When addressing a letter to a family do you use an apostrophe?

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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How do you address a letter 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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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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Where does the apostrophe go when addressing a family?

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.
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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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When to use apostrophes - Laura McClure



Is it Smiths or Smith's family?

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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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 an apostrophe when referring to a family name ending in 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.
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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 do you write in a letter to a family member?

Share favorite memories or accomplishments that make you extra proud of them. Then, share one anecdote or piece of news from your life. In our increasingly digital lives, your unique hand-written sentiments will likely bring a welcome bit of cheer into their day.
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How do you refer to a family?

Alternatively, write the parents' names followed by "and Family". In situations where you don't know the names of any or all children in the family, it's acceptable to refer to children collectively. In this case, on the second line where you would normally name the children, write "and Family".
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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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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 address an informal letter to a family?

For a casual and friendly salutation, list each of their first names, while a more formal letter could address a family using titles like "Ms." or Mr." For a simple solution, address the family as a collective group by writing their last name and then "family" after it.
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Is it Dear Smith family or family?

It sounds friendly but it is not correct. We would write "Dear Smith family". "Dear *Smith's family" means "family belonging to somebody named Smith".
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How do you address a family in a greeting card?

Titles for a family: Use the family's last name to address your card if the card is intended for the entire family, i.e. write “The Smith Family”.
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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 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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Is there a comma after family name?

A comma is placed between a surname and a given name or initials if the surname is written first: Mammouri, Muhammad. Grove, F.
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How do you address a family name ending in Y?

Unlike regular nouns that end in y, names that end in y are also made plural by adding -s:
  1. the Kennedy clan → the Kennedys.
  2. the Daley family → the Daleys.
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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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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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Is it the Jones family or Jones family?

With most surnames, you can simply add an s to the end of your last name to indicate the message is coming from more than one family member, for example, “the Patels.” If your name ends in s or z, as in Jones or Juarez, add es. The Joneses is correct because it indicates more than one member of the family.
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How do you pluralize someone's last name?

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.
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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.
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