How would you pronounce Miles when you are using the possesive form?

KGF625 · March 2012

I know, this is such a dumb question but I am reading different things!

If you were saying something like "Miles' room" how would you actually say the name Miles in that sentence?

KGF625 · March 2012

mj.reilly:
I just say "Miles" room, nothing extra.

Thanks! I know it is such a weird and stupid question...it is just some names that end in s you would add the extra sound to it like the name James or Nicholas.

iuplori · March 2012

I think I would probably drop the extra "s" because of how it just rolls off my tongue. I have a student named Miles and I think that's how we use it in my class most often.

GoBleu · March 2012

Too funny! I am a former high school English teacher considering the name Miles and didn't even think about this.

I found this: With some singular nouns that end in -s, pronouncing the possessive ending as a separate syllable can sound awkward; in such cases, it is acceptable to use just an apostrophe. (Kirszner & Mandell, The Brief Holt Handbook)

Here is the web site: https://www.englishrules.com/writing/2005/possessive-form-of-singular-nouns-ending-with-s/

BlindysWife · March 2012

I don't think this is a dumb question at all! With Linus, we add the extra s sound at the end, but I sometimes think it sounds silly. I actually said once that no more of my children will end in S because of this.

laney75 · March 2012

My second son's name is Travis. So possessive is Travis's. And yes we say the extra "s". It isn't a big deal. We also call him Trav and Travie, so sometimes it ends up being Travie's. I wouldn't let it hold you back from choosing a name, personally.

blahblahblah0824 · March 2012

I've been thinking of picking this name since day one, and this is actually the only reason I hesitate about it. Actually, I'm not hesitating, but I AM annoyed by the idea of me or anybody else saying "Miles's". I'll probably just say Miles, no extra s.

JumpAroundBucky · March 2012

I would probably say it like "Miles is" really awkwardly.

g8trkim · March 2012

You should say Miles-iz Room but I agree is sounds weird and I would probably just say Miles Room out of ease.

OnTheLanai · March 2012

My husband is named Miles and I say "Miles-is" room LOL His entire family does as well.

msmerymac · March 2012

Miles-is. I don't think it's awkward.

jupiterthecat · March 2012

With Iris, we just say "Iris-ez room." So when I talk about her beautiful blue eyes, I say "Iris's irises," and it sounds like the same word twice (I have brought out that old chestnut more than once).

Maybe it's a little less awkward with this -is ending vs. the -es ending in Miles, but it doesn't sound bad to me.

SposaBellarina · March 2012

Another English educator chiming in. In informal speech, it's okay to just say "Miles room" if you want, but if you're writing/monogramming, technically, "Miles's Room" is correct. Proper names do not apply to the general rules about possessives. My maiden name is Matthews, and my classroom was Ms. Matthews's classroom.

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How would you pronounce Miles when you are using the possesive form?

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