Punctuation experts, come in. SUPER embarrassing confession/question.

BetchySprout · December 2009

My maiden name and my original last name were easy.

Rhymes with "Borthrup" and rhymes with "Nroden".

The Borthrup's dog is a pain in the a**.I get it.

My married name? Let's just say it ends in an "s". Let's also say that it is the same as a movie serial killer's last name. Lets pretend it is "James".

Is it

The James's dog is a pain in the a** OR the James' dog is a pain in the a**?

punkfiction_v.3 · December 2009

B

LucyGoosey81 · December 2009

The James' dog is a pain in the ass

disbride061103 · December 2009

James' is the correct way, I believe.

MrsG2B07 · December 2009

This one:

the James' dog is a pain in the a**?

I think.

LyndsayQ · December 2009

I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.

BetchySprout · December 2009

Thank you, that is what I thought. I have been married for almost 3 years now and was too embarrassed to ask DH.

I am usually very good at this stuff but the names-ending-in-s thing always messes me up!

engaged678 · December 2009

it's James' because it's used in a possessive way

LucyGoosey81 · December 2009

LyndsayQ:
I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.

Yep- it would be plural possessive. The dog belongs to the James family

Mama Jan · December 2009

Pattypoundcake:
the James' dog is a pain in the a**?

iris427 · December 2009

I was going to say that either would be correct. When a word ends in an S, you can add either just an apostrophe, or an apostrophe S. I believe that holds true even if the word ends in an S because it is plural.

But idk, where are Strunk and White when you need them?

mrse1107 · December 2009

James' - because its more than one of you.

like you would address an envelope

The James'

punkfiction_v.3 · December 2009

LucyGoosey81:
LyndsayQ:
I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.
Yep- it would be plural possessive. The dog belongs to the James family

but the james family is ONE entity.

LyndsayQ · December 2009

LucyGoosey81:
LyndsayQ:
I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.
Yep- it would be plural possessive. The dog belongs to the James family

You know I thought this after responding, but then I just left it. I actually re-read the OP to see if she meant James as plural already. Thanks for the clarification.

mrsmatto · December 2009

In American English, singular nouns ending in S indicate possession by means of a final apostrophe. e.g. James' scarf or Dickens' novels

LucyGoosey81 · December 2009

punkfiction_v.3:
LucyGoosey81:
LyndsayQ:
I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.
Yep- it would be plural possessive. The dog belongs to the James family
but the james family is ONE entity.

Right- LOL! I'm agreeing with you! I'm trying to explain to her why it would be James' and not James's. Hahaha

punkfiction_v.3 · December 2009

LucyGoosey81:
punkfiction_v.3:
LucyGoosey81:
LyndsayQ:
I thought it is "James's" b/c usually when you put s' (instead of s's) its plural possessive. ::shrugs:: I always hated english, but I've picked up on things over the years.
Yep- it would be plural possessive. The dog belongs to the James family
but the james family is ONE entity.
Right- LOL! I'm agreeing with you! I'm trying to explain to her why it would be James' and not James's. Hahaha

haha oh okay.

BlessedMommy723 · December 2009

I guess I am in the minority, but I was taught that the only time you just add an apostrophe was when the name was something historical/known by everyone. For example you would say Jesus' mother's name was Mary, but the James's dog is a pain in the a**.

leenyon1 · December 2009

fifth grade teacher here and our English book teaches James's

the "new" rule is that ALL singular possessive nouns get an 's no matter what. So it would be class's teacher or James's dog etc.

my two cents.

~CoCo~ · December 2009

iris427:

I was going to say that either would be correct. When a word ends in an S, you can add either just an apostrophe, or an apostrophe S. I believe that holds true even if the word ends in an S because it is plural.

This is correct. Apparently, it used to be that only "Jesus" and "Moses" were written as Jesus' and Moses' in the possessive.

Common and proper usage now allow for all proper names ending in -s can be written as either James' or James's....

swedish-fish · December 2009

I was an English major and all my professors hammered home that it should be James's. Strunk and White agrees.

missamy713 · December 2009

cao:
fifth grade teacher here and our English book teaches James's
the "new" rule is that ALL singular possessive nouns get an 's no matter what. So it would be class's teacher or James's dog etc.
my two cents.

Both ways are acceptable now, since the English grammar rules are being changed. You can write "the James' dog" or "the James's dog;" both are acceptable. Though, the 's is more "correct." Whatever you choose, remember to be consistent throughout your writing.

https://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htm

iris427 · December 2009

swedish-fish:
I was an English major and all my professors hammered home that it should be James's. Strunk and White agrees.

LOL I was trying to remember what those two said.

Collski:-) · December 2009

OMG I now have a headache! I am a legal secretary and this is my BIGGEST dilemma on an almost day basis, Defendant, Defandants Defendants'...or dealing with corporate documents and company names. I have nightmares I tell you! It sounds easy but when it is something I have no idea what they are talking about..oiy farken vey!

Tess12 · December 2009

Yes, either is acceptable. And I, also, can't find my Strunk and White.

But this is a pretty trustworthy source:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/

ToledoDeux · December 2009

Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

BetchySprout · December 2009

ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

Wouldn't "Jameses' " be pronounced "Jameseses"?

I am so confused.

leenyon1 · December 2009

Pattypoundcake:
ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.
Wouldn't "Jameses' " be pronounced "Jameseses"?

I am so confused.

This is how we are going to end this debate? I want answers!

ToledoDeux · December 2009

Pattypoundcake:
ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.
Wouldn't "Jameses' " be pronounced "Jameseses"?

I am so confused.

I'm pretty sure that you can just say "Jameses," and the possessive is understood in speech...but in writing, the final apostrophe is needed.

BlessedMommy723 · December 2009

ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

From my understanding it would not be the Jameses'. You would say the Jameses are going on vacation with us (as in all of the people of the James family are included). You would say the James's dog (because in this case the James family is acting as one subject).

~CoCo~ · December 2009

ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

LOLOL- I didn't read that part of the OP. I actually stopped at "Borthup" and "Nrorden" or whatever, saw "James" and ASSumed it was a FN or singular LN.

LOL...

ToledoDeux · December 2009

BlessedMommy723:
ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

From my understanding it would not be the Jameses'. You would say the Jameses are going on vacation with us (as in all of the people of the James family are included). You would say the James's dog (because in this case the James family is acting as one subject).

To make it singular, you could say "the James family's dog." But using just the family name would be the Jameses. The collective cast of a play are still actors, not a collective actor.

skoorbnibor · December 2009

BlessedMommy723:
I guess I am in the minority, but I was taught that the only time you just add an apostrophe was when the name was something historical/known by everyone. For example you would say Jesus' mother's name was Mary, but the James's dog is a pain in the a**.

yup. I agree with this!

BlessedMommy723 · December 2009

ToledoDeux:
BlessedMommy723:

ToledoDeux:
Actually, you're all wrong. The family as a collective would be the "Jameses." So you would refer to "the Jameses' dog." "Jameses" is most definitely plural and in this context would only be used with the apostrophe AFTER the s.

From my understanding it would not be the Jameses'. You would say the Jameses are going on vacation with us (as in all of the people of the James family are included). You would say the James's dog (because in this case the James family is acting as one subject).

To make it singular, you could say "the James family's dog." But using just the family name would be the Jameses. The collective cast of a play are still actors, not a collective actor.

Ok, I get it And your example makes more sense than anything I have been told before.

PPC - I searched and searched for something to refer you to since I couldn't find any of my grammar books from college. Here's a link that might help you understand what to use when

https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp

violetblue72 · December 2009

Can you guys just change your last name? Stick out tongue

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