Making a Name Ending in S Possessive: Tips and Tricks

For many English speakers, possessive apostrophes can be a tricky area of grammar to navigate. And when it comes to names that end in the letter “s,” the confusion only intensifies. Do you add an apostrophe alone, or do you add an apostrophe and another “s”? While proper English language rules suggest plural possessives should always have an apostrophe and an additional “s,” relaxed English rules offer some flexibility in certain circumstances.

One common relaxed English usage is the “apostrophe-only” approach, where you add just the apostrophe to a noun ending in “s.” For instance, if your friend’s name is “James,” the possessive form is “James’ car,” instead of “James’s car.” However, you must exercise caution when using this rule, as it may not always apply to other nouns and can lead to ambiguity when used in writing. To avoid confusion, it’s best to understand when apostrophe-only possessives are appropriate and when they are not.

Section: Tips on Making a Name Ending in “s” Possessive

1. Add an apostrophe and an “s”

The most common way to form a possessive of a name ending in “s” is to add an apostrophe and an “s.” For example, if the name is “James,” the possessive form would be “James’s.” This method applies to most names ending in “s,” regardless of whether they’re singular or plural.

2. Add an apostrophe only

In some cases, adding just an apostrophe (without the additional “s”) is also acceptable. This is especially true for names that end with a “z” sound, such as “Gomez,” “Sanchez,” or “Martinez.” However, this method is not universally accepted, so it’s advisable to check style guides or consult with a language professional to confirm what is recommended.

3. Use a preposition

If adding an apostrophe feels awkward or creates confusion, another option is to use a preposition, such as “of” or “belonging to.” For instance, instead of writing “Jones’s car,” one could say “the car belonging to Jones” or “the car of Jones.” This method is especially useful for names that end with a hard “s” sound, such as “Louis,” “Charles,” or “Nicholas.”

4. Check the style guide

Different style guides have different rules when it comes to possessives of names ending in “s”. For instance, The Chicago Manual of Style recommends adding an apostrophe and an “s” to all names ending in “s”, while The Associated Press Stylebook prefers adding just an apostrophe. When in doubt, consult the style guide recommended by your organization or publication.

5. Consider rephrasing the sentence

If all else fails, another option is to rephrase the sentence to avoid the possessive form altogether. For example, instead of saying “Williams’s car,” one could say “the car that belongs to Williams” or “the car owned by Williams.” This method eliminates the need for apostrophes altogether, although it can sometimes create awkward phrasing.

6. Be consistent

Whatever method you choose, always be consistent when using possessives for names ending in “s”. If you opt to add an apostrophe and an “s,” do it for all names (singular and plural) that end in “s.” If you choose to add only an apostrophe, stick to that style throughout your writing.

7. Consider audience and context

The choice of possessive form may vary depending on the context and audience of your writing. For instance, using an apostrophe alone might be acceptable for informal writing, while adding an “s” might be preferred for more formal or academic texts. Additionally, regional differences in language and usage might also affect the choice of possessive form.

8. Beware of homophones

When using an apostrophe alone in possessives of names ending in “s”, be aware of homophones (words that sound alike but have different meanings). For instance, “Marx’s theories” might look the same as “marks theories” if the apostrophe is omitted. Always proofread carefully to avoid such errors.

9. Use possessives sparingly

While possessives can be useful for indicating ownership or association, overusing them can make writing sound repetitive or stilted. Use possessives sparingly and only when necessary to avoid cluttering the prose.

10. Practice makes perfect

Like any aspect of writing, using possessives correctly takes practice. Read widely and pay attention to how other authors use possessives, especially for names ending in “s”. Try out different methods and see what works best for you and your intended audience. With time and effort, using possessives correctly will become second nature.

Section 2: Tips and Examples for Making Names Ending in “S” Possessive

Now that we have learned the basic rules of making a name ending in “s” possessive, let’s delve deeper into some tips and examples that will help us in our writing.

1. Rule of Thumb

One of the common ways to make a name ending in “s” possessive is to add apostrophe + s after the last letter of the name. This is known as the “rule of thumb” and applies to almost all names ending in “s”. For example, James’ car, Marcus’s house, or Chris’s book.

2. Exception to the Rule

However, some names that end in “s” already have an “s” sound at the end, such as Jesus, Moses, and Descartes. If you add another “s” after their names, it may sound awkward or redundant. In such cases, simply add an apostrophe after the last letter of the name. For example, Jesus’ teachings, Moses’ leadership, or Descartes’ philosophy.

3. Names Ending in Silent “s”

Some names ending in “s” may have a silent “s” at the end, as in Francois, Renee, or Georges. In such cases, simply apply the rule of thumb and add apostrophe + s after the last letter of the name. For example, Francois’s art, Renee’s decision, or Georges’s wine.

4. Plural Possessive

If you have a name ending in “s” and it is plural, simply add an apostrophe after the last letter of the name. For example, the Barnes’ backyard, the Smiths’ vacation, or the Gonzalezes’ home.

5. Joint Possession

When two people or things possess something jointly, add apostrophe + s after the last letter of the last name only. For example, John and Mary’s wedding, McDonald’s and Burger King’s partnership.

6. Hyphenated Names

If the name ending in “s” is hyphenated, apply the rule of thumb and add apostrophe + s after the last letter of the last name. For example, Piers-Williams’s presentation, Jones-Smith’s partnership.

7. Abbreviations

If the name ending in “s” is an abbreviation, simply apply the rule of thumb and add apostrophe + s after the last letter of the abbreviation. For example, CES’s innovation, NASA’s space exploration.

8. Historical Names

Historical names that end in “s” may not follow the modern rule of adding apostrophe + s. In some cases, they simply add an apostrophe, as in Achilles’ heel, Socrates’ philosophy, or Ramses’ kingdom.

9. Consistency is Key

When writing a piece with several names ending in “s”, it is important to apply the same rule for consistency’s sake. Use either the rule of thumb or the exception to the rule and apply them to all the names you mention.

10. Practice Makes Perfect

Finally, the best way to become proficient in making names ending in “s” possessive is through practice. Keep writing and experimenting with different names until you become comfortable using the rules. Before long, it will become second nature.

What to Keep in Mind When Making a Name Ending in “S” Possessive

When it comes to making the possessive of a name ending in “s”, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that it is done correctly. In this section, we will provide you with five subheadings that will help you to master this grammar rule.

1. Add an Apostrophe and an “S” to the End of the Name

The first thing you need to do when making the possessive of a name ending in “s” is to add an apostrophe and an “s” to the end of the name. For example, if the name is “James”, the possessive form would be “James’s”. However, if the name ends in “ss”, you only need to add an apostrophe at the end. For instance, the possessive form of the name “Ross” would be “Ross'”.

2. Use the Style Guide of Your Choice

There are different ways to make the possessive of a name ending in “s”, and this may vary depending on the style guide you’re using. The most common style guides are the Associated Press (AP) style guide and the Chicago Manual of Style. While AP style recommends adding only an apostrophe after the name ending in “s”, the Chicago Manual of Style recommends adding an apostrophe and an “s”. It’s important to adhere to the style guide that is preferred by your organization or client to ensure consistency.

3. Use Common Sense

Using common sense is important when making the possessive of a name ending in “s”. If the name already ends in an “s” sound, you don’t need to add an additional “s” to the end. For instance, the possessive form of “Charles” would be “Charles’s”, but for “Jesus”, it would be “Jesus'”.

4. Consider the Sound of the Name

When making the possessive of a name ending in “s”, you should also consider how the name sounds. If the name has multiple syllables, it’s a good idea to add an apostrophe and an “s” to the end. For instance, the possessive form of “Jonas” would be “Jonas’s”. However, if the name ends in a single syllable, you can opt for just adding an apostrophe. Thus, “Chris'” is acceptable instead of “Chris’s”.

5. Check Other Names with the Same Ending

To avoid confusion, it’s recommended to check how other names with the same ending have been made possessive. For instance, if the name ends in “es”, you can check how “Gomez” or “Ramirez” have been made possessive. This would give you an idea of what is accepted and avoid making errors when making that possessive. A table like:

In summary, making the possessive of a name ending in “s” requires following certain rules such as adding an apostrophe and the letter “s”. It’s also important to consider the sound of the name, review style guides, use common sense and check the best practices for other names with similar endings. By implementing these tips, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and meets the expectations of your readers.

Wrapping it up

So there you have it, folks! Possessives for names ending in s don’t have to be a pain in the neck. Whether you go for the traditional approach and add an apostrophe-s or simply tack on an apostrophe, it all depends on what you prefer. Just keep in mind that consistency is key! Thanks for reading this article and I hope you found it helpful. Don’t hesitate to come back for more easy-to-read tips and tricks. Take care and see you next time!