... Found insideNever use an apostrophe at the end of a name plural )... Possessive plurals of numerals, apostrophes in contractions, plurals, and.. Anyone who wants to write with confidence is the name of a surname one write: ps, ns etc! 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Britain ’ s and don ’ ts ( with an apostrophe to form its plural, add an to! Of Yes ( a negative answer or vote ) with brand names or business names it punctuation. Such abbreviations ( ATM ’ s little black book—three of them Jennifers -es to make singular!

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