Do you use an apostrophe when referring to a family?

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.
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Do you use an apostrophe when addressing a family?

Rule #2: You never need an apostrophe when signing or addressing cards. (Apostrophes imply possession, which isn't what you're trying to do. You're simply naming them in the plural.) These rules mean you should write out any last name in full, whether Williams or Garcia, and simply tack something onto the end.
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Is it 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.
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How do you write an apostrophe with a family name?

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”).
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Is it correct to say the Smith's family?

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.
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When to use apostrophes - Laura McClure



Is it James family or James's family?

If you want it boiled down to something simpler, remember this one thing: NO APOSTROPHES. Got it? NO APOSTROPHES. Not in your own name, either: sign it “With warm holiday wishes from the Jameses,” not “the James's” or “the James' ” or “the Jameses',” or, heaven help us, “The Jame's.” Why?
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Do you use apostrophe for family name on Christmas card?

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.)
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How do you pluralize a family last name?

Make Your Family Name Plural

For most names, add an -s to make them plural. For names that end in ch, s, sh, x, and z, add -es to make them plural. *There is an exception to this rule: If your last name ends in ch but is pronounced with a hard /k/ sound, like the word monarch, add only an -s rather than -es.
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What is the possessive plural of family?

The plural of 'family' is 'families'. For example: ''There are two new families living in my neighborhood. '' Just be careful because it can sound like the possessive form (family's) which is used to talk about something that belongs to your family - e.g. ''my family's car broke down''.
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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.
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How do you write Smith family?

When in doubt, we like to use "The Smith Family". The Smith's (with an apostrophe before the s) is the possessive of "Smith" and indicates one person ownership.
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When a name ends in s possessive apostrophe?

Second, a name ending in s takes only an apostrophe if the possessive form is not pronounced with an extra s. Hence: Socrates' philosophy. Saint Saens' music.
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Is it James or James's?

Explanation: Plural words which do not end in the letter 's' have the apostrophe before the 's' when showing possession. Example: She is the children's writer; she is the people's princess. Example words: James, Wales, Paris and Dickens. Commentary: both James' birthday and James's birthday are grammatically correct.
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How do you address an address to a family?

When addressing an entire family use the family's last name preceded by “The.” For example, “The Smiths.” Use professional titles when appropriate. Always use professional titles when addressing members of the clergy, elected officials, doctors or those who have earned their Ph.
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How do you address family in plural?

Plural Last Name Examples:

Add es to your last name. Examples: If your last name is Jones, you will change it to Joneses. If your last name is Davis, you will change is to Davises.
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What is the proper pronoun for family?

All the possessive pronouns like,my ,our,your,his,her,its and their can be used to refer the family or families. For example,”This is my family “.
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How do you write multiple family names?

When the parents and children in a household have several last names, you basically have two options.
  1. Options One: Formal - Put the parents on one line and give each new last name its own line. Mr. Lee and Ms. Smith. Jenny Johnson. Jackson Bowen.
  2. Option Two: Informal - Only use first names. Jack, Kim, Jenny, and Jackson.
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How do you write two family names?

A hyphenated last name is a combined last name of two spouses. A hyphenated last name may also be called a double surname or double-barrelled surname. For example, Sarah Smith marries Adam Jones. A hyphenated last name would be Smith-Jones or Jones-Smith.
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How do you write a card with a family name?

For your last name, it ends in 's,' so just add the 'es': “Merry Christmas from the Mayses” or “Merry Christmas from the Humphreyses.” (Again, if you don't like how that looks or sounds, just say, “Merry Christmas from the Humphreys Family.”
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How do you address a Christmas card to a family name?

When signing Christmas cards or other greeting cards from the entire family, the father's name should appear first, followed by the mother's and then the children's. The children's names should be in order from oldest to youngest.
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How do you address a family for Christmas?

There are several scenarios to keep in mind when addressing your Christmas cards. Married Couple or Family with the Same Last Name: It is common to use "The" followed by the family's last name. For example, "The Hendersons" or “The Henderson Family”.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Why do people put apostrophes in 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'.
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