Apostrophes--a practice I do not like
Many professional writers, especially journalists, use this convention for creating possessives:
If the word ends in "s" or an "s" sound, voiced or unvoiced, add an apostrophe at the end to create a possessive.
This creates
Wayne Schiess
Website | Seminars | Articles | Books: Preparing Legal Documents Nonlawyers Can Read and Understand | Better Legal Writing | Writing for the Legal Audience | The Legal Memo: A Basic Guide
If the word ends in "s" or an "s" sound, voiced or unvoiced, add an apostrophe at the end to create a possessive.
This creates
- my boss' car
- my boss's car (which I prefer)
- The Red Sox' pitching staff
- Xerox' new product line
- Manny Ramirez' slugging percentage
- The CMS' conclusions
Wayne Schiess
Website | Seminars | Articles | Books: Preparing Legal Documents Nonlawyers Can Read and Understand | Better Legal Writing | Writing for the Legal Audience | The Legal Memo: A Basic Guide
Wayne,
What are your sources for those examples?
Wayne says:
Sorry. I won't be able to document them, but they probably all came from the Austin-American Statesmen, which I read daily.
Reply to this
Hi Wayne, I don't think its all that bad. Imagine the tongue twisters that are averted. My last name is Rogers and I can't stand "Rogers's" It looks and sounds silly.
Wayne says:
Yes, names are a problem. You've probably made the right choice. But I do prefer Schiess's to Schiess'.
But is "Xerox' new product line" okay? Looks awful and how do you pronounce it?
Reply to this
I seem to recall reading somewhere that, by convention, the one exception is Jesus, as in Jesus' trial and execution.
Wayne says:
Yes, there are exceptions, and other guidance out there. I was commenting on just that one practice.
Reply to this
Thank you, Wayne! I agree 100%.
Reply to this
I've gone back and forth on this one, especially during my time working for a judge whose last name ended in -s.
One way to draw a line would be with pronunciation: add "'s" if you would pronounce the extra -s syllable, e.g., for the possessive of "Xerox," you would say "Xeroxes" and write "Xerox's." But for the possessive of "Rogers," you would say "Rogers" and therefore write "Rogers'." Admittedly, it's not a perfect solution: what do you do with the possessive of "Jesus," which some pronounce "Jesus" and others "Jesuses"?
Although it's a few years old, I think this excerpt from James Taranto's "Best of the Web" online column for the WSJ captures the problem, its reach into the highest legal-writing forum in the country, and one very complicated but workable solution adopted by the WSJ:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110009120 (scroll to last item)
Reply to this
I've grown up with this question, having been told at a young age that the proper possessive was Dennis'. I,too, have wavered back and forth a bit, but right now I use pronunciation as a guide. If the possessive "s" is pronounced, then I use it.
Usually, if a singular noun ends with an "s" sound, the possessive pronunciation adds the possessive "s." When people say "Dennis's" they usually pronounce the second "s."
This rule also explains the absence of the second "s" on plural nouns, like the Kellys' home.
Reply to this
I have long found helpful a tip from James Kilpatrick on this point. Be guided whether to add an apostrophe after the last "s" or an "apostrophe s" by pronouncing the word to yourself and going with what sounds more natural.
That is James's car.
The toads' skins are mottled.
Reply to this