What is the correct possessive for nouns ending in “‑s”?
What is the possessive of a noun ending in ‑s? Are these both right, or is the second one wrong?
the boys' books
the boss' car
grammatical-number possessives pronunciation-vs-spelling saxon-genitive
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
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asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
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What is the possessive of a noun ending in ‑s? Are these both right, or is the second one wrong?
the boys' books
the boss' car
grammatical-number possessives pronunciation-vs-spelling saxon-genitive
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
add a comment |
What is the possessive of a noun ending in ‑s? Are these both right, or is the second one wrong?
the boys' books
the boss' car
grammatical-number possessives pronunciation-vs-spelling saxon-genitive
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
What is the possessive of a noun ending in ‑s? Are these both right, or is the second one wrong?
the boys' books
the boss' car
grammatical-number possessives pronunciation-vs-spelling saxon-genitive
grammatical-number possessives pronunciation-vs-spelling saxon-genitive
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited 2 days ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
108k28290463
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
asked Aug 16 '10 at 20:21
kiamlaluno
43.4k56181295
43.4k56181295
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
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Your example sentences confuse two different problems.
For nouns that are plural (such as "boys"), the possessive formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possesive:
The boys' books [boys' sounds like boys]
For singular nouns that end in -s, the possessive is formed by adding -'s, just as with other nouns. This is pronounced as if the spelling were -es:
The boss's car. [boss's sounds like bosses]
There is a partial exception for proper names that end in -s. These names sometimes form their possessive by simply adding an apostrophe, and without changing their pronunciation. Thus, we often see:
Confucius' sayings
Jesus' teachings
However, this doesn't apply when the name ends with a letter other than s, even if it's pronounced with an s. These names form their possessive as normal:
Marx's theories
In the opposite case of a name which ends in a silent s, the possessive is usually formed by adding an apostrophe in writing, but the apostrophe causes the silent s to be pronounced:
Camus' novels [the final -s in Camus is not silent here]
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
|
show 9 more comments
On singular nouns that end with an "s" or "z" sound, Wikipedia has a say. According to the article, there is no hard and fast rule on this one and different "authorities" prefer different styles.
See also St. James's park and St. James' park.
add a comment |
protected by user2683 Mar 29 '12 at 0:42
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Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Your example sentences confuse two different problems.
For nouns that are plural (such as "boys"), the possessive formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possesive:
The boys' books [boys' sounds like boys]
For singular nouns that end in -s, the possessive is formed by adding -'s, just as with other nouns. This is pronounced as if the spelling were -es:
The boss's car. [boss's sounds like bosses]
There is a partial exception for proper names that end in -s. These names sometimes form their possessive by simply adding an apostrophe, and without changing their pronunciation. Thus, we often see:
Confucius' sayings
Jesus' teachings
However, this doesn't apply when the name ends with a letter other than s, even if it's pronounced with an s. These names form their possessive as normal:
Marx's theories
In the opposite case of a name which ends in a silent s, the possessive is usually formed by adding an apostrophe in writing, but the apostrophe causes the silent s to be pronounced:
Camus' novels [the final -s in Camus is not silent here]
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
|
show 9 more comments
Your example sentences confuse two different problems.
For nouns that are plural (such as "boys"), the possessive formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possesive:
The boys' books [boys' sounds like boys]
For singular nouns that end in -s, the possessive is formed by adding -'s, just as with other nouns. This is pronounced as if the spelling were -es:
The boss's car. [boss's sounds like bosses]
There is a partial exception for proper names that end in -s. These names sometimes form their possessive by simply adding an apostrophe, and without changing their pronunciation. Thus, we often see:
Confucius' sayings
Jesus' teachings
However, this doesn't apply when the name ends with a letter other than s, even if it's pronounced with an s. These names form their possessive as normal:
Marx's theories
In the opposite case of a name which ends in a silent s, the possessive is usually formed by adding an apostrophe in writing, but the apostrophe causes the silent s to be pronounced:
Camus' novels [the final -s in Camus is not silent here]
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
|
show 9 more comments
Your example sentences confuse two different problems.
For nouns that are plural (such as "boys"), the possessive formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possesive:
The boys' books [boys' sounds like boys]
For singular nouns that end in -s, the possessive is formed by adding -'s, just as with other nouns. This is pronounced as if the spelling were -es:
The boss's car. [boss's sounds like bosses]
There is a partial exception for proper names that end in -s. These names sometimes form their possessive by simply adding an apostrophe, and without changing their pronunciation. Thus, we often see:
Confucius' sayings
Jesus' teachings
However, this doesn't apply when the name ends with a letter other than s, even if it's pronounced with an s. These names form their possessive as normal:
Marx's theories
In the opposite case of a name which ends in a silent s, the possessive is usually formed by adding an apostrophe in writing, but the apostrophe causes the silent s to be pronounced:
Camus' novels [the final -s in Camus is not silent here]
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
Your example sentences confuse two different problems.
For nouns that are plural (such as "boys"), the possessive formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural -s. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possesive:
The boys' books [boys' sounds like boys]
For singular nouns that end in -s, the possessive is formed by adding -'s, just as with other nouns. This is pronounced as if the spelling were -es:
The boss's car. [boss's sounds like bosses]
There is a partial exception for proper names that end in -s. These names sometimes form their possessive by simply adding an apostrophe, and without changing their pronunciation. Thus, we often see:
Confucius' sayings
Jesus' teachings
However, this doesn't apply when the name ends with a letter other than s, even if it's pronounced with an s. These names form their possessive as normal:
Marx's theories
In the opposite case of a name which ends in a silent s, the possessive is usually formed by adding an apostrophe in writing, but the apostrophe causes the silent s to be pronounced:
Camus' novels [the final -s in Camus is not silent here]
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
edited May 25 '11 at 19:05
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
answered Aug 16 '10 at 21:47
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
48.1k13141199
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
|
show 9 more comments
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
4
4
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
+1, I hadn't thought about the implications of the proper name exception when used with a silent final s.
– cori
Aug 16 '10 at 22:08
11
11
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
+1, but I'll note that there exist style guides which follow the following simplistic rule: if a singular noun ends with an s, just add “'s”, regardless of whether it's a proper noun or how it's pronounced. I like the simplicity of this rule.
– ShreevatsaR
Aug 16 '10 at 22:32
3
3
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
Do you have a source on this with proper names not needing an extra s? I am fairly certain it should still be Confucius's sayings, Jesus's teachings, and Camus's novels, with the first s still silent in the last case.
– StrixVaria
Aug 19 '10 at 16:13
3
3
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
@FumbleFingers But "mistresses" is already plural and wouldn't get the extra s after the apostrophe anyway.
– StrixVaria
May 26 '11 at 1:23
3
3
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
Do you have any authoritative references? I'm not asking because I don't believe you. I'm asking because when the question comes up I can't say "because some guy on the internet said so", not even if said guy got 60 upvotes.
– Szabolcs
Feb 26 '15 at 18:08
|
show 9 more comments
On singular nouns that end with an "s" or "z" sound, Wikipedia has a say. According to the article, there is no hard and fast rule on this one and different "authorities" prefer different styles.
See also St. James's park and St. James' park.
add a comment |
On singular nouns that end with an "s" or "z" sound, Wikipedia has a say. According to the article, there is no hard and fast rule on this one and different "authorities" prefer different styles.
See also St. James's park and St. James' park.
add a comment |
On singular nouns that end with an "s" or "z" sound, Wikipedia has a say. According to the article, there is no hard and fast rule on this one and different "authorities" prefer different styles.
See also St. James's park and St. James' park.
On singular nouns that end with an "s" or "z" sound, Wikipedia has a say. According to the article, there is no hard and fast rule on this one and different "authorities" prefer different styles.
See also St. James's park and St. James' park.
edited May 29 '11 at 13:12
answered May 29 '11 at 7:25
user8944
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by user2683 Mar 29 '12 at 0:42
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
