How do you address a family that ends with an S?

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

If a family name ends with an s or z, you can choose to use just the apostrophe (“the Williams' dog”) or 's (“the Williams's dog”). By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending in s show possession with the apostrophe only (“Jesus' teachings”).

How do you pluralize a family name that ends in s?

If the name ends in s, z, ch, or sh, you need to add es. That means the Davis family becomes the Davises, the French family becomes the Frenches, the Hernandez family becomes the Hernandezes, and the Glaves family becomes the Glaveses.

Is it Smiths or Smith's?

The plural of Smith is Smiths. NOT Smith's. And if for some reason the Smiths wanted to use the possessive, they would have to use the plural possessive.

Is it Smiths or Smith's family?

The Smiths is plural for "Smith" and means there is more than one person named Smith and the invitation is from them all. 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.

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.

How to pronounce words ending in S

Which is correct 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 Harris or Harris's?

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. INCORRECT: The Corvette belongs to the Harris'.

Do you add an apostrophe s to 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”). If a family name ends with an s or z, you can choose to use just the apostrophe (“the Williams' dog”) or 's (“the Williams's dog”).

How do you pluralize a family name?

You usually make family names plural by adding an “s” to the end. However, if the name ends in "s," “x,” "z," “ch,” or “sh,” you usually add an “es” instead (but there are exceptions).

Do you put an apostrophe after a last name that ends in s?

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. You're sitting in Chris's chair.

How do you correctly write the Smiths?

Is there an apostrophe after the Smiths?

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.

How do I write to Smiths house?

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. However, if you are indicating in a sentence who owns the house, then you need the apostrophe.

Is it Morris or Morris's?

To form the possessive of a singular noun that ends in an “s” sound, be guided by the way you pronounce the word: (a) if a new syllable is formed in the pronunciation of the possessive, add an apostrophe plus “s,” e.g., Mr. Morris's eyeglasses; Miss Knox's hairdo; Mrs.

Is it Martinez's or Martinez?

To form the possessive of the plural, add an apostrophe. The Martinezes like to go to the lake for time with family during the summer. The Martinezes' favorite food to cook on the grill is chicken.

Is family singular or plural?

In American English, "family" will almost always be used with a singular verb. In British English, it may be used with a singular or a plural verb depending on whether the speaker feels that "family" is being described as a unit or as a group of individuals.

What is the possessive form of family?

The word families is plural, denoting more than one family. The word family's — with an apostrophe and added “s” — is singular and shows possession. Therefore, the difference between families and family's lies in understanding possession versus pluralization.

How do you write the Jones family?

The Joneses is correct because it indicates more than one member of the family. The Joneses' indicates possession, as in the Joneses' home.

Is it James or James's?

Commentary: both James' birthday and James's birthday are grammatically correct. Remember: it's up to you! Use the version which best matches how you would pronounce it. Use James's if you pronounce it "Jamesiz", but use James' if you pronounce it "James".

How do you write a family name on a card?

When making your last name plural, you don't need to add an apostrophe! The apostrophe makes the name possessive. The last letter of your last name will determine if you add an “-s” or an “-es”. If your last name ends in -s, -z, -ch, -sh, or -x, you add -es to your last name to make it plural.

How do you write Harris's?

To form the possessive of a name ending in s (like Charles, James, Chris, or Harris), add either an apostrophe and an s or just the apostrophe. Both styles are acceptable in formal writing. We borrowed Charles's boat, James's house, and Harris's car for our vacation.

How do you pluralize Harris?

The noun harris is uncountable. The plural form of harris is also harris.

Is it Lucas's or Lucas?

Lucas is a popular name, and since it ends with an S, it can be tricky to make it possessive. Whether you use Lucas's or Lucas' depends on the style guide that you follow. Both Lucas's or Lucas' are correct.

What is the correct way to write Jones's?

According to English style guides, singular possessives are formed with –'s and plurals with just an apostrophe, so the possessive of the singular Jones is Jones's and of the plural Joneses is Joneses'.