Should it be 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 the Smith's or the Smiths 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.

What is the plural possessive of Smith?

Two or more persons with that last name are the Smiths. So, the plural possessive would be the Smiths'.

Is it Christmas with the Smiths or Smith's?

When a family name (a proper noun) is pluralized, we almost always add an "s." The only exception here is if your last name ends with the letter(s) s,x,z,ch,sh—here, you should then add an “es” to the end to pluralize. A few examples: Merry Christmas! The Smiths—correct!

Do you need an apostrophe for family names?

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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How do you pluralize a family 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”).

How do you write the plural possessive of family?

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 Jones or the Jones's?

Both are correct for possession when a word ends with s, so you can choose which to do.

Do you use an apostrophe in last names on Christmas cards?

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 pluralize a last name for Christmas cards?

If your last name ends in -s, -z, -ch, -sh, or -x, you add -es to your last name to make it plural. For example: Happy Holidays from the Joneses! If you don't like how your name looks with “-es”, you could always opt for “The Jones Family” instead of “The Joneses”.

Do I say 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.

Do I write James's or James?

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.

How do you pluralize a last 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. If the name ends in x, also add es—unless the x is silent.

Is it the Smiths or the Smith's Wedding?

Apostrophes add possession while adding an “s” makes the name plural. For example, you should write The Smiths (not The Smith's). Alternatively, you could address the envelope to The Smith Family or list the family members who are invited, like the example below which was for a Bat Mitzvah invitation.

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.

When addressing a family by last name do you use 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 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.

How do you address a Christmas card with multiple names?

If you are addressing the envelope to an entire family, don't write out each of the family member's names on the front of the envelope as you will quickly run out of room. Instead, write “The (Pluralized Last Name).” Don't forget, if the last name ends with a “s” naturally, add an apostrophe.

Do I add an apostrophe to a last name ending 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 Johnsons or Johnson's?

That's because the apostrophe before the “s” indicates ownership or possession when that's not the sign's intent. 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.

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.

Is Ross's correct?

The “Chicago Manual of Style” says that you form the possessive of proper names ending in S the same way you handle plain-old nouns: Add apostrophe and S. The boss's house. Ross's house.

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?

How do you make a family name possessive?

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.

Do I use apostrophe for possessive?

An apostrophe is used in a possessive form, like Esther's family or Janet's cigarettes, and this is the use of the apostrophe which causes most of the trouble. The basic rule is simple enough: a possessive form is spelled with 's at the end.