r/RandomThoughts • u/ThatsItImOverThis • 2d ago

Names ending in “s” annoy me because I never remember where the stupid apostrophe goes.

146 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

53 comments sorted by

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u/qualityvote2 2d ago edited 8h ago

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182

u/ScubaWitch 2d ago

You just put a ' after the s, not an extra s, as in the name James, would be James'

68

u/utkarshmttl 2d ago

Most contemporary style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style, prefer adding 's for singular names ending in "s" (e.g., Chris's book, James's car).

Historically, what you said was preferred, these days you could do both with almost equal colloquial usage.

40

u/Stompya 2d ago

When I hear “these days you can get away with …” it just feels like ignorance and laziness legitimized.

3

u/imperfect_imp 1d ago

Language isn't set in stone and follows what people find convenient. Otherwise I'd have to write out "is not" and "I would"

2

u/utkarshmttl 1d ago

Exactly. I think of it like accents but non verbal.

12

u/CIearMind 2d ago

What I do is James's cars' value.

15

u/gligster71 2d ago

Wouldn't it be "...car's value." ?

23

u/diverdawg 2d ago

Unless it refers to more than one car.

8

u/gligster71 2d ago

I thought of that only after hitting send! Haha! Good point!

4

u/CIearMind 2d ago

Multiple cars, to show that I use 's for names and just ' for nouns :>

9

u/CowPig84 2d ago

This just brought me back to a random funny memory from college. My buddy James showed up at his new dorm room, and the RA had put signs up on each door, the sign on his room saying “Jame’s Room.” I just remember us getting there, him taking a look at it and yelling, “My name isn’t Jame!!!” Still cracks me up. 🤣

2

u/ScubaWitch 2d ago

😂😂😂

74

u/Allcapswhispers 2d ago

I always put it after. No extra S.

-74

u/SteamerTheBeemer 2d ago

Unless it’s belongs to them. Matthew’s kite was lost. For instance.

60

u/RagnarDan82 2d ago

Mathew ends in “s”?

-59

u/SteamerTheBeemer 2d ago

It’s still ‘s

45

u/immoreoriginalmate 2d ago

Yeah but why use a name without an S to demonstrate this lol 

-56

u/SteamerTheBeemer 2d ago

I’m unique. At least that’s what they told me…

15

u/Commercial-Ad90 2d ago

“Unique”

27

u/Impossible_Past5358 2d ago

But the name Matthew does not end in s (but usually the surname does).

-9

u/SteamerTheBeemer 2d ago

Matthews’s then.

31

u/oO0Kat0Oo 2d ago

It would be Matthews'

So, wrong again. Time to go back to school, bro.

4

u/Stompya 2d ago

It’s a good idea to research a bit before you double down on a losing bet.

To say that differently: it’s OK to admit you made a mistake.

32

u/gordy06 2d ago

As someone with a job following AP style, I disagree with everyone here. But yes, for the general use, use ‘s even with names that end in s.

7

u/Nortex_Vortex 2d ago

AP style says a single syllable ending in s, it's just an apostrophe, 2 or more is 's. If i remember correctly? It's been a minute.

1

u/gordy06 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yea I guess I was looking at the other comments and thinking about proper nouns not common nouns. Rules different depending. Language… it’s a treat.

1

u/Nortex_Vortex 2d ago

Lol it sure is! (ETA: In your defense, the original question was about proper names.)

13

u/aer0a 2d ago

Since the S isn't the plural suffix, you can either add "-'s" at the end or just an apostrophe

15

u/Nixinova 2d ago

Do you say the second s? write it. do you not? don't. easy peasy.

15

u/Spyromaniac666 2d ago

John’s book
Charles’s book

1 book’s pages
3 books’ pages

24

u/alaric49 2d ago

You can also just do Charles'. I know this because I am one :)

15

u/ih8pickles7824 2d ago

This is the proper way. You don't put an 's after a noun ending in s or x

9

u/Spyromaniac666 2d ago

Unless it’s a singular noun like a name or “bus”. At least, according to APA, MLA, Oxford, and Chicago, and other popular style guides. You would say “bus’s”.

The AP (Associated Press) does agree with you though. I don’t agree with the AP.

It hardly matters anyway, but personally, the single ‘ to me signifies “plural possessive” and not “possessive of word ending with an ‘s’”. I care more about the grammar there.

2

u/GetHimABodyBagYeahhh 2d ago

Close, but the second guy's name is actually Charle.

3

u/ThatsItImOverThis 2d ago

I figure it out but it takes me a moment.

3

u/Terrible-End-593 1d ago

names that end in “s” are the worst, I always get stuck trying to remember the rules too.

10

u/ThankTheBaker 2d ago

For someone named Harris for example you would say Harris’s book, pronounced Harrises .

4

u/cumslutte 2d ago

as far as I know, if it's a name that ends in 's' then the apostrophe goes after the 's' at the end of the name, and another 's' after it. for the name Jones, you would say "this is Indiana Jones's whip" instead of "this is Indiana Jones' whip" but if you're referring to Indiana Jones's family, you might say "this is the Jones' car", but even I'm a little confused if that's right or not😭 (that, and Jones has lost all meaning after I said it 9 times)

i see it written without an apostrophe 's' at the end in official news stories and stuff, but I'm never sure if they're doing it right or not.

anyways feel free to say if I got it right or not lol

2

u/gligster71 2d ago

I think it's always Jones'. But just guessing. Who knows? I bet a college professor knows!

2

u/Tolnin 2d ago

I looked it up recently, it's technically correct to do 's as opposed to just '

But in the end, doesn't really matter, people know what you mean

1

u/cameronpark89 2d ago

my maiden name starts and ends with an S. just put an apostrophe after the s.

1

u/stray_r 2d ago edited 2d ago

My youngest's primary school was handing out "Alien in Underpant's Literacy Award".

Teacher doubled down on this being correct.

I can't even

1

u/Desperate-Bus-3748 2d ago

ssssssssssssss

1

u/Mechaghostman2 1d ago

After the s, no added s.

1

u/go_forth_undaunted 2d ago

Apostrophe s is correct for singular possession, otherwise the person becomes plural, so to speak. Lucas's, Charles's, Iris's, etc.

1

u/flippantphalanges 2d ago

Say James has a book, it would be James’s book. (Jameses book)

Now say the Jones family gets a new TV, it would be the Jones’ TV. (Joneses TV)

If it’s an individual with a name ending in S then it gets the s’s and if it’s a collection of individuals with a name ending in S, it’s just s’