Is "s's" correct now?

[cgannon64]

I see alot of people putting a second 's' for possessive words that end in 's' now. 'Chris's', for example.

When did that become correct?

 

[Azadre]

I see alot of people putting a second 's' for possessive words that end in 's' now. 'Chris's', for example.

When did that become correct?

It isn't correct. It never will be correct.

 

[phoenix_night]

Always has been...

 

[cgannon64]

Fight !

 

[Azadre]

Always has been...

Azadre's grammar is fine. He doesn't use the Jones' grammar. The Jones' grammar is wrong.

Plural Possessives

To make most nouns plural, add an -s or -es. The -es is added to words that end in an s or z sound.

Do not use an apostrophe.

Examples: lands dresses taxes quizzes

Incorrect: Twenty dog's were in the pack.

Correct: Twenty dogs were in the pack.

To make a plural noun possessive, simply add an apostrophe to the word. If the plural does not end in an s, then add an apostrophe plus s.

Examples: The girls' dresses
(The dresses belonging to the girls.)

The Wilsons' house
(The Wilsons live in the house.)

The men's room
(Plural does not end in s.)

 

[phoenix_night]

That's just great.






Ah, okay, I see a crafty edit.

Well I've always been taught that both are acceptable, but the s' is more common and generally used. Since I'm in Britain, I win.

Edit: Just realised Azadre's post still doesn't make sense. Oh well.

 

[cgannon64]

Oh, I could see it being a British thing. People on this site seem to love adopting British mannerisms.

 

[The Last Conformist]

@Azadre: That doesn't address the question of the OP; how to write the possessive of a singular that ends in an s.

 

[Babbler]

It isn't correct. It never will be correct.

Sure it will be, just wait for 50 more years of instant messening and text messenging. It will become standard.

 

[phoenix_night]

Oh, I could see it being a British thing. People on this site seem to love adopting British mannerisms.

Yeah, like English.

 

[Moss]

Moss' Blog or Moss's blog?

I think that's what you guys are getting at...to tell you the truth I really can't tell you which way is write. I always use the first, but I've seen the second used as well. I'm guessing it is just one of those rules that most people don't really pay attention to and that in the grand scheme of things...the rule isn't all that important. As long as you use the apostrophe we know what you're trying to imply.

 

[Rhymes]

I personally dont give a ?@£* about grammar when I'm on a computer forum.

I'm not english, but I think Azadre's exemple is off the track

 

[Tomoyo]

I believe a singular possessive is still just the apostrophe. I usually write "The bonus' effect", not "the bonus's effect".

 

[M37]

it's is short for it is.
its' shows possession.
Lots of people get them confused
as for Chris's all I can say is somone need to check a dictionary.

 

[cgannon64]

Yeah, like English.

We made it ours though. You're lucky we're letting you keep the title, and we haven't changed it to American, though we retain that right.

Rhymes: I love using proper grammar. I suppose I'm a nerd in that way.

 

[phoenix_night]

it's is short for it is.
its' shows possession.
Lots of people get them confused
as for Chris's all I can say is somone need to check a dictionary.

Yes, and his name is M37.

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[phoenix_night]

We made it ours though. You're lucky we're letting you keep the title, and we haven't changed it to American, though we retain that right.

Your use of the English language over the pond isn't quite bad enough yet to justify its own identifier.

 

[Fetus4188]

According to William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White,

Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant.

Charles's friend
Burns's poems
the witch's malice

Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake. But such forms as Moses' Laws, Isis' Temple are commonly replace by

the laws of Moses
the temple of Isis

The pronomial possessives hers, its, theirs, yours, and ours have no apostrophe. Indefinite prounouns, however, use the apostrophe to show possession.

one's rights
somebody else's umbrella


A common error is to write it's for its, or vice versa. The first is a contraction, meaning "it is." The second is a possessive.

It's a wise dog that scratches its own fleas.



In short, the English language is full of silly rules and exceptions.

 

[Hakim]

I've learned that it's its, not its'.

How was it with the possessive of a singular that ends with an s?

 

[Fetus4188]

It is its