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Okay, I can't keep it to myself any longer. NBR

laurandjimlaurandjim member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
Louis's pants

This is incorrect:
Louis' pants

I also can't stand those name plate things that people have in front of their houses that say things like "The Smith's" or whatever.  It's "The Smiths"--not possessive, just plural!  Is this not taught in school?

Rant over.

If you notice any other grammar or punctuation errors that drive you nuts, this is the place to post them.

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Re: Okay, I can't keep it to myself any longer. NBR

  • Fish4FunFish4Fun
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I think you are wrong.

    "Singular possessive
    The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."

    Kramer's hair
    Daphne's patience
    the car's engine

    Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."

    Dr. Seuss' sense of humor"

    I also distinctly remember being taught this in school. 

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  • adamwifeadamwife
    imageFish4Fun:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I think you are wrong.

    "Singular possessive
    The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."

    Kramer's hair
    Daphne's patience
    the car's engine

    Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."

    Dr. Seuss' sense of humor"

    I also distinctly remember being taught this in school. 

    This is how I was always taught.

    Report Reply
  • laurandjimlaurandjim member
    No!  I know I'm right!  What source did you get that from?
    Report Reply
  • Keely's MommyKeely's Mommy
    imageFish4Fun:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I think you are wrong.

    "Singular possessive
    The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."

    Kramer's hair
    Daphne's patience
    the car's engine

    Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."

    Dr. Seuss' sense of humor"

    I also distinctly remember being taught this in school. 

    I agree, I remember being taught that you omit the "s" at those times.  Confused

    Report Reply
  • JLKinnearJLKinnear member
    Agreed on omitting the "s". That's how I was taught too.

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  • jessi_08jessi_08
    And now I am more confused than eveeeerrrrrr Crying
    Report Reply
  • djdavisdjdavis
    It is the smith's house.
    Report Reply
  • laurandjimlaurandjim member
    Never mind, I googled and found your source.  The next source I found said the exact opposite, though and specified "Dr. Seuss's" and "James's".  They mention that the only time that you wouldn't add the apostrophe "s" is when it would make the word awkward or in ancient proper nouns.
    Report Reply
  • Fish4FunFish4Fun

    https://www.meredith.edu/grammar/plural.htm

    However, here it says that for names, either way can work.

    https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-possessive.htm

    https://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaPossessives.htm



    I guess both are correct, but only for names. 

    Report Reply
  • laurandjimlaurandjim member

    imagedjdavis:
    is the smith's house.

    Is that what they mean there?  I thought they were just saying "the smiths live here" not "this belongs to the smiths"!  I will admit I am wrong here, but I know I'm right about the other thing. 

    I'm going to check Elements of Style---that's the authority in these matters, agreed?

    Report Reply
  • yo.mamayo.mama member

    Huh, I always assumed that when people had "The Smith's" on the mailbox or whatever there was an implied House after it. Not The Smiths (the family).

    Grammar and punctuation errors only bother me on student papers and professional documents. I assume these items aren't written with a baby hanging off ones breast.
    Report Reply
  • CA2006CA2006 member
    Ok, I totally get being annoyed by grammatical and punctuation errors, but this one is not really an error from what I was always taught. 
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  • I'mAcrossThePondI'mAcrossThePond
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

     This is correct...it is a relatively new change being taught in school. I teach 5th grade and this is how we are teaching it now (even though I learned Louis' pants when I was little, and my husband, Chris, still writes "Chris'" - like he was taught).

    imageimage
    image
    image
    Report Reply
  • laurandjimlaurandjim member

    Okay, not Strunk and White, but from The American Heritage Book of English usage:

      The possessive case of a singular noun is formed by adding -?s: one?s home, by day?s end, our family?s pet, the witness?s testimony, a fox?s habitat, the knife?s edge. Note that although some people use just the apostrophe after singular nouns ending in s (the witness? testimony, Burns? poetry), the -?s is generally preferred because it more accurately reflects the modern pronunciation of these forms. However, in a few cases where the -?s is not pronounced, it is usual to add just the apostrophe: for righteousness? (appearance?) sake.   3
      The possessive case of a plural noun ending in -s is formed by adding just an apostrophe: the doctors? recommendations, the glasses? rims, the flies? buzzing noises. However, when the plural noun does not end in -s, form the possessive by adding -?s: children?s clothes.
    Report Reply
  • Fish4FunFish4Fun
    imagelaurandjim:

    I also can't stand those name plate things that people have in front of their houses that say things like "The Smith's" or whatever.  It's "The Smiths"--not possessive, just plural!

    So really it should be plural possessive as "The Smiths' house!"  LOL  Devil 

    Report Reply
  • yo.mamayo.mama member
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I also can't stand those name plate things that people have in front of their houses that say things like "The Smith's" or whatever.  It's "The Smiths"--not possessive, just plural!  Is this not taught in school?

    Rant over.

    If you notice any other grammar or punctuation errors that drive you nuts, this is the place to post them.

    Whoa I just misread your post. I read:


    This is correct:
    Louis' pants

    Which it is. You don't even know what you are talking about! lol.

     

    Report Reply
  • Fish4FunFish4Fun
    imageI'mAcrossThePond:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    This is correct...it is a relatively new change being taught in school. I teach 5th grade and this is how we are teaching it now (even though I learned Louis' pants when I was little, and my husband, Chris, still writes "Chris'" - like he was taught).

    I hope this important issue is released to the general public!  All of us adults are going to go around dating ourselves by talking about Snuffleupagus' best friend, Big Bird! 

    Report Reply
  • divakatdivakat
    imageadamwife:
    imageFish4Fun:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I think you are wrong.

    "Singular possessive
    The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."

    Kramer's hair
    Daphne's patience
    the car's engine

    Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."

    Dr. Seuss' sense of humor"

    I also distinctly remember being taught this in school. 

    This is how I was always taught.

    Yep. My client is Verizon Wireless, and when we are writing their name in the possessive form its Verizon Wireless'

    Report Reply
  • Temp552270562505132Temp552270562505132
    imageFish4Fun:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I think you are wrong.

    "Singular possessive
    The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."

    Kramer's hair
    Daphne's patience
    the car's engine

    Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."

    Dr. Seuss' sense of humor"

    I also distinctly remember being taught this in school. 

    yep me too

    Report Reply
  • djdavisdjdavis
    Touch
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  • laurandjimlaurandjim member
    imagelaurandjim:

    imagedjdavis:
    is the smith's house.

    Is that what they mean there?  I thought they were just saying "the smiths live here" not "this belongs to the smiths"!  I will admit I am wrong here, but I know I'm right about the other thing. 

    I'm going to check Elements of Style---that's the authority in these matters, agreed?

    Okay, I take it back!  It would be The Smiths'  house--unless the person who owns the house is called The Smith!  (The thing that bugs me is "The Smith's")

    Report Reply
  • laurandjimlaurandjim member
    imageyo.mama:
    imagelaurandjim:

    I have to correct a punctuation error that I see on the boards that drives me nuts: when you are making a name that ends in "s" a possessive, you add an apostrophe "s" at the end just like you would any other name.  For example, this is correct:
    Louis's pants

    This is incorrect:
    Louis' pants

    I also can't stand those name plate things that people have in front of their houses that say things like "The Smith's" or whatever.  It's "The Smiths"--not possessive, just plural!  Is this not taught in school?

    Rant over.

    If you notice any other grammar or punctuation errors that drive you nuts, this is the place to post them.

    Whoa I just misread your post. I read:


    This is correct:
    Louis' pants

    Which it is. You don't even know what you are talking about! lol.

     

    Sorry!  I'm right!  Look it up.  LOL

    Report Reply
  • MarriedBestFriendsMarriedBestFriends member
    You're technically right according to recent changes in accepted grammatical technique- but we were all taught the opposite years ago and there is still controversy as to which is the ultimate "right" way.
    Report Reply
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