Do you always put an apostrophe after a name?

Remember: the only time you add an apostrophe to a last name is if you are making your last name possessive. For example, "That is the Gamels' house on the corner."

Is it Chris's or Chris '?

Actually, both ways are correct. If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s. See the examples below for an illustration of this type of possessive noun. You're sitting in Chris' chair.

Is it James or James's?

For proper names like James, AP says, add an apostrophe only: He borrowed James' car. For generics like boss, add an apostrophe plus S: He borrowed the boss's car. But there's an exception: When the word that follows begins with an S, use an apostrophe only. Hence: the boss' sister.

What are the 3 rules for apostrophes?

The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. ​Do not ​use apostrophes to form possessive ​pronouns ​(i.e. ​his​/​her ​computer) or ​noun ​plurals that are not possessives.

Is it Perez's or Perez?

To form the possessive of a proper noun ending in an s or z sound, some people use apostrophe + s, as in Perez's and Burns's, and others prefer an apostrophe alone, as in Perez' and Burns's.

How to use an apostrophe after a name ending with S

Is it Williams's or Williams?

The Associated Press Stylebook recommends just an apostrophe: It's Tennessee Williams' best play. But most other authorities endorse 's: Williams's. Williams's means “belonging to Williams.” It is not the plural form of Williams. People's names become plural the way most other words do.

What is the proper way to pluralize a last name?

Names are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter -s for most names (“the Johnsons,” “the Websters”) or add -es if the name ends in s or z (“the Joneses,” “the Martinezes”).

When should you never use an apostrophe?

What are the 5 examples of apostrophe?

When should apostrophes be avoided in formal writing?

Avoid using apostrophes to shorten words

Apostrophes are used to shorten two words into one, such as it's, can't, or didn't. These contractions can make writing less formal, so scientific and medical writers typically avoid using them.

Is it Thomas or Thomas's?

So a safe solution is to treat singular nouns ending in S the same way you treat singulars nouns not ending in S: Form the possessive with an apostrophe and an S. Thomas's house. The important thing to remember is that Thomas is singular.

Is it Jones or Jones's?

Jones = Mr. Jones's. Some people favor adding only an apostrophe to a singular noun ending in s, but if you follow the rule, you can't be wrong. If a plural noun does not end in an s, you must make it possessive by adding an apostrophe and an s: women's; children's.

Is it Smiths or Smith's?

All you need is an “s” at the end of the name (Smiths, Johnsons). If you have trouble remembering whether the apostrophe is necessary, think of your message. For instance, if you mean to say, “The Smiths live here,” then you don't need the apostrophe on the sign or that sentence.

Is it Travis or Travis's?

This is Travis's house. (correct and sounds better) This is Travis' house. (correct but awkward-sounding)

Is it Charles or Charles's?

Use 's for the possessive of singular nouns that end in s:

Charles's books, Dickens's novels, actress's script. Note: If a singular noun ending in s is followed by a word beginning with s, use only the apostrophe, not the 's. For example, Charles' shirt.

How do you show ownership with a name?

Use an apostrophe to indicate ownership by a proper noun.

An apostrophe with an "s" after a proper noun indicates that the person, place or thing owns whatever noun follows his or her name. For example, "Mary's lemons." We know the lemons belong to Mary because of the 's.

What is the rule for using apostrophes correctly?

An apostrophe is a small punctuation mark ( ' ) placed after a noun to show that the noun owns something. The apostrophe will always be placed either before or after an s at the end of the noun owner. Always the noun owner will be followed (usually immediately) by the thing it owns. 2.

What are the two rules for apostrophes?

What is the rule of apostrophes?

Apostrophes may indicate possession or mark omitted letters in contractions. Writers often misuse apostrophes when forming plurals and possessives. The basic rule is quite simple: use the apostrophe to indicate possession, not a plural.

How do I know if I need an apostrophe?

Rule to Remember

The apostrophe is used to indicate possessive case, contractions, and omitted letters. The apostrophe is not strictly a punctuation mark, but more a part of a word to indicate possessive case, contractions, or omitted letters.

What is the most common mistake made using an apostrophe?

Mistake #1: Using apostrophes to make a word plural

It's not raining cat's and dog's, it's raining cats and dogs. Apostrophes are not typically used to make words plural.

Do we really need apostrophes?

While apostrophe skills aren't as necessary in spoken language, they're quite important in writing. Take the case of it's vs. its, for example: its - possessive pronoun (The dog closed its eyes.)

How do you refer to multiple people with the same name?

If you refer to two people with the same last name, repeat their full names for subsequent mentions whenever your reader might not be certain which person you are discussing.

How do you pluralize a couple's last name?