Do you use an apostrophe for last names ending in Y?

What if you want to show possession with a name that ends in y? Rule: To show singular possession, use the apostrophe and then the s. Example: I petted Mrs. Murphy's cat.

How do you pluralize a last name ending in y?

In most cases, you only have to add an s to the end of their entire last name—even if the last letter is y. So the Smith family becomes the Smiths, the Angelo family becomes the Angelos, and the Perry family becomes the Perrys.

Do you put an apostrophe after a last name that ends with y?

To show possession when a noun ending in y becomes plural, write ies'. Do not write y's. Exception: Names and other proper nouns ending in y become plural simply by adding an s. They do not form their plurals with an apostrophe, or by changing the y to ies.

How do you know if your last name needs an apostrophe?

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."

How do you use apostrophes with last names?

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

To show possession using an apostrophe, add 's for individuals (“Smith's car”) and just the apostrophe after the s for plurals (“the Smiths' car,” “the Martinezes' dog”).

How to use an apostrophe after a name ending with S

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 Williams or Williams's?

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.

Is it the Johnsons or the Johnson's?

If your last name is Johnson and you want to send a card from your family, simply add an "s": The Johnsons ("Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!"). Only use an apostrophe when you want to make a name possessive. ("From The Smith's" is always wrong, but "The party is at the Smiths' house" is correct.)

Why do people put apostrophes in last names?

Answer: It stands for 'son of…' or 'member of…', so 'O'Brien' goes back to King of Ireland Brian Boru, in the same way 'Mac' in Scotland means that 'I belong to that clan originally'.

What is possessive of Thomas?

The important thing to remember is that Thomas is singular. When you're talking about more than one, you first form that plural by adding -ES. One Thomas, two Thomases. Then, to note that something is owned by more than one Thomas, just take the plural and make it possessive: Thomases'.

Do you use an apostrophe for last name plural?

Don't use an apostrophe to make your last name plural. Apostrophes can be used to show possession—à la the Smithsʼ house or Tim Johnsonʼs pad— but they don't indicate there's more than one person in your family.

How do you put a word at the end of y?

When adding a suffix to a word ending in -y, look at the letter before the -y. If the letter before the -y is a vowel, just add the suffix. If the letter before the -y is a consonant, change the -y to an i before adding the suffix. play = vowel a before -y = played, playing, plays (Don't change the -y.)

Is it Murphys or Murphy's?

Rule: Do not change the spelling of a name to make it plural. Instead, just add s. Examples: I visited the Murphys last weekend.

How do you pluralize a couple's last name?

What is the correct plural form of y?

5 If a singular noun ends in –y and the letter before the –y is a consonant, change the ending to –ies to make the noun plural.

What is the plural of Clark?

In English, plurals of proper names are very easy to form: for most, you just add S. One Johnson, two Johnsons. One Meyer, two Meyers. Mr. Clark, all the Clarks.

Is it the Smiths or Smith's?

Unlike singular possessives, which take an apostrophe followed by an S, plural possessives take an apostrophe alone. So if you're going to the home of the Smiths, you're going to the Smiths' house. If you're going to visit the Williamses, that would be at the Williamses' house.

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.

When addressing a family is there an apostrophe?

Apostrophes are used to show possession. Your family last name on its own is not possessive. You would say We are the Smiths. You would not say We are the Smith's House.

Is it dinner with the 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.

What is correct 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.

Is it Love the Smiths or Smith's?

A common mistake is to make the family name plural by adding an "s" — with an apostrophe before it. So if your name is Smith, and you're signing your cards on behalf of the whole family, you'd sign it "Love, The Smiths," not "Love, The Smith's." Names that end in "s" — like Jones — also tend to trip people up.

Is it Harris's or Harrises?

An apostrophe indicates ownership.

CORRECT: The Corvette is the Harris's car. CORRECT: The Corvette belongs to the Harrises. INCORRECT: The Corvette belongs to the Harris's.

Is it Alexis's or Alexis?

According to the Chicago Manual of Style (which folks in my profession refer to as the Bible of Book Publishing), the rule is the same as any other singular possessive. You write her name with possession just like you say it: Alexis's.

Is it Chris's or Chris '?

The spelling Chris's, with an additional S after the apostrophe, is a more common way to write the possessive form of Chris. Most style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, recommend that you use an apostrophe and an S to create the possessive form of a singular noun.