How do you refer to a family name?

The Whole Family's Last Name

To show possession of a whole family: Add -es or -s to write the family's last name in plural form. Add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.

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.

Do you use an apostrophe when referring to a family name?

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.

Is it Mr Jones or Mr Jones's?

There are some acceptable variations; however, you will never be wrong if you follow three simple rules. First, if your noun is singular, its possessive will always be on target if you add an apostrophe and an s: girl = girl's; town = town's; Jess = Jess's; Mr. Jones = Mr. Jones's.

How do you 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”).

English Vocabulary - First name? Given name? Forename? What's your name?

When you have 2 last names which one do you use?

For example, Sarah Smith marries Adam Jones. A hyphenated last name would be Smith-Jones or Jones-Smith. It's your choice which name comes first.

How do you refer to a family by last name?

To show possession of a whole family: Add -es or -s to write the family's last name in plural form. Add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.

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.)

How do you write the possessive of a last name?

When it comes to showing possession, to make most surnames possessive, simply add an apostrophe and an “s.” Mr. Smith's car was repossessed. For showing family possession with surnames that are plural and possessive, make the name plural first by adding an “s” and then add an apostrophe to make them possessive.

How do you make a first name plural possessive 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.

Is it the Smith's house or the Smiths house?

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. Mr.

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?

Is it Love the Smiths or Love the 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 the Thomas's or Thomas?

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.

How do you address a last name plural?

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.

Can you say 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'.

How do you punctuate family names?

The Whole Family's Last Name

To show possession of a whole family: Add -es or -s to write the family's last name in plural form. Add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.

How do you pluralize a family name ending in s?

Rule: To form the plural of a last name that ends with an s, add an es. To form the possessive of the plural, add an apostrophe. The Dennises are a nice family.

When using last name do you put apostrophe after?

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.

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''.

Is it congratulations to the Smiths or Smiths?

INCORRECT: Congratulations to the Smith's! CORRECT: Congratulations to the Smiths!

How do you address a Christmas card to a family?

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.

How do you address someone with a last name?

Mr + last name (any man) Mrs + last name (married woman who uses her husband's last name) Ms + last name (married or unmarried woman; common in business) Miss + last name (unmarried woman)

How do you refer to a family with two last names?