News1 min ago
Grammar Help Needed.
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Ordering a sign for my son James. Its going to say Games Room. Lots of arguing about the apostrophe. Should it be James' Games Room or James's Games Room?
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I thought that this topic had faded away, but, as it seems to have been resurrected, I shall mention this. It comes from:
Sir Ernest Gowers. The Complete Plain Words. Penguin Books. 1973.
There is no universally accepted code of rules governing the formation of the possessive case of names ending in s, but the most favoured practice (especially with monosyllables) seems to be not just to put an apostrophe at the end of the word ... but to add another s - St. James's Street.
Sir Ernest Gowers. The Complete Plain Words. Penguin Books. 1973.
There is no universally accepted code of rules governing the formation of the possessive case of names ending in s, but the most favoured practice (especially with monosyllables) seems to be not just to put an apostrophe at the end of the word ... but to add another s - St. James's Street.
Apostrophes of possession: key question is 'Who is the owner?' (or who are the owners?). Then 1) write down the owner(s), 2) add an apostrophe, 3) add s if you need it for the sound. This method cuts out complicated rules about plurals.
There are no exceptions, but occasionally two correct options. The book belonging to James can be James' book or James's book depending on how you would say it. But THE APOSTROPHE IS ALWAYS PLACED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OWNER(S). Lucy's dress, children's clothes, several boys' coats etc.
Games room needs no apostrophe; the games don't own the room.
There are no exceptions, but occasionally two correct options. The book belonging to James can be James' book or James's book depending on how you would say it. But THE APOSTROPHE IS ALWAYS PLACED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OWNER(S). Lucy's dress, children's clothes, several boys' coats etc.
Games room needs no apostrophe; the games don't own the room.
